The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1889-08-09
RAILROAD JAcK.D
The Scotch Terrier Tramp. Well Known
to All Railroad Men.

to All Railroad Men.
When the morning train from Troy to
Boston 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, q 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 extensive railroad tray-
eler for number of years, and has a
history that would be decidedly inter
esting If 1t 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 FIRE,
quent excursions from that city, BY do
grees the dogs love of travel was devel-
Oped and broadened, and the time came
when he was not content with the short
trips he had previously enjoyed. APP
parently realizing the truth Of the saying,
"Where there's a will there's a way" no
extended his travels to more distant
points, and today he can boast Of having
ridden oyer 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 n dignity that will
not permit him TO take passage in ca
boose, He is happy in baggage or ex'
press car, and does not object to an ocCa-
sional trip on an engine, but the bump
ing caboose he abhors as much as any Of
the human family and will not ride in
one except by force. He is well cared
for and fed by the railroad 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 arrival and afterwards present him
self at tine I'itchburg railroad depot IN
that city IL luIe distant from the other
for Passage back over the FitChbuTg
road lie has frequently been to New
York, and Is well known to the railroad
men H. that city and on the lines leading
thereto
Last March the Albany Kennel club
wanted hi,.t for exhibition and had to
send to BHghamton, N. Y, for him, as
he happened 10 he holding forth in that
vicinity. He was duly placed before the
gaze Of an admiring public, deoked with
a beautiful collar presented by the club
and bearing The name Railroad Jack,
This collar some unpFinoiPled wretch has
had the impudenGe to steal, and the dogs
only passport now is his good natuTed
countenancs and general knowledge Of
the world, He knows a railroad man
instantly and will associate with no one
else.
When Railroad Jack arrived IN town
Monday he had q chunk Of coal In his
mouth that he had brought from Albany.
He clung to it for some time after his ar
rival, but dropped il before his departure,
yet no one has been found superstitious
enough to take this as an indication that
coal is to come down in North Adams.
The dog is said 10 be years old, but his
countenaHee- probably owing to his
eyentful life-would indicate that he is
considerably older His eyes have taken
on that sedate and wise look that charac-
terize 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
win ever be warm corner for stump
tail Railroad Jack.=-North Adams Tran
script