Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1903-02-25
A RFMARKABEE IAcKpAw.
Rode About London on the Buses
and Street Cars.

has just died'at the Angel, Brixton,
says the London Telegraph, had made
considerable reputation during the
nearly II years of its association with
mankind, and the original purchase
phce of 18 pence which was paid by
its owner, MI. Thomas Beck, some
ten years ago, was but a fraction of its
value at the time Of its death. Won
derful intelligence and no less sur
prising originality of behavior were
the characteristics Of Jack, who vas
favorite with all in the Brixton dis
trict, 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 became
more sedate, though they never
lacked variety, the consequence being
that scores Of well-authenticated
stories are extant of the birds feats
and his remarkable intelligence and
memory. His first home was a pri-
vate house at Clapham, but after he
became an inmate seven years ago OF
the Angel, at the corner of Lough-
borough road, he took more extend
ed view of life, until his exploits be-
came of almost worldwide fame, for
among those who have BEEN to pay
him visit have been a large number
of Americans and Australians, who,
seeing, have coveted the sprightly
bird.
Jacks first flight from home was
when he sailed to the roof Of a house
opposite the Angel He returned
safely to the call of his master, but
this excursion evidently gave him
confidence, and thenceforward it was
his practice to leave and return to his
home whenever the spiritmoyed 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 Westmin-
ster, Blackfriars bridge and Streat-
ham. Another fayorite resort of this
strange bird was the police station,
whence, after favoring the consta-
bles with his company for an hour or
two, he would leave for home on a
tram car, like the Independent eiti-
zen he was. These habits and the
general friendliness he displayed to-
ward those who treated him kindly
made the jackdaw an immense ia
vorite in the neighborhood, and the
news Of his sudden death brought
great sorrow to his master and mis-
tress, as well az to his many admirers.
Jack led very systematic life. First
and foremost he was the confdant
and personal friend of his owner,
whom he followed about the house
and regarded with remarkable fdel-
ity. An original genius, Jack scorned
the roosting places Of ordinary mem
bers of his species, and chose as his
perch the neck of wine bottle rest
ing in basket on the bar counter.
Settled here at bedtime, he sleepily
said Goodnight" in his own bird
language to his master, but he was
the first UP in the morning, and sig
nifed the same by regularly rapping
at Mr.. Becks bedroom door. Having
superintendent his masters Tubing
operations, Jack invariably hoped
down to the bar, and, standing in the
basin under the water tap, waited till
he received a refreshing 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
being that he was trying to alleviate
the tiresome irritation which accom-
panied his annual feather shedding.
Whether TINS had anything to do
with his death is not known, but the
next morning Jack was found dead
underneath his extemporized perch.
The sharp-witted jackdaw, who was
friendly with all who behaved prop
erly toward him, never forgot foe,
and would unerringly recognize and |
attack persons who had ill-treated |
him. He was a clever trickster, and |
a joke he sometimes enjoyed was fly |
ing off with the small change of !
unobserVant customers. Still, he
never made an enemy. Jack will be !