Pony Expressmen Outrun U.S. Mail

Fort Stockton, Tex (UPI) - Pony Express riders outran the US Postal Service between Alpine and Fort Stockton this weekend, but those "Indians" were too much.

Fifty-five relay riders from the sheriff's posse and a local riding club took four hours to carry mail the 66 miles between the two cities, while normal mail routes take 21 hours longer.

"We thought we could shoot the Postal Service down rather badly," Chamber of Commerce Manager Clark Carpenter said. "We did it in four hours. Ordinarily this same mail run takes *"

Carpenter said regular mail between the West Texas cities is routed through either El Paso or Midland, about 300 miles and 600 miles away

"It seems a bit ridiculous," Carpenter said, "I do think (our Pony Express ride) will have its effect. I think it'll make postal authorities more aware of what some rural towns go through to receive their mail."