Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1910-12-15
THE FAST
MAIL RACE

tired on q pension. Perhaps you don't
know who Little Johnny" jackson Is?
In that case you might as well be told
at once that he Is the best engineer
Of his weight that ever pulled throt.
lie, and that for the last ten years Of
his career he ran the Northwestern
fast mail train between Boone and
Omaha. making q record that the very
best Of them cannot put In the shade.
Little Johnny" Jackson in running
trim never weighed NOR than ninety
pounds, and he was 30 little that he
couldn't pull the reverse lever over
without the help Of good brace or Of
the fireman. He was q bunch Of
nerves and Of gray matter, however.
was little Johnny Jackson, and his
grit and fearlessness will be the Cos
sip Of the switch shanty after "John-
ny" quits drawing a pension.
Only few days ago w. A. Gardner,
vice president Of the Northwestern,
received an express package which
proved TO be q rather elaborate box,
one Of the kind that makes the re-
cipiont think that perhaps a rich rela.
tive has sent an ante-mortem legacy.
When he got the cover OF, however.
he discovered q single cigar securely
wrapped in gold foil and done I'D In q
note.
my dear Mr.. Gardner" ran the
note, when you sent me that box Of
cigars after the first run Of the fast
mail. when we ran the wheels OF the
Burlington. you told me to save two.
30 we could smoke them together
when sc got the time. I've got time
to burn now, and 30 I send you yours.
when you've got time, I'm ready for
that smoke"
Mr.. Gardner put the cigar In thel
box. locked It up in his desk, and the
next time he goes to Omaha he d 60
ing 10 take It with him.
I'm going to look Johnny Jack
son up." he declared, land you can bet
that the greatest little engineer that
ever climbed onto the footboard and
your humble servant are going to en-
Joy q good smoke and swap stories Of
old times"
You see II It had not been for Mr..
Gardner Little Johnny" Jackson
might never have run the fast mail,
and II Little Johnny" Jackson hadn't
run the fast mail It is likely that the
Northwestern would not have won the
greatest 600-mile train race with q
million dollar contract for q purse
that was ever run. Mr.. Gardner al.
ways had faith in Johnny"
ANY man with only ninety pounds
at his disposal" he said, who had the
grit to back up to a tender loaded
with eight tons Of coal and empty It
every day is good enough to ruin our
best train when his time comes"
Pretty nearly everything depended
upon the engineers and the flremen.
and there were many conferences re-
garding the matter. Gardner was for
Little Johnny" Jackson first, last
and all the time for the last division
into Omaha Other officials said:
Hes too light. We want a man
who won't have to tie himself into the
seat II we have to roll them at ninety
miles or better. Ninety pounds won't
hold that Job down."
IF ninety pounds won't win It, then
we'll lose." declared the general man.
ager. And that settled It.
The story Of the fast mail train race
between the Northwestern and the
Burlington has been often told and
needs no repeating. The fast mail
went into Boone fifteen minutes late.
and the ofiicials and newspaper men
on board were In despair, all except
Gardner. Little Johnny" jackson
was waiting to be hooked on. o
Gardner climbed into the cab as the
engine backed down and asked John
ny" what was the best he could do to
Omaha.
Don't know. Never had a chance
to try" answered Johnny" and Card
ner began to be sorry he had trusted
the fast mail to ninety pounds Of flesh
and bones. The general manager look
ed at Johnny" rather hopelessly and
Johnny" grinned.
IF you really want to know what Il
is to ride FAST" he said, "kill this
train, give me q special schedule, clear
the track and keep your hands on the
emergency cord"
I'll do It." snapped Gardner.
While the train was being inspected
Gardner had the dispatcher annul the
fast mail and tie up the line to oma'
ha. Little Johnny" jackson slid out
Of Boone easy Ike" and soon had her
going like q scared rabbit He let q
melancholy wail escape from the whis-
tie and hit the tangents 30 hard that
the mail clerks had to brace them
selves against the racks. Long before
Missouri valley was reached Johnny
had made up the lost time and was
fifteen minutes 10 the good From
MisSouri valley into Omaha II IL q
water Grade an the distance, and the
way he made the landscape Of that
twenty-six miles tear past the rear end
was enough 10 make q hardened gen.
eral manager dizzy with stage fright.
To make q long story short, Johnny
Jackuon brought the fast mail into
- a. 49, - ~,haH,,ln ehak