The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-05-18
WORKED THE SANTAFE
Amusing Story of Hustling Jin's
Plug Mare
WHICH SECURED HIN 4 TRIP
To the Pacific Coast and a Special Car
for So Horse-RaiIroad Matters Of

To the Pacific Coast and a special Car
for a So HOrse-RaiIr0ad Matters Of
Interest
The Santa Fe railway has been the
victim of one of the cleverest tricks in
the memory of the oldest inhabitants of
1 the general offices here. The amount
( involved is not large, only $3.50, but the
nature of the plot and the cleverness of
its execution makes it most remarkable.
'Hustiing JIM Rainey is a jockey
whose home is in California He went
TO Frankfort, Ind, and played the races
with the result that he had not much
worldly goods left a rabbit. His
wealth consisted of his spurs, a cork
screw-and a bay mare. Now Rainey
was very anxious to get back to Cali
fornla. He was too proud to bum his
way and too tired to walk. Nothing
short of an inspiration would get
inspiration came. and a great,
wonderful inspiration it was He went
to the nearest freight office and inquired
the cost OF shipping a $4,000 pacing
horse to Los Angeles. The agent re-
piled that the company would not handle
the horse on those terms; that it must go
as an ordinary, 500 horse. The charges
would be $79.
"Hustling Jim" protested that his mare
was an extra fine animal and must have
car all to herself He agreed to ship
the horse on the cOmpany's terms, pro-
vided the car was half filled with straw.
The next day the horse was walked
down to the train. "Hustling Jim" had
made an artistic job in dressing up his
old plug as a fancy PAGER. He clipped
her neck of the long, struggling hair.
Her legs were likewise treated and
bandaged to conceal the knobs that
stood out like carbuncles. Red, white
and blue ribbons were plated carefully
IN the name and tail of the animal, and
over the whole a blanket was put that
concealed nearly all of the old plug ex-
cept the ears and eyes. The general APP
pearance of the animal would have done
credit TO Nancy Hanks or Ed Benefits
importer Mr.. Rainey accompanied the
morse IN the car on the ground that SO
valuable animal could not go unat-
tended and unguarded. His fare, $63 SO,
he said, would be paid sat the other end"
Los Angeles was reached in due time
"Hustling Jim" left the car and took the
blanket and ribbons with him. Jim ex-
planned to the officials that as it was late
and there was little help around he
would come around after the animal
tomorrow" Tomorrow and Jim were
alike-they never came. The conductor
was struck with the sorry appearance of
the horse and asked Jim before he dis
appeared:
S'What kind of an old plug is that
you've got there?''
plug nothin," sneered Jim, s'that's one
of the finest PAGERS on the turf, and will
clean out anything on the coast"
w hen it became evident that Jim had |
accomplished his trick, and would never |
appear, the Santa Fe officials took the |
PAGER and put her in a livery stable |
where she still remains and is a sight to |
behold Freight Agent Chambers says |
that the most optimistic view could not |
raise her value over So, and it is really |
difficult to see how even that much can !
ever be realized on her.
The horse is said to be sprained, foun-
dered, knock-kneed, swayback, deaf, /
dumb and blind, as well as suffering |
from pink-eye, ringbone, distemper,
blind staggers and several other all
ments the doctors don't know the names
of.
General Auditor II. G. Whiteh cad of
the Southern California railway writes to
General Manager Frey: Five dollars is
an exhOrbitant price for the horse. l
doubt if anyone would buy her for two
bits. 1t is the cleverest trick ever played
on the railroad company to my knowl-
edge"
In the meantime the agent at Los An
geles is compelled to advertise the plug !
thirty days before it can be sold and the |
bill will amount to the worth
of several such animals. And the horse
is reported to be seating its head Off at
the expense of the agent Auditor
Whitehead is trying to have the horse
sold at once as "perishable goods"
The "Hustling Jim" case has pro-
voked pile of correspondence between
the officers of the Santa Fe and auxiliary
lines as long as the testimony in the
Decker, Mullins & Berry case, and every
body looks on it as one of the best jokes
of the fiscal year,