The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1882-05-05
"RailWay Jack"

RaliVdy Jdcks
About three years AFRO. q rather large
dog o. the fox-terrier variety entered the
guarIs carriage of train that was Just
starting from Brighton. England, fol-
Ho'sham Station. He had no ticket, and
did not explain his business; but the
guard seeing that he was respectable
dog decided to let him ride Free
From that day to this the dog, who is
now well known all over England by the
name of Railway Jack" has constantly
Travelled on railway trains. For the first
year or two he confined himself strictly
TO the trains of the London, Brighton &
South Coast Railway.
This road has "A great many branches,
and great many trains run over it every
day, but Jack knew the timetable per-
fectly, and never troubled the ticket
agents by asking them: ''How can
go to such and such place?' or .'When
does the next train start?' He took
lodgings in waste-paper basket in the
station house at Lewes Station, and
wherever he went he never failed to
catch the last train from Brighton
to Lewes.
II was at first believed that Jack
travelled in connection with some pri-
vatc business of his own; that he was,
for example, engaged in organizing a
- ''United Terriers Society for the Destruc-
ton of Rats" or was an agent for some
COOPERATIVE Bone Store" that pro-
posed to supply dogs with the best
quality of bones at less than ordinary
Il
that he was engaged in inspecting the
railway.
While on the train he sat close to the
window, and carefully watched to see if
there were any signs that the embank-
ments at the side of the track were out
of order. or that the bridges needed re-
pairs. He would stop at station, and
inspect the switches and the signals, and
would then take the next train for some
other station, where he would inspect the
eating room and test the quality of the
food. 1t was thus very evident that he
had appointed himself Inspector of the
London, Brighton & South Coast Rail
way, and every one connected with the
company recognized him as faithful
and efficient officer.
One day lady presented him with
collar with the inscription, s. l am Jack,
the London, Brighton & South Coast
Railway dog. Please give me drink
,Of water. This collar was presented by
Mrs. j. P. Knight, Brockley.' Jack
seemed to feel that in gratitude for this
present he ought to increase his labors.
He therefore made practice of taking
frequent trips all over England to see if
he could discover anything in the man.
sgement of other railways which he
cOuld recommend his own railway COM
p11ly to copy. Sometimes he went as
far AS Scotland, and on one occasion
when he visited London, and went to the
Isle of Dogs to see if there was any good
reason for its name. he lost his way, and
was absent for some weeks.
A few days after he had been found
and brought back to the railway, one of
the men employed by the company died,
and was bmried at Hastings. On the
dav of the funeral, Jack arrived by the
noon train, and went to the church,
where he reverently listened to the
funeral service. and then followed the
colin to the grave. He also attended
at Lewcs, and showed that he felt that
the company had sustained powerful
loss.
A short time ago Jack met with Sc
rious accident, which very nearly proved
fatal. He was crossing the track late
one evening at one of the stations of his
own railway, when he slipped and fell
Just as train rushed by, crushing one
Of his fore-legs. He was carried home
to LeweS. where chloroform was given
to him. and his leg was cut off close to
the shoulder. There is no doubt that he
was little careless in crossing the track
WREN the train was approaching; but al
though he had jas returned from
wedding at Berwick, Scotland, it is adj
mitted by every one that he was per-
fectly sober.
sack bore the loss of his leg very well
but I. day or two afterward he took off
the bandages, while his nurse was alb
sent from the room, and very nearly
hlrd to death before he could receive
proper attention. Since then he has
steadily improved, although his anxiety
to return to duty has made him a little
feverish at times. The fact that no ac-
cident had occurred on the London,
Brighton Il South Coast Railway since
he was injured has been great conso-
.lation to him. and he feels that it is due to
the thorough way in which his work of
inspection has been done.
Hereafter poor Jack will have to limp
on three legs, for nobody has yet in
vented artificial legs for dogs. He will,
however. be able to do his work, and
will undoubtedly be more careful in
avoiding danger than he was before the
accident. Young People.