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An old-time Rocky mountain mail coach swung on its leather straps, with its boots full of mail sacks, occupies a prominent position. It was built in 1868 and was among the first to carry the mail to Montana. Once a week it made the run between Helena and Bozeman. To-day four mail trains perform the service daily. In 1877 the old coach was captured by Indians, and after a hot pursuit by Gen. O. O Howard was recaptured. Before Gen. Garfield became president he rode on the coach through the Yellowstone country, President Arthur sat on the boot with its driver in 1883 and Gen.Sherman in 1877 made a trip on the ancient vehicle.
Near the old-timer is the modern yellow bodied open coach used in the Yellowstone park for carrying tourists and mail. It has usurped the proud position once held by the stage coach, which Indians used to capture. The post rider, mounted on his spirited broncho, armed with revolvers and booted and spurred, tells of the letters carried over alkali plains, broad prairies and wild western lands. This mounted group is the admiration of the small boys, who gaze on it with wide-open eyes. The pony express was the original letter-carrier across the plains, and to-day 1,000 mail routes use ponies and bronchos. The Indian question was a most serious one to the men who carried mail-bags through a country 6warming wíth redskins. In the dead-letter exhibit is a mail-pouch stained with the blood of a post rider and slashed by the keen blade of the Indian murderer.