Page 4 THE SAUGUS ADVOCATE – FriDAy, MAy 9, 2025 ~ The Old Sachem ~ The final train ride for Casey Jones By Bill Stewart Y ou have probably heard one of the songs about Casey Jones and his train crash on April 30, 1900, in Vaughan, Mississippi. There are about 40 of the songs, some by featured artists like Johnny Cash and some by unknowns. John Luther “Casey” Jones was a railroader for the Illinois Central Railroad and was 8 Norwood St. Everett (617) 387-9810 Open Tues. - Sat. at 4:00 PM Closed Sun. & Mon. Announcing our Classic Specials Dine In Only: * FREE Salad with purchase of Entree, Tuesdays & Wednesdays * Cheese Pizza - Only $10 Catch ALL The Live Sports Action On Our Large Screen TV’s Scan & Follow Us on Facebook! REMEMBERING | FROM PAGE 3 www.810bargrille.com Everett Supplies Aluminum 10 Everett Ave., Everett 617-389-3839 Celebrating 66 Years in Business! •Vinyl Siding •Free Estimates •Carpentry Work •Fully Licensed •Decks •Roof ng • Fully Insured • Replacement Windows www.everettaluminum.com Now’s the time to schedule those home improvement projects you’ve been dreaming about all winter! new camp in a cattle car with other sick and wounded prisoners. “The new camp at Stalag XIII, located at Nurnberg, was a filthy, vermin ridden hole. In a report dated February 25, 1945, First Lt. Richard Brady stated the following about the conditions found at Stalag XIII, D. “The POW camps are within the railroad lines and are being bombed day and night. There are no slit trenches or shelters for POWS to use. They are kept in overcrowded barracks at gunpoint. “Inadequate food and clothing leading to starvation. Vegetables are full of worms, unhealthy and are contributing to the lowering of any resisREMEMBERING | SEE PAGE 6 Spring is Here! noted for his very punctual schedules. He often drove his trains under a degree of risk in speeds that might cause derailment. On the afternoon of April 29, 1900, he replaced the regular engineer, which left him without sleep. After his run, he took over his scheduled job as engineer on the train, which was a passenger service from Memphis to Canton, Mississippi, departing 75 minutes late because of the previous run. He ran the powerful 10-wheeler Engine number 382, which was named the “Cannonball.” As the train approached the town of Vaughan at a very high speed, he was not aware that the station had three trains occupying it. One of the trains had broken down and was in his path. There were claims that he ignored his flagman signaling as to trouble ahead, but this was never substantiated. There was a degree of fog, which contributed to the crash. He avoided a spectacular crash using his skill to slow down his train, as he could see that he was about to crash. His flagman was able to jump off the train upon noticing the problem and was unhurt. The passengers were also not strongly hurt, although some required treatment. But Casey was killed. His saving of the passengers while remaining to the end to slow the train led to the song “The Ballad of Casey Jones.” Jones was born in rural southeastern Missouri and the family later moved to Cayce, Kentucky; this earned him the name he chose, Casey. He started as a telegraph operator for the Mobile & Ohio Railroad and did his job very well; he was promoted to brakeman on the Columbus, Kentucky to Jackson, Tennessee line. Because of an outbreak of yellow fever epidemic in the summer of 1887, he was promoted to engineer. He became known as one of the best engineers on the line – known for his insistence that he “got her there on the adver“The Old Sachem,” Bill Stewart. (Courtesy photo to The Saugus Advocate by Joanie Allbee) tised time” – and it was known that people set their watches by Casey. He was also known in the area for rescuing a child from the tracks in Michigan City, Mississippi. Now you know more about the making of the song and of the heroic action of Casey Jones, who saved the lives of passengers while losing his own. (Editor’s Note: Bill Stewart, who is better known to Saugus Advocate readers as “The Old Sachem,” writes a weekly column – sometimes about sports. He also opines on current or historical events or famous people.)
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