The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1901-01-22
A FOur-FOOtsd Mail Carrier

els hu4 lNl-A - 80 - ~r---~-~
Ne, correspondent in the New York
Sun. The nearest postofice is at East
Bucksport, a half mile across the pond,
bur more than three miles by the road.
For fifty years the residents have
carried their mails to and from the
distant posting place. using up many
years Of time to keep in touch with
the outside world. In 1898. when
Shafter and Sampson we're pounding 1
away at the south side Of Cuba, the
citizens could stand their isolation no
longer, and sent a petition to Senator
Hale. asking for a postofice and re-
questing that it be named Santiago.
The demand was granted SO quickly
that everybody wished he had thought
Of such a plan twenty-five years be-
fore and began to count the hours and
horse shoes that had been worn out
going after mails and bringing them
home
No sooner was an ONCE established
than every resident OF Santiago had
an idea that he was the proper person
to carry the mails. The second assist
ant postmaster general received a doz-
en- letters from Santiago by every mail.
Petitions poured in. filling the mail
bags and thereby increasing the earn
ings OF the fortunate man who should
get the coveted place. Santiago is four
miles distant from Dedham, from
which place It IL only two miles to
Georges Corner on the line Of the Bar
Harbor railroad. On the south side,
however, it was but three miles from
East Bucksport, where a railroad con-
meets with Bangor The northern
route was the longer distance, but the
time required was less, owing to the
nearness OF the mail cars. Here was
a question that puzzled the Washing
ton officials. An inspector was sent
down, who made a report, after which
a surveyor was sent to measure the
two routes in order to find their ex-
act length.
Meantime John Hubbard Of Santia-
go. had been carrying the daily mail to
East Bucksport, crossing on the Ice In
the winter and making a wide detohr
around the pond during warm weather
An aged Newfoundland dog, who had
earned retirement in 4 bear fight years
before, was Hubbard's attendant on
every trip. The dog was in the habit
of following the mail wagon down In
the forenoon, and then If the day
proved warm, he would swim back
home, allowing Hubbard to go his
roundabout course alone. Hubbard
noted the action Of the dog and came
to the conclusion that he could make
some profit by cultivating the habit.
He was making two trips day, which
was waste OF good time, when he
could make the dog perform one trip
alone and thus have the whole after
noon left for hunting bears. The next
morning he forgot to feed the dog be-
fore starting out. On arriving at East
Buckport he took the postmaster aside
and conhded his plan for carrying the
mails by dog power.
Here's a water-tight bag" SAID
Hubbard. "I'll chain up the dog be-
fore / 60 home. want you to keep
him fast until the mail comes from
Bucksport. Don't feed him or 90 near
him. AS soon as the mail gets in tic
the bag to ms neck and let him go
I'll warrant he'll get the mail to San
tiago ahead OF time"
Hubbard's idea worked splendidiy
all summer. The dog was at home anC
the mail was distributed inside Of hal
an hour, while It had always taker
Hubbard more than an hour to g
around the pond. He was saving tim'
and money and giving perfect salts
! faction. Along in the middle OF Octo'
Der there came a day that was cold
J SO that shell ice formed on the pond
} Later the wind grew to gale. Wher
the stage came in there was big bun
! die of mail for Santiago, consisting 0
political documents for the voters an'
: a score or SO of official reports from
Washington. The mail route fight a
Sa- tiago had made the place famous
. Postmaster Hewey tied the heavy mas
, to the dogs neck with many misgiv
! ings. Then he fed three links OF neV
s sausage to the animal and cut It loose
That night the nelghbors waited un
til 9 o'clock for the arrival Of the NAL
which was due two hours earlier
Then Hubbard harnessed his horse an
: drove furiously to East Bucksport Z
d look up his dog. He did not return un
2 I'll nearly midnight. Patrons Of San
3 tiago postoflce knew what had hap
4 pened as soon as they looked at HUI
Z bard's face. The dog had attempte
I to swim the pond carrying heav
e load, in the face Of rough water an
e high wind, and had been browne
p while in the performance Of bis dut'
o They dragged the pond for two day
before the body was found. The ma
was unharmed. They buried the do
" under a big apple tree.