Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-07-06
HE nAN ON rIIE KoAp.
The Southern Express Colnpany's Canine
Messenger Express"


Messenger Express"
Savannah can justly claim the possess
sion Of the "boss" dog Of the country.
Express" is little rat-and-tan that
puts IN the greater part of the not season
around the office of the Southern Express
COMPANY His owner il Mr.. j. II. Tucker,
clerk in the office. Express" has spent
his zen ortwelEe years of canine existence
IN the service of the company. In the
gleeful DAYS of puppyhOod, early IN the
seventies, he used TO run on the r0ud from
Dupont TO Jacksonville. lie was then
owned by messenger on that
line and accompanied his master
on every trip. He had snug
piece Of blanket ina one end OF the car, but
he generally preferred 10 perch himself on
the top Of some box out OF the way. One
OF his fayorlte positions was In the side
door. where he would catch the breeze.
There hewould sit and watch the plebeian
ours that were in the habit OF running out
and barking at the train as it rushed by
the farm houses and through the villages.
When the train stopped be was the first
OF. Every railroad man along the line
conductors, brakemen, agents and all
knew him.
Naturally he made dozens Of acquain-
tauce- among his own species nj all Of
the stations. Tradition says that 10 was
daily occurrence to see the village dogs
run to the depots to meet "Old 49," the
train on which Express" was a daily
passenger. They apparently knew the
whistle Of the locomotive.
While his owner and the agents were
putting of and taking ON parcels, boxes.
baskets, etc. Express" would take
r0mp with his playfell0ws. The moment
that the conductor shouted "All aboard"
Express" would run up on the platform
and slip in the baggage car just as the
train moved of.
Occasionally in The midst of the fun he
would get too far away and would fail to
get back m time 90 catch the train. lie
would gaze wlstfuly down the track
until The rear car disappeared from sight
and then resume play until the next train
drew zap. II il was going his way he
would jump on when it stopped and
follow So lie would always find his
master at one of the terminals
Later on he ran between Jacksonville
and savannah, and az different times has
been on most ut The routes IN the eastern
and southern parts Of the state
Three or four years ago be gave up the
road and took up permanent residence
iH Savannah. Once IN "A while he would
disappear from home ana 20 on over the
line somewhere. Sometimes he would
turn mp lh the once lh charleston ana
spend few days over there. lie was
a pet with an Of the men. and on
these visits Was well taken care Of At
other times he would take a run down 20
Jesup, WaycrOss. Brunswick. Jackson
Vile, or may be down 10 Palatka or
Gainesville. He "dead-headed" his way
wherever he wanted 10 20, and when be
got ready 20 return would ride 70 the
depot on The seat alongside of the driver
OF the express wagon.
lie is said 20 have an excellent memory
and knows when the trims leave for
Charleston, Jacksonville on anywhere on
The line.
II is related Of him that when he was
young there was one Gus "a feW miles out
Of Jacksonville that always ran out 'u
tie train and made "a great fuss barking
at It.. This oNI-peratDj "LXpress," ana
one day, while the ,rain WAS lahlug 80
miles au hour, he jumped ult for q fight.
Ee was shaken up badly Do lighting. but
DE- went iH and whipped the other dor.
That was the last tine he got an train
shat was upfiHr rapidly.
HC has GOO 500 uaHy teeth as he once
had, hut Ae IS sim risky aL8 seemingly
good Tor several years yet