The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1904-03-31
BRILLIANT RACE OF A DOG.
June Bug Express is Defeated-Jumbo,
Setter Belonging to Rufus Hunter,
Runs Even With Statesviile Train
From HuntersvilIe to Charlotte.
Charlotte Observer

Rufus II. Hunter, the young brother
OF Mr. Leonard L. Hunter, the archi-
tect, OF this city, has a big setter dog
named Jumbo who won renown yes
terday by racing even with the June
Bug Express from Huntersville to
this city, Il distance of fourteen miles
The June Bug Express, which is
sometimes known as the regular pas
senger train running on the Atlantic,
Tennessee & Ohio Railway, reached
Huntersville yesterday morning just
before noon. Jumbo. a large, hand
some dog, followed Rufus Hunter, his
master, to the station. and when the
train came and young Hunter board
ed it, Jumbo climbed up on the car.
He was showed away; Hunter took
his seat, end the June Bug Express,
travelling under the guidance of Capt.
Tom Rowland, resumed it's spirited
Journey
The train had not been running
many minutes before Capt. Rowland
touched Hunter on the shoulder and
said:
''COme here and look"
Hunter followed him to the rear of
the train. Far down the straight
track was discernible a small but
rapidly moving body, running in the
middle OF the track. 1t was Jumbo,
half a mile in the rear. :
There are only two stations be-
tween Huntersville and Charlotte
Croft and Derita. Just before Croft
was reached Jumbo had disappeared
from view, and it was assumed that
he had gotten tired like a sensible
dog and had returned home. BY the
time the train reached Croft the pas
sengers and the engineer had heard
of Jumbo's gallant pursuit and were
very much interested in the matter.
The Express remained only few
minutes at Croft, and then started
away on a quick run. Before it had
gone any great distance Capt. Row
land again approached Hunter. He
had q strained, nervous look on his
face
II am not certain abont the mat
ter he said 1T can't be true, but
| wish you'd come back here and take
another look
Again the two men went to the
end of the rear coach. Silently Row
| land held out a hand and pointed.
| Way in the distance was moving
body, still running between the rails.
The head was thrown back slightly,
| and it could be seen that there was
| determination in every spring.
THAT" said Mr.. Hunter, sis jun
Boz
| All the passengers became excited
overthe pluck and prowess OF Jumbo
The conductor and the engineer be.
came bored. The June Bug Express
to be beaten by a dOg-a mere setter
dog named Jumbo, from Hunters.
vile. What ignominy!
The engine made an extra squirt
| and when Derita was reached nc
Jumbo was to be seen. Quickly the
trainmen attended to the little work
to be done at that small station, and
the train went away with a jerk and
a roar, and an evident purpose tc
leave Jumbo beyond all reckoning.
But that setter dog was deep-lunged
and game to the heart. 1t was cleal
that he had not been full y advised as
to how far the train would go, OF
when it would stop, but he was GER
tain of one thing: it carried his young
| master, and therefore it was thing
to be pursued SO long as his limbs
gave him strength to run.
Derita is only five miles from town
One mile out OF Derita passenger
standing on the rear of the June Bus
looked far off in the distance and saw
a faint speck, an atom that spec
along on the railway track.
| Tom Rowland was grim and per
picked. The engineer was vexed, ant
permitted to June Bug to do all i
knew how. The passengers were max
ing even bets.
There was a long, silent look, an
then
THE dogs gaining" said a voice
| 1t was even so. The broad, dee
chest of Jumbo, his long, supple legs
and that positive characterised OF hi
head, were not given to him for moth
ing. Tired he must have been ate
his mad race of ten miles, but hi
ambition and the love that wa
singing in his soul spurred him o
and on.
And, while Tom Rowland softl
swore. Jumbo gained on that Jun
Bug Express, the pride of States
vile and the glory OF Alexande
county.
When the suburbs were reache
Jumbo was in plain view. His secOn
wind had come to him. He had sci
tied to a swinging movement tina
had been unknown to him as he ha
formed shifting semi-circles owe
stubblefelds in search of partridge'
He had dropped professionalism, an
was pure dog-a dog to the hear
| He had thrown back till the deepes
primitive chords were touched. A
of him was reused and dominate
bv the best of a dog1the best OF
man. Neither danger, nor unfal
ness. nor time, nor aught else, was
barrier in the way OF the dog VIII
had set out to run that race OF low
and simplicity. and faithfulness. =
And when Rufus Hunter stepped Q
the train Jumbo was there, and llcl
ed his hand. and beamed utter lo
ont of his ewes and was content. Ju:
because he was a dog his love cou!
only deepen and not abate; nor eou
, ANYTHING ever lessen his faith: Wea
r and sore as he was he showed a ha
! piness that was very beautiful as n
in q world that was new to hiI
l walked painfully by the side OF t.
n boy that he would have followed Z