The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1910-09-29
THE FAST
MAIL RACE

NOW who Little Johnny" jackson Is?
h that case you might as we'll be told
It once that he is the best engineer
4 his weight that ever pulled a throt-
le, and that for the last ten years Of
Us career he ran the 'Northwestern's
asst mail train between Boone and
>maha, making a record that the very
vest Of them cannot put in the shade.
Little Johnny" Jackson in running
rim never weighed more than ninety
ounds, and he was SO little that he
puldn't pull the reverse lever over
Without the help Of good brace or of
he fireman. He was a bunch of
,erves and Of gray matter, however,
Tas Little Johnny" Jackson, and his
Tit and fearlessness will be the Cos
DIP of the switch shanty after John
"" quits drawing a pension.
Only a few days ago w. A. Gardner.
dee president Of the Northwestern,
eceived an express package which
roved to be a rather elaborate box,
me of the kind that makes the re-
dpient think that perhaps a rich rela.
i've has sent an ante-mortem legacy.
When he got the cover of, however,
te discovered a single cigar securely
Wrapped in gold foil and done up in a
tote.
my dear Mr.. Gardner" ran the
tote, when you sent me that box of
dgars after the first run of the fast
nail, when we ran the wheels of the
Burlington, you told me to save two,
% we could smoke them together
Vhen &c got the time. I've got time
o burn now, and so I send you yours.
zhen you've got time, I'm ready for
hat smoke"
Mr.. Gardner put the cigar in the
.ox, locked it up in his desk. and the
lext time he goes to Omaha he is go
ng to take it with him.
I'm going to look Johnny Jack.
On up" he declared, "and you can bet
hat the greatest little engineer that
Wer climbed onto the footboard and
TOUR humble servant are going to en-
10y a good smoke and swap stories of
I'D times"
You see If it had not been for MI.
Gardner Little Johnny" jackson
night never have run the fast mail,
md If Little johnny Jackson hadn't
tun the fast mail it is likely that the
Northwestern would not have won the
greatest 500-mile train race with a
million dollar contract for a purse
hat was ever run. Mr.. Gardner al
ways had faith in Johnny"
ANY man with only ninety pounds
It his disposal" he said, "who had the
Erit to back up to a tender loaded
With eight tons of coal and empty it
Every day is good enough to run our
Iest train when his time comes"
Pretty nearly everything depended
lpon the engineers and the fremen,
md there were many conferences re-
yarding the matter. Gardner was for
Little Johnny" Jackson first, last
ind 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
,eat If we have to roll them at ninety
niles or better. Ninety pounds won't
iold that job down."
IF ninety pounds won't win it, then
yell lose" declared the general man
lger. 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
vent into Boone fifteen minutes late,
Ind the officials and newspaper men
pm board were in despair, all except
Gardner. Little Johnny jackson
a waiting to be hooked on.
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
70 try" answered Johnny" and Gard
aer began to be sorry he had trusted
he fast mail to ninety pounds of flesh
md bones. The general manager look
I'd at Johnny rather hopelessly and
Johnny grinned.
IF you really want to know what it
IS to ride FAST" he said, "kill this
rain, give me a special schedule, clear
he track and keep your hands off the
emergency cord"
I'll do it," snapped Gardner.
While the train was being inspected
Gardner had the dispatcher annul the
last mail and tie up the line to Oma.
Ia. Little Johnny" Jackson slid out
IF Boone "easy like" and soon had her
going like a scared rabbit. He let a
melancholy wall escape from the ewhis-
lie and hit the tangents so hard that
the mail clerks had to brace them
,elves against the racks. Long before
Missouri valley was reached Johnny
had made up the lost time and was
fifteen minutes to the good. From
Missouri valley into Omaha it is a
water grade all the distance, and the
way he made the landscape Of that
wenty-six miles tear past the rear end
was enough to make a hardened gen.
oral manager dizzy with stage fright.
70 make a long story short, Johnny
Jackson brought the fast mail into
Omaha so far ahead of schedule that
Gardner had the newspaper men eat
ing their breakfast at the hotel be.