The Montgomery tribune., 1910-09-16
THE FAST
MAIL RACE

KNOW VINO 'Llttle johnny JdChSOH iS!
In that case you might as we'll be told
at once that he is the best engineer
of his weight that ever pulled throt-
tie, and that for the last ten years OF
his career he ran the Northwestern's /
fast mail train between Boone and |
Omaha, making a record that the very |
best of them cannot put In the shade. |
Little Johnny" Jackson in running |
trim never weighed more than ninety
pounds, and he was so little that he |
couldn't pull the reverse lever over |
without the help of good brace or OF |
the fireman. He was a bunch OF !.
nerves and Of gray matter, however. |
was Little Johnny" Jackson, and his
grit and fearlessness will be the gos-
sip of the switch shanty after John |
ny" quits drawing a pension.
Only a few days ago w. A. Gardner,
vice president Of the Northwestern,
received an express package which
proved to be rather elaborate box.
one of the kind that makes the re-
cipient think that perhaps rich rela-
tive has sent an ante-mortem legacy.
When he got the cover Off, however.
he discovered single cigar securely
wrapped in gold foil and done up in
mote.
"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 off the
Burlington, you told me to save two,
80 we could smoke them together
when ge got the time. I've got time
to burn now, and so send you yours.
when you've got time, I'm ready for
that smoke"
Mr. Gardner put the cigar in the
box, locked 1t up in his desk, and the
next time he goes to Omaha he Is 60
ing to 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 good smoke and swap stories of
old times"
You see if it had not been for Mr..
Gardner Little Johnny" Jackson
might never have run the fast mail,
and if Little Johnny" Jackson hadn't
run the fast mail 1t is likely that the
Northwestern would not have won the
greatest 500-mile train race with
million dollar contract for a 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 1t
every day is good enough to run our
best train when his time comes"
Pretty nearly everything depended
,uccn the engineers and the f1remen,
land there were many conferences re-
Little Johnny" Jackson first, last
and all the time for the last division
into Omaha. Other officials said:
He's too light. We want man
who won't have to tie himself into the
lseat If we have to roll them at ninety
miles or better Ninety pounds won't
hold that job down."
"If ninety pounds won't win 1t, then
we'll lose," declared the general man.
The story of the fast mail train race
lbetween the Northwestern and the
Burlington has been often told and
needs no repeating. The fast mai
went into Boone fifteen minutes late
and the officials and newspaper mer
on board were in despair, all except
Gardner. Little Johnny" Jackson
was waiting to be hooked on.
Gardner climbed into the cab as the
lengine backed down and asked John
ny" what was the best he could do tt
Omaha.
Don't know. Never had a chance
to try" answered Johnny" and Gard
ner began to be sorry he had trusted
the fast mail to ninety pounds of flesl
and bones. The general manager look
ed at Johnny" rather hopelessly ant
l"Johnny" grinned.
IF you really want to know what 1
is to ride FAST" he said, kill thi
train, give me special schedule. clea
the track and keep your hands off th'
emergency cord"
"I'l do it." snapped Gardner.
While the train was being inspecte'
Gardner had the dispatcher annul th
fast mail and tie up the line to Oma
lha Little Johnny" Jackson slid ou
iof Boone "easy like" and soon had he
going like scared rabbit. He let
melancholy wall escape from the whis
tie and hit the tangents so hard tina
the mail clerks had to brace them
selves against the racks, Long befor
Missouri valley was reached Johnny
had made up the lost time and wa
fifteen minutes to the good. Fron
Missouri valley into Omaha 1t is
water grade all the distance, and tn
way he made the landscape of tina
twenty-six miles tear past the rear en-
was enough to make hardened ger
seral manager dizzy with stage fright
TO make long story short Johnny