The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-22
Busy Days on the Fast Mail
By JASPER HUNNIcUTT, r. p. c.


rostaI clerk ended ingloriously. but no one
a. home surmised that fact Therefore my
rsappearance on the peaceful streets OF
Jimpsonhurst was the signal for an ova-
ton. Every sawyer deserted his woodpile
and followed me TO the store. The smith
.topped his clinking The men pitching
horseshoes suspended the game TO become
a part OF my retinue. the rear of which
was brought up by a man with an ak.
This article. however, was not carried
a weapon, but TO prevent the small boys
from concealing it under the pile of wood.
When settled in the warm corner many
questions were asked
do you Ike the business pretty well
now that you have learned it?''
us the wages good?"
''Do you put off just so much mail at each
town. OF is it according to the size of the
placer
"Do you have to know all the stations
siong the road?"
To the latter I replied that we must
know all the stations on all the roads in
several States. This did not repeat, how
ever. for fear of encroaching on the reputa-
ton of Baron Munchausen. 1t was ex-
asperating to find that my explanation re-
suited only in confusion TO my hearers,
who still believed that postal clerk begins
his trip with a sack for each station, the
delivery of which comprised his whole
duty. Yet some of them must have heard
nv exposition twenty times. as all re-
NAMED to hear it repeated to each new
arrival. Although acute enough on other
subjects, the postal system remained to
Cos inc
terry. This did not lessen my Importance
in their estimation.
The Jimpsonhurst Avalanche said, in
large headlines: Jasper Hunnicutt honors
our town with a visit. He is said TO be one
of the most efficient clerks in the service
Following was an account of my early life.
I was not proud. however. Some official
correspondence prevented that condition. a
postal clerk may always "be sure his sin
will find him out" as every package of let
ters or sack of papers Is accompanied by
slip on which is stamped the name of the
clerk who placed the mail therein, with
date OF trip and train number. Any errors
found in the mail by the postmaster or
clerk receiving the same are noted on this
slip, which is then sent to the division SUI
perintendent. This official then takes up the
matter with the delinquent clerk. Other ir-
Irregularities are traced likewise.
On my first trip had knocked some poul-
try crates off a station platform with the
mail sacks at place where the train did
not stop. The owner complained to the rail-
road superintendent. His letter said: 81
dond like dot way some Mein shickens was
settin' on der platform, and mailman
knocked dem off already yet. DOn'd 1 got
some pay for dot, mebbe?" The superin-
tendent referred it to the station agent for
complete report. The agent referred it TO
the section foreman, who had recaptured
the fowls The foreman made the follow
ing prejudiced statement: 81 thin me-
sif knocked off the platform by the male
missinger. who did IT INTENTIONALLY. So did
Dennis O'Toole and Mike Malone. We
ketched the fools which out of As hins got
out thay was all ded but A. He kilt a good
dog, too" The station agent certified to
this statement, except as TO the value OF
the dog, and returned the correspondence
TO the railroad superintendent, who at
tached letter and forwarded it to the r.
NJ. S. superintendent. That official sent 1t
TO the chief clerk OF the line 'for proper
attention." referring to Section 7-11-47, p,
/. & r. 1t came next to the clerk in charge
of the crew in which had performed serv-
fee. He attached letter insisting that
''Sub. Hunnicutt was properly instructed"
and that the property should not have
been placed so near the track. This re-
ferred the matter again to the railroad
company, and when it finally reached me
''for explanation" there were forty pages
of the correspondence. was, of course, in
despair. but the department was very leni-
ent concerning this and other irregularities
OF my first trip
I had been ordered to learn the State of
Kansas Postal clerks have a peculiar
method OF study. Each postoffice in the
State is written on a card as IL IL were a
letter. On the reverse side is written the
name Of the railroad on which ii is sit
uated. Day after day 1 sat turing these
cards, trying TO impress them on my mem
DRY. Sometimes in one day I would get a
hundred postoffices located, but during the
night they would all change places with
one another. Towns. therefore. that had
learned to be among the Eastern valleys of
corn would, before morning, slip away out
to the Western plains strewn with buffalo
bones After endless repetition Kansas
lay before my mental gaze as a picture:
dreams continued mentally touring the
State like an uneasy ghost.
certified substitute clerk while wait
ing for his regular appointment. performs
service only in lieu of some clerk who may
be absent from duty. 1t was long before
was called for the second trip. This caused
me to become detected, but none perceived
IT except certain young lady. Her name
was Stella, and she had eyes that read my
thoughts with kind of starlike vision. We
met for moment she was driving to
town. Her horse, which was named after
the Filipino leader. refused to stand still
except on his hind feet. She laughed about
my newspaper fame and inquired how I
succeeded on the mail train. 1 shook my
head. and a look OF concern flashed over
her face.
''Well." she said. ''you know my specific
remedy for the woes OF all men--something
good to eat. Come tomorrow evening at
six and I will guarantee a cure-or no
pay"
AguinaIdo was restored to a horizontal
Dosftfon-aud she was gone Tho invite ton