Word: expressman
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Dates: during 1930-1939
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...Sunday afternoon in October 1851, a certain Hubbs of Downieville was riding through the forests of the California gold country. Though he had some $400 in gold dust in his charge, Expressman Hubbs was unarmed. Presently, at the base of a large yellow pine, he dismounted to relieve himself. Suddenly a robber jumped from behind the tree, pinioned his arms, made off with the gold. Astonished, terrified, tangled in suspenders, Expressman Hubbs let him go without resistance...
That was the first recorded hold-up of a California expressman. It started an illustrious series, which as much as any other factor contributed to the astounding do-or-die spirit which characterized the growth of Far Western transport. Last week this spirit found fitting record in Treasure Express, Epic Days of the Wells Fargo, a lusty book by a San Francisco advertising man named Neill C. Wilson...
Generally speaking, the hordes of men pouring into the wild country were interested in two things: gold and news from home. The transport of both at fabulous rates became the expressman's job.† That they go through, come hell or highwayman, became almost his religion. At first carried by foot, horse, skis, dogsled, rowboat or river steamer, the treasure and mail eventually rode almost exclusively in the famed Concord stages, the first of which reached San Francisco June...