Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-01-28
RAILROAD JACK.
An Intelligent Dog Attached to the Rail
way Mail Service.


An Intelligent Dog Attached to the Rail-
way Mail Service.
Railroad Jack is attached to the rail-
way mail service, and has rowing com
mission. He is about seven years of
age, and ever since his second year he
has been one of the greatest travellers
of this country, Jack has great fond
ness for mail-bags lie never cares
long for any particular one, but seems
to have an idea that the entire business
is under his charge. and he is perpetu
ally travelling about to make sure that
everything goes right. Jack halls from
Albany, and his name in private life is
Owney; but Railroad Jack is his travel
ing name, and the one that has become
famous He wears broad leather col
lar, which has attached nickel-plated
badge reading: Post office Owney,
Albany, New York;" but beyond this
distinguishing mark, Jack is n citizen
of the entire country. Albany, how
ever is very proud of her representa-
tive, and Jack condescends to make his
headquarters there. where there is a
special apartment for his use.
Five years ago Jack made his first
trip He went to Boston by way Of the
Boston & Albany railroad, and since
that time has always regarded that
route with special favor. His experience
happened in This manner: A certain
mailbag in the Albany post Office took
his fancy, and when the bag was carried
TO the station Jack went along with it.
When it was thrown into the baggage
car Jack followed. and he stuck by that
particular bag until it reached the Bos-
ton post office. This done, Jacks at
tachment was over, and that very same
night he took another mailbag under
his protection and saw it safe to its
destination in Maine.
AS this was Jacks first trip he was
not acquainted along the lines, and for
three weeks he was unheard from.
Then he walked into the Albany post
Office one day, wagging his stumpy tail,
and saw that certain bag was
all right. Everybody was much
amazed over his wonderful trip,
but it turned out to be a mere
run around the block compared
with his later travels. The fondness
for rowing was awakened in Jacks
heart, and a short time after he went
away again, and was absent two
months. The men who knew him re-
garded him as lost this time without
doubt; but one day they read in paper
that Jack had arrived in New Orleans
He was identified by his collar, and for
the first time Jack began to receive
newspaper notoriety
Then he left New Orleans. stopping
over here and there when it pleased
him, and by degrees he Travelled
the length of the country. And
where do You suppose he ended
this wonderful journey? Away
up north. at St John, New Bruins
wick. There is no doubt of the
truth of this for the newspapers Kept
track of him all the way, and he
became famous. just think OF
this wonderful dog going thai
distance by himself Since that
time he has been to San Francisco, ard
has covered the entire length and
breadth of the United States He has
visited nearly every large city in the
country, and has gone through the
eastern states so often that every rail,
road postal clerk knows him.
Jack is a thorough Yankee in his
tastes, and decidedly independent, but
seems to like the east best, especially
the Boston & Albany railroad, upon
which he made his first trir He is
never molested, but allowed to do as he
pleases, and is always well treated. 1t
would not be well for any outsider to
NEEDLE with the bags Jack has in
charge, and Jack seems always to know
what man has the right He was in
wreck once, and was thought to have
been killed; but when the mail-bags
reached their destination, Jack was
with them. A little while ago he paid
a flying visit to New York, and then
started east again, where he is probably
now travelling. -Harper's Young PEG.
pie.