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The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., April 15, 1943 page 1
includes portrait

VETERAN MAIL CARRIER STILL ADMIRES HORSES; POSSE MEMBERS HEAR TALK

     Members of the Klickitat Sheriffs' Posse are boasting the fact that they have as a member of their organization the oldest mail carrier from a standpoint of continuous service in the United States … that of Tunis Wyers, of White Salmon.
     At a meeting of the Posse held in Goldendale last Friday evening, members were informed of this fact, when a rebroadcast of a recent radio interview with Mr. Wyers was presented. Wyers recently appeared on the radio program "Northwest Neighbors," sponsored by the Pacific Power & Light company, which was released over several radio stations of the northwest.
     Wyers in his interview, told of early day mail carrying into the Glenwood Valley, 49 years ago, when he first started the service. During those days mail was carried on horseback, winter and summer. Wyers paid tribute to the so-called "cayuse" that once roamed of the ranges of the Northwest. Wyers said he found the ball-faced sorrels to possess more stamina than any of the other breeds.
     Winter mail carrying into the valley was no pleasure in the early days and many a mile was made by Wyers and his little cayuse through deep snow … but the mail always went through.
     When Wyers first started mail carrying on the "shoe string" one cayuse was his only means of transportation. Gradually building a business from practically nothing, Wyers soon owned over 100 head of horses. He would buy unbroken range horses and would sell them for a neat profit. Matched teams were his biggest sellers.
     Wyers progressed with the times and gradually improved mail and freight service in to the Trout Lake and Gilmer valleys. Business done those days was entirely different from now and the honesty of the greater majority of this citizens was brought to light. Mr. Wyers, who said that sacks of gold had often been left in saddle bags overnight in the barn. He'd ever experienced a holdup or robber in all these years. Farmers and most businessmen settled their accounts each fall in gold. Wyers was about 26 years old when he saw printed money, which is so abundant nowadays.
     Gradually building is business, Wyers at one time operated 16 passenger coaches and freight wagons in the White Salmon area. Sportsmen were also taken on trips into the famous Mt. Adams area, where fish and game were in abundance.
     As the horse gradually faded from the "picture" and automobiles became popular, Wyers kept in step with the times and today operates a modern passenger, freight and the mail service into the area, which he first delivered mail 49 years ago.
     1944 will mark his 50th year of mail service into the Glenwood Valley and in celebration of the occasion Mr. Wyers will saddle his favorite and make the ride from White Salmon to Glenwood.
     Mr. Wyers is an active member of the Klickitat Sheriffs' Posse and enjoys the fall roundup of cattle on his large stock farm a few miles from White Salmon. He is certainly a true lover of good "horse flesh."

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer