The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1889-07-20
"RAILRoAD JACK. .
The Scotch Terrier Tramp, Well Known
to All Railroad Men.

to All Railroad Men.
When the morning train from Troy to Bos-
ton passed through North Adams Monday
Scotch terrier dog of rusty yellow color emerged
from the baggage car and began leisurely to
"do'' so much of the town as is covered by the
depot and adjacent yards. 1t was soon noised
about that this visitor was Railroad Jack, a
dog with which railroad men all over New
England and in many parts of the west have
long been familiar. The dog has been an ex-
tensive railroad traveller for number of years,
and has history that would be decidedly in
teresting if it could be accurately written.
This remarkable dog first came to the notice
of railroad men in Albany several years ago.
He evinced fondness for riding in baggage
and express cars. and as this was something
of novelty to the train hands he was treated
to freuuent excursions from that city. BY de-
grees the dogs love of travel was developed
and broadened and the time came when he
was not content with the short trips he had
previously enjoyed. Apparently realizing the
truth of the SAYING, "Where there's a will
there's way" he extended his travels to more
distant points, and to-day he can boast of
having ridden over all the principal railroad
lines in the eastern states and to have made at
least one trip to San Francisco.
Railroad Jack" as he was early named by
the railroad men, is known throughout the
country as dog tramp, and yet he sustains
dignity that will not permit him to take pas
sage in caboose. He is happy i'll baggage
or express car and does not object to an occa-
sional trip on an engine, but the humping Ca
boose he abhors as much as any of the human
family, and will not ride in one except by
force. He is we'll cared for and fed by the rail-
road men wherever he goes, and never abuses
the hospitality extended by remaining too long
in one place. The dog has been known to go
from Albany to Boston on the Boston and
Albany road to leave the depot upon his ar
rival and afterwards present himself at the
Fitchburg railroad depot in that clty-a mile
distant from the other-for passage back over
the Fitchburg road. He has. frequently been
to New York, and is well known to the rail-
road men in that city and on the lines leading
thereto.
Last March the Albany Kennel club wanted
him for exhibition and had to send to Bing-
hamton, n Y, for him. as he happened to be
holding forth in that vicinity. He was duly
placed before the gaze of an admiring public,
the club and bearing the name Railroad
Jack" This collar some unprincipled wretch
has had the impudence to steal, and the dog 8
only passport now is his good natured counte-
nance and general knowledge of the world.m
He knows a railroad man instantly and will
associate with no one else.
When Railroad Jack arrived in town Mon
day he had a chunk of coal in his mouth that
he had brought from Albany. He clung to it
for some time after his arrival, but dropped it
before his departure, yet no one mas Deeh
found superstitious enough to take this as an
indication that coal is to come down in North
Adams The dog is said to be years old, but
his countenance- probably owing to his event
full life-would indicate that he is considerably
older His eyes have taken on that sedate and
wise look that characterize the old dog, and he
has the self possession and cool indifference of
the very much travelled individual. He left
North Adams with the best wishes of all the
railroad men, in whose hearts there will ever
be warm corner for stump tail Railroad Jack.
North adams Transcript.