Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-10-11
/" RUNNER JACK"
HE HAD DRANK ENOUGH WHISKY TO
FLOAT THE GREAT EASTERN.
He Was Copper-Lined and Poisons Had
Not the Least Eject Upon Him
His Death.

John Lester Watt was born at sea while
his parents were en- route to America in
1925. He came of good family and had
quite liberal education.
When gold was discovered Watt, who
was then twenty-five years of age, started
for California, and arrived in Sacramento
in the spring of fifty. A shrewd business
man and good financier, he soon accumu-
lated considerable property, and owned two
buildings at the corner of Eighth and ]
streets.
When Walker set out on his filibuster-
ing expedition Wall joined the Inflated
party. He contracted the habit of drink.
ing, and it was only few short years
until he almost dropped out of sight in the
business community.
All hii money was gone and he was EFF.
a social, financial and a physical wreck.
So complete was his fall that his name even
was almost forgotten, and he was known to
all as "Old hummer Jack" Although
drunk for over twenty years he never mo.
Tested any one, was never in any trouble,
and was never taken 10 the Station House.
He would get SO full of benzine at times
that he could not move, would be COM
pletely paralyZed and could not speak for
suffering.
hummer Jack" was never known tn
sleep, at least he was seen on the street by
those who got up at day break, and the last
man going up K street at night would see
old hummer Jack" hanging out" around
the Central House. He was never known
to eat, and it is said he lived on whisky
diet with an occasional cracker from the
free lunch stands.
He obtained his whisky by sweeping out
saloons, and no liquor was too vile for him:
in fact, poison does not seem to have had
any effect upon him.
When Troy Dye kept the famous saloon
on h street, old hummer Jack" did the
sweeping out of the deadfall.
After Dyes confession in the Tullis MUIR
der case it was ascertained that The original
plan was to have poisoned Tullis, and for
that purpose two soda bottles of cocktails
were put up, the principle ingredient of
which was strychnine.
Tullls refusing to drink, the assassins
shot him, and the bottles with their deadly
potion were hidden away in the basement
of the murderers' den.
When the authorities heard of it they
made search for the poisoned whisky.
They found the bottles, but they were
empty. Dummer JACK had found them
and had enjoyed picnic while they lasted.
There was enough strychnine in the LIQUOR
to have killed twenty men. When Jack"
was told what narrow escape he had had,
he laughed and replied that he recollected
that about that time he was little stiff in
his joints for few days
hummer Jack" was quite numerous
always on election dav, and would sell his
vote and influence as often as he could to
the Democrats, but was never known to
barter with a Republican. He was
Democrat, pure and simple and had all
the characteristics that go to make stall
wart OF the G. o. p, and one of those who
loved to boast that they never voted any,
thing but the Democratic ticket in their
lives.
For thirty nine years "Bummer Jack"
was character in Sacramento, and as well
known TO all the old timers as was EN-.
peror Norton in San Francisco.
But hummer Jack" is no more, and the
haunts that once knew him so we'll will
know him no more forever. For over a
quarter of century he had been battling
with King Alcohol but the latter finally
conquered and on Monday last he was
found in almost dying condition.
Some of those who had known the harm
less old lmbecile for years placed him in
wagon and took him to the County
Hospital, where he died Tuesday after
noon.
He had often said he had drank enough
liquor to float the Great Eastern, and
those who knew him best did not doubt it.