The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-02-25

owned this life was John Fox. but he was
commonly known either as Dublin" Fox
or "Whistling Jack" He acquired this
last named sobriquet because Of his won
dsrful skin with a common tin mute. or.
as some call It, a tin whistle.
Just how Jack came to fall undsSS the
wheels of the street car win nevcf be
known to a certainty. What few facts
are known seem to suggest that while
drunk he feb I'm front Of the car as II
was standing still on Chestnut street. at
the side of the Planters hotel. II was
an owl car Of the Laelede avenue line. due
to leave Fourth street at s:45. While the
car was standing waiting for its time TO
leave, the motorman, Henry Dieckman.
went across the street TO get a cup OF cor
fee, and Chris Madison was sitting inside
the car with one or two belated passen-
gers Madison says he heard some one
step on the fender Of the car but. as II
is not an uncommon occurrence. he gave
no further thought TO II. At s:45 the con-
ductor gave the signal and the car started
west. Just before II reached the tracks OF
the Broadway cable the lights went out
momentarily and as the car was crossing
the Broadway cable the motorman and
those In the car heard crunching sound
which made the blood run cold. At the
same time the forward wheels seemed TO
be lifted from the rails. and the conductor.
thinking the car was of the track, gave
the signal to stop. But by the time the
motorman stopped the car It had again SET
tied on the rails, and the car had passed
over the west track OF the Broadway cable.
Then the motorman and the conductor,
looking under the car. saw the mangled
remains of a human body. And the body
was fearfuqy mangled. The head and face
were gashed until they bore only the SEM
blance of human shape. and one arm was
almost severed. The car had passed over
which lay just at the east rail OF the Broad
way cable. The dead wagon was summon
ed by one Of the passengers on the car.
ana the remains were taken of. Mike Gull
len. who lives at the lodging house OF the
Salvation Army. on Ninth street. near
Market. Identified the body ~ that OF
Dublin Fox
Dublin" Fox was ''whistling Jack" He
was an Irishman whose sole fault, accord
ing to those who knew him, was that he
drank Just as much as his means would
permit. All who knew 'Whistling Jack"
says the Globe-Democrat agreed that there
was some mystery concerning him which he
concealed even when drunkest That he
had received a classical education was
made manifest ON many. occasions. and
that he had wit that was scintillant all
Acknowledged Yet. despite these resources
ne made his precarious living by PLAYING
crowd of roysterers he CHANGED to meet.
depending on their generosity to supply
him with sufficient to keep himself drunk.
And on this tin whistle. 1t is agreed. he
was a wonderful musician. Never was he
asked to play a tune that he did not COM
ply, whether II was "The Wearing OF the
Green or the intermezxo from "Cavaiieria
Rusticana." 1t is said of him that he had
discovered means OF sounding sharp and
m m nf inG
from which others at best can extract only
torture. The whistle he carried always
with him. Dry. and without a cent. he
would enter some bar room where there
was congregation OF men, and, without
awaiting an invitation. would pull his
whistle from the inside pocket of his coat
and begin an air. In moment there was
q hush. for his almost mystic power over
this piece of tin commanded enraptured at
tention. Always the first piece was OF his
own selection After that his programme
was "by request" and when It had been
concluded he would pass the hat.
II you engaged him In conversation you
would find that. IN the vernacuiar OF the
street. he was mo fool" You would dis
cover that he had imbibed the melody OF
the poets. as well az whisky. and that his
familiarity with mythology and ancient
and modern history was apt TO place a
blush of shame on your own erudition He
had been In the British army. and his
knowledge OF military science and tactics
was a revelation 10 those who. Judging by
his appearance. noted him only a drunken
sot.
''whis,ling jack was likewise a wit.
Founders in st. Louis who, when upon
their good behavior, would not notice
him. would bait him and then sit back
and watch with delighted wonder the
binding flashes OF his intellect. withal
he was sood-natured and a Bohemian
innate. As soon he had got some
money by playing bis whistle. the whistle
would be restored to his pocket, and going
down TO some OF the saloons on Market or
Walnut street he would gather those OF
his kind and buy whisky as long as the
money held out. Sometimes. because OF
the size OF the crowd. among whom 1t had
70 be distributed. the money was not
sufficient 10 purchase a "forgetful drink"
and on such occasions ''whistling Jack"
taking his whistle In hand. would leave
the place, bidding hts companions 20
await his return. IN the course OF a few
hours "WhiStling jack was back with
a handful OF nickels and dimes. and with
a shout OF welcome the crowd would
circle around him. TO remain until the
drink stole consciousness from them.
There's mourning in not a few grogger-
les that "Whlstling Jack" Is gone. He
had that irresistible good nature which
none could withstand Sometimes. when
broke. he was not Ia the mood Of playing
the whistle. Always he could get drink:
for. albeit the ''bArkeep'' would start out
by gritty declaring that he was not run
ming a charity joint. ''whistIng jack
never failed TO eatice the bottle 10 the
counter by hts good-natgred raillery. "Oh.
( Dim a dlvVle." he would say as the bottle
appeared after one az these appeals
Sometimes a.so "WhiStling Jack" would
lose his whistle. and he would sober up
without either money or whistle. Then
you could sec him making his way toward
little music instrument store on South
Broadway. Mistress nm, and would yez
give use an instrument as lost mine 2"
The instrument was always forthcoming.
and in the courss of an hour or two you
could sec "whiStling Jack go back TO
the store with a nickel to pay for H.
'Nhisliing Jack" had been IN st, Louis
OF end on fer nsteen years He Travelled
up and down the Mississippi from St Paul
to New Orleans He never got away frcTn
the river. II is said, possible explanation
OF which circumstance Is that when he hal