The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-08-21
RAILROAD JACK.

RAlLROAD JAIN.
.sRailroad Jack'' has struck town again.
He came in st the Albany station with Ma
|ional Express Messenger N. Q. Hastings
lbout O'Clock yesterday morning. having
boarded Mr.. Hastings car at Albany At l:SO
!. m. and probably will condesoend TO stay
81 Boston until Mr.. Hastings returns on his
kext trip, says the Boston Globe.
Every railroad man in New England and
New York has personal acquaintance with
Ibis hybrid terrier, and every train man in
|he country has heard Of him. He never
|eels really at home of a train, and his lit
lie plump form, clipped ears, and stumpy
all. about the size Of cigar ''butt," are
|amiliar to hundreds Of baggage masters all
bver the country.
II Jack Acknowledges any place a. homo it
Albany. where he ID claimed by the at
|aohes Of the New York Central railroad
tation. He boards at the De1evan house,
valking unceremoniously into the Kitchen
whenever he ID hungry, and mutely appeal
Ing for sustenance. He ID never refused
nd 10 as fat as pumpkin.
Jack comes to Boston this time in sort OF
}ndreas toys ~ it we're. A colored man IN
albany made clip at him with an ice pick
! week ago, and struck him in the breast,
nd his friends have taken off his collar to
How the wound to heal.
. How such thing could have happened
abroad men ct this end Of the line cannot
conjecture. for Jack 10 one Of the best ma
ured dogs in the world, and never has been
Known to cot his teeth into anything except
ID daily provender.
Jack Is about years old and weighs per
haps thirty or forty pounds. He has
ravelled nearly all his life. but how ne
rst became taken With his mania for
rains il not known. He has been to San
Francisco three times, and his trips over
lev England and through New York State
re innumerable.
His modus operandi is simple enough.
10 just boards train. squats himself
own in the baggage car and there he is.
The interstate commerce law hasn't
bothered him bit, for he systematically
vaded his fare before it was passed, and
10 subsequent railroad legislation of any
lind has seemed to produce the least i'm
movement in his morals.
Jack acknowledges no master In particu
pr, but always is loyal to whatever baggage
paster or express messenger may happen to
10 his host.
So, while it may be said against him that
10 is easily ''off with the old love and on
nth the new" and that he can be happy
nth either dear charmer if the other hap
lens to be going in the opposite direction
md other unkind things that might hurt
lie feelings may be said of him, more
Complimentary, more appreciative state
hat he il always faithful to his nearest
riend. Sometimes when he strikes the end
the route he will remain with his latest
eiend, the baggage master, until the re-
urn trip; and then again freaky streak
ill chassez through him and he will hop
board the next Albany bound express With.
ut remark or apology.
He never seems TO make any mistake
bout embarking. He has no use for local
Fains, but jumps aboard the express every
me, and without asking any questions
or does he always loaf about the stations,
if waiting for his train to turn up, but
hunters down just before the train time,
nd piles himself into the baggage car with
o nonchalanoe of experience.
One of Jacks favorite trips is from AL.
any to New York. He boards West Shore
rain at Albany, and getting out at the
Veehawken station, crosses the ferry and
kots up Forty-seoond street to the New
ork Central station, where he takes train
pr home, thus enabling himself to enjoy
asionally he will make run up to Mon
real, changing cars at Saratoga without
be assistance or suggestion OF anybody.
hdeed, he knows when and whore to change
Rrs as we'll as any regular patron of the
bad on which he is travelling.
His whole life il one constant eccentric
y. and his peculiarities do not, therefore
reak out in spots; but he has ono cranky
lea that is inexplioable, except o. matter
mere surmise. He will not enter an Erie
hr; no persuasion can get him into one.
ven if an Erie baggage car-he never rides
passenger cars-happens to BE- among
ain. he will avoid il - il he were
raid it were going to explode. How
can tell it from any other no one knows,
ut the trainmen soy that he will walk
ong beside it, glance mp at it with know
v look, and turn tail on Il deliberately.
nce or twice he was carried into an Erie
II and detained by closed doors until the
ain was in motion, but he bolted like .
reak Of lightning ct the nsxt station and
Ok local train back.
Mr.. Hastings brought Jack to the Globe
Zoe yesterday to have his picture taken.
ID the proverbial ''yaller dog" and 10 @
Pmely a. bucket Of tarred ropes. He
Pc taken into room 10l. whore at the COM
and OF his temporary master he hoped
on table and posed like q veteran, not
ZEN 20 much as blinking at the supreme
oment.
Tho artist ''took him. in two positions,
10 with his head on his paw and ono sit
ng up and facing the camera, in each of
hich he was a. immovable as the other.
he ordeal over he looked relieved, and I'M
|nosrnedly stubbed OF to take train for
roy.
A7s atque vale, Joannos.