Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-01-13
A PULLMAN PAss FOR A DOG.
A Tremend ous Stretching of Rules to
Permit the Innovation.

A Trement Gus Str-hching of Rules to
Permit the Innovation.
Mr.. William Parse rs. for many years a
resident in Chicago, but now living in Sc
attic, will lie famed among posterity as
the first man to secure a permit To carry a
dog with him in Pullman car. 1t seems
that an oriental friend gave Mr.. Parsons
beautiful Japanese pug, to which be very
properly became devotedly attached in a
very few days. When ne came east Mr..
Parsons brought his canine pet with him,
and rather than int.'ust his treasure to the
mercies of the baggage master Mr.. Parsons
chose to bride the conductor and porter of
the Pullman car into a condition wherein
they were blind TO the presence Of the in
terdicted dog.
This involved so heavy an expenditure
that Mr.. Parsons made up his mind to try
other tactics on the return trip. Accord
ingly when he reached Chicago he set
about securing a permit To take the pet
pug home il the Pullman ear without
money and without price. Mr. Lyman j.
Gage became interested in the enterprise,
for he, too, likes a dog, although he can't
tell the difference between Siberian blood
hounds and Partisan poodles.
I'VE will 90 straight to the head Of the
concern, said Mr.. Gage II will give you
a letter to Mr.. Pullman himself"
Fortified wi IN this letter, written in Mr..
Cages finest Italian hand and couched in
Mr.. Cages most persuasive rhetoric, Mr..
Parsons invaded Mr. Pullman's private
office Having read the missive, Mr. Pull
man scratched his head refectively and
pulled at his beard As much as to say,
We'll, now, am in for il"
"Blffen," said Mr. Pullman presently,
touch bell No. 81
Mr.. Bliffen i Mr.. Pullman's private sec
rotary No. 5. He touched bell No 81, and
almost Instantly Mr.. Ketcham appeared.
Mr. ketcham IS keeper of the seals, rec
ords, rules aud regulations.
"ketcham,' asked Nh Pullman, what
IS orr rule with reference 10 carrying dogs
in our carsg"
we have never carried Il dog, SIR" an
swered Mr.. ketcham meekly. Rule Isl
specifies that under no circumstances
whatever shall dogs be admitted to our
cars. Shall fetch the book of rules, sir?'
NO, that ism necessary" said Mr. Pull
man. You arr sure that the rule specifies
'dogs?'"
That is the very word, Sir" answered
Mr.. Ketcham
THAT is all--you may 60" and Mr..
ketCham vanished
The rule disc Eliminates against dogs"
said Mr.. Pullman. half aloud. There is
no rule against dog will get around
it that way"
So, having compounded in this wise
with his conscience, Mr.. Pullman ordered
Blifeu TO touch hell No. u. ana presently
another undcrlng came in with an enor-
nous blank, VIII ch Mr. Pullman proceeded
to fill out in different colored inks. This
document proved to hc a general order to
all employees Of the Pullman company
and IL command I'll them to admit without
question 10 the cars of The company zone
dog, described a. a Japanese pug. answer
ing TO the name II Coco, and described by
his owner in tits wise--to wiz, etc Il
was an exhaustive document; Mr.. Parsons
had 10 sign n, and last Of all, Mr.. Pullman
put bis name and seal 70 it,
Il have been conducting this business
for more than g. quarter of "a century"
said Mr. Pullman, Is he finally handed the
official paper to Mr.. Parsons, "and this Is
the first permit that has been issued en-
titling dog to- transportation in our
cars. Chicago News.