Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1902-10-09
REMARKABLE JACkOAW,
Would Ride About London On Buses
and Street Cars.


| Though by no means aged as Jack
DAVIS go, the remarkable bird which
| has just died at the Angel, Brixton.
had made a considerable reputation
during the nearly IL years of its asso-
citation with mankind, and the orig
lnal purchase price of Is pence which
was paid by its owner, Mr.. Thomas
Beck, some 10 years ago, was but a
fraction of its value at the time Of its
death. Wonderful intelligence and no
less surprising originality of behavior
| were the characteristics of Jack, who
was a favorite with all in the Brixton
district, though his roaming habits had
made him not unfamiliar in other
parts Of the metropolis. In his very
early and irresponsible youth Jack
was mischievous daw. but after his
first owner, a little schoolboy, had
sold him to Mr.. Beck his manners be
came more sedate, though they never
lacked variety, the consequence being
that scores of Northumberland sto-
Ties are eXtant of the birds feats and
his remarkable intelligence and mem
Dry. His first home was private
house at Chaplain, but after he be-
came an inmate seven years ago of
the Angel, at the corner of Loughbor-
ough road, he took a more extended
view of life, until his exploits became
Of almost worldwide fame, for among
those who have been to pay him a
visit have been a large number of
Americans and Australians, who. see
ing, have coveted this sprightly bird
Jacks first fight from home was
when he sailed to the roof of a house
opposite the Angel He returned safe
ly to the call OF his master, but this
excursion evidently gave him con-
fidence, and thenceforward it was his
practice to leave and return to his
home whenever the spirit moved him.
In his restless moods it was his habit
to alight on the tram cars and buses
which passed his door and Journey
with the conductors to such places as
the Elephant and Castle, Westminster,
Blackfriars Bridge and Streatham.
Another favorite resort of this strange
after favoring the constables with his
company for an hour or two, he would
leave for home on a tram car, like the
Independent citizen he was. These
habits and the general friendliness he
displayed tward those who treated
him kindly made the jackdaw an i'm
mense favorite in the neighborhood.
and the news of his sudden death
brought great sorrow to his master
and mistress, as we'll as to his many
admirers. At home Jack led a very
systematic life. First and foremost
he was the confdante and personal
friend Of his owner, whom he followed
about the house and regarded with
remarkable fidelity. An original ge-
MUS, Jack scorned the roosting places
Of ordinary members of his species,
and chose as his perch the neck of a
wine bottle resting in a basket On the
bar counter. Settled here at bedtime
he sleepily said Good night in his
own bird language to his master, but
he was the first up in the morning,
and signified the same by regularly
rapping at Ir. Beck's bedroom door
Having superintendent his masters
Tubing operations, Jack invariably
hoped down to the bar, and, stand
ing in the basin under the water-tap.
waited till he received a ref eshing
shower. This was his daily bath,
which he never neglected.
At the time of his death Jack was
melting, and the day before he died
he took two baths, the suggestion be-
ing that he was trying to alleviate the
tiresOme irritation which accompanied
his annual feather shedding Whether
this had anything to do with his death
is not known, but the next morning
Jack was found dead underneath his
eXtemporiZed perch. This sharp
witted jackdaw, who was friendly with
all who behaved properly toward him.
never forgot a foe, and would unerr-
ingly recognize and attack persons
who had ill-treated him. He was a
clever trickster, and joke he some
times enjoyed was flying off with the
small change of unobservant custom
ers. Still, he never made an enemy
Jack will be stuffed and be represent
ed as perching on the bottle, his grasp
of which he relinguished when death
took him.-London Telegraph