“F.X. Aubery traveled 800 miles between Santa Fe NM and Independence MO in five days and thirteen hours without rest. He went with two horses. When one collapsed of exhaustion, he ditched it and got on the second horse. Aubery was a Canadian Frenchman of low stature. He did the ride on a bet. 

Aubery died shortly afterwards of a stabbing. 

Immediately upon his return he met a friend, a Major Weightman of the United States Army, who was a great admirer of his pluck and daring. Weightman was at that time editor of a small paper called the Santa Fe Herald. At their meeting, as was the custom of the time, they called for drinks. Their glasses were filled and they were ready to drink, when Aubery asked Weightman why he had published a damned lie about his trip to California. Instead of taking his drink, Weightman tossed the contents of his glass in Aubery's face. Aubery made a motion to draw his pistol and shoot, when Weightman, knowing the danger, drew his knife and stabbed Aubery through the heart, from which blow he dropped dead upon the floor." - Seventy Years on the Frontier

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