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