At Independence I found F.X.Aubrey, a noted man of that day, who had just made a celebrated ride of six hundred miles in six days.

That spring the United States quartermaster, Major L.C.Easton, at Fort Union, New Mexico, had occasion to send some message east by a certain date, and contracted with Aubrey to carry it to the nearest post-office (then Independence, Missouri), making his compensation conditional on the time consumed.

He was supplied with a good horse, and an order on the outgoing trains for an exchange.

Though the whole route was infested with hostile Indians, and not a house on it, Aubrey started alone with his rifle.

He was fortunate in meeting several outward-bound trains, and there, by made frequent changes of horses, some four or five, and reached Independence in six days, having hardly rested or slept the whole way.