Rumbling through the Mississippi countryside in this first Spring of the new century, Jonathan Luther "Casey" Jones had plenty of time to reflect back upon the events that led up to this moment - being an engineer on the Illinois Central Railroad. Here he was at last - at the throttle of one of the most coveted rail situations - the Cannonball Express.

As telegraph poles whizzed past like the pickets of a fence, he was reminded of his first official rail job - a cub operator in the Mobile & Ohio Railway yard in Columbus , Kentucky in 1878. It was there at the tender age of 15 that the nickname "Casey" was given to him by the crew since he was formerly from Cayce , Kentucky . The name stuck. He remembered the hard climb up the "iron horse" ladder as brakeman, then fireman on the M & O line between Jackson , Tennessee and Mobile , Alabama . Not long thereafter he also found and married the other love of his life - Janie Brady. Finally in 1888 he had made his long awaited move to the Illinois Central line as fireman on the Water Valley, Mississippi and Jackson , Tennessee Districts. The ICRR was showing a lot of promise in newer technology and also in position advancements - both of which were important to Casey. In two short years his dream had come true, he was now a full-fledged engineer on the ICRR. He had topped the ladder and in record time some folks said. And that's what Casey thrived upon - record time.

Passing by the still woodland ponds, heading north to Memphis , Casey's thoughts may have drifted back to the summer of 1893 when he attended the Chicago 's World Fair along the lake on the town's south side. The Illinois Central had the big, new freight engine No. 638 on royal display at the fair - it was love at first sight. At the close of the exhibition Casey got permission to run the engine back to Water Valley , Mississippi for service in the Jackson District . Streamers and banners still attached and flying magnificently, the No. 638 ran its first 589 miles with Casey at the throttle all the way to Water Valley . He loved that engine and was given the pleasure of her company for the next seven years. He was proud of the reputation he had along the tracks. Folks knew that when Casey was at the controls the train would be on time, "Getting her there on the advertised!" He heard folks say they could set their watches by listening to his custom made six-tone Calliope whistle that was characterized by the moaning and wailing whippoorwill sound.

Yes, and now this Spring in the year 1900, he was living his ultimate dream of being promoted to the fastest train run ever - the Cannonball Express between Memphis , Tennessee and Canton , Mississippi . This Rogers Ten-Wheeler, No. 382 had six drivers - each approximately six feet high. He fondly called her his "old girl in high heel slippers." She could scoot down the rails of this 188-mile stretch of track with tremendous speed and make up valuable time when necessary. But the run was deceiving, and tricky curves loomed ahead ... many quit their jobs or took demotions in order to avoid it. But not Casey ... he'd be here 'til he "got his orders for the promise land."

Sadly, on that fateful rainy night in the early hours of April 30, 1900 he got those "orders for the promise land." There are various accounts of what happened that legendary night, but most agree that Casey was making up time on a run that was not even scheduled for him. He filled in for another engineer and ran over 100 miles an hour on some stretches before nearing the depot at Vaughn , Mississippi . Unaware that a mainline was blocked and unable to see warnings through heavy fog and drizzle, Jones plowed into the caboose of a stranded southbound train. He had ordered his fireman, Sim Webb to jump, but Casey stayed at the throttle to the end - giving his crew and passengers their best chances of survival. He made his last heroic act, but lost his own life doing so. Shortly afterward, an engine wiper he knew from Canton , Wallace Saunders, composed the original ballad, "Casey Jones," that later was used to further the legend of its namesake. The last of the ten stanzas sums up the "Tribute to Casey" -

Headaches and heartaches
and all kinds of pain
Are not apart from a railroad train
Tales that are earnest, noble and grand
Belong to the life of a railroad man.

I want to extend my gratitude to those who have helped in our research of Casey Jones - Bruce Gurner of Water Valley, Mississippi , the operators of the Casey Jones Museum in Jackson , Tennessee , the ICRR Historical Society, and the Kalmbach Memorial Library in Chattanooga , Tennessee.