The lonesome call of Casey Jones famous “whippoorwill” locomotive whistle echoed once again across tin fields and down the track at Vaughan Miss., recently.

The whistle-blowing was part of ceremony, held on July 24, which saw railroad history come to life in this little village located 14 miles north Canton on the main line of the Illinois Central. On that day, more than 3000 persons gathered to witness the unveiling of a bronze marker at the spot where Casey Jones, hero of American railroading folklore, met his fate on the night of April 29, 1900.

On the speakers platform, set up for the occasion, sat two persons more closely associated with the events of that night than anybody else. One was Janie Jones, widow of the famed

Legendary figures come to life at Casey Jones memorial program. In the front row are (left) Sim Webb, Casey's fireman and (right) Mrs. Jones, Casey's widow.

engineer celebrated in song and story. Mrs. Jones, described by the newspapers as “a sprightly woman of 81 years with red hair still showing through the gray,” was making her first appearance at the scene of the accident. The other person was Sim Webb, the Negro fireman who rode with Casey on that fateful night.

Mrs. Jones, whose home is in Jackson, Tenn., appeared on the program as the guest of the Yazoo County Chamber of Commerce, sponsors of the affair. She arrived in Vaughan on Train No. 1, the Illinois Central’s City of New Orleans streamliner. Train No. 1 was the same train piloted by her husband on the history-making run, only then it was called the “Cannonball Express.”

The bronze marker, which bears Casey Jones’ name, was erected along the highway,

Engineer T. W. Kennedy of Memhis reads the eulogy of another Illinois Central engineer on bronze highway marker at Vaughan, Miss.

opposite the spot where he was killed, by the Mississippi Historical Commission. Beneath Casey’s name, the following legend appears: “A famous ballad, the folklore of American railroading, and a postage stamp commemorate the colorful and courageous engineer who was killed in a wreck here in 1900.”

Before she unveiled the marker, Mrs. Jones expressed her appreciation to the audience for the effort made to perpetuate the memory of her husband. She was grateful, she said, that in later years the incident had brought her fame and some fortune. As to the last verse of the Casey Jones ballad which mentions “a daddy on the Salt Lake Line,” Mrs. Jones said she requests that it never be sung, especially in her presence. Then, with her well-known wit, she said, “If there was such a man, the devil hasn’t shown up In 58 years!”

The memory of Casey’s last ride is still a vivid one In the mind of Sim Webb, 79, who now lives in Memphis. As he addressed the large crowd, he recounted the story of the wreck with an almost mile-by-mile account:

“We had finished our regular run into Memphis,” he said, “but we took over the Cannonball because its regular engineer was ill. Casey got permission to use his same engine, No. 382. We were about an hour and a half late and Mr. Casey was mighty tired. When we began to make up time with old 382, Casey turned to me, smiling, and said,

Scene of the accident is examined by curious onlookers at Mile Post 691, about a mile north of the station at Vaughan. For a larger view click here.

‘Sim, she’s got her dancing slippers on tonight.’ By the time we got near Vaughan, we were only a few minutes late approaching the S-curve north of the station.

As we rounded the bend, we both saw the freight train on the passing track with a few cars sticking out on the main line. The last words Casey said were, ‘Jump, Sim, jump.’ I obeyed him and piled out of the cab. They found Casey with one hand clutching the throttle and the other the air-brake control. Casey was the only one killed.

“I was unconscious when they picked me up. They said I was stretched out between the wheels on a set of trucks. The wheels not only missed passing over my body, but, the debris piled on top of the trucks.”

As he concluded his talk, Sim Webb walked over to the steam boiler on which Casey’s whistle had been mounted, and pulled the whistle cord several times to demonstrate Its sound.

Also taking part in the Casey Jones program were Dr. O. C. Skipper, head of the Department of history, Mississippi State College for Women, Columbus, who gave the principal address; Charlotte Capers of the Mississippi Historical Commission, who presented the marker; Dr. John K. Bettersworth of the Historical Commission, who introduced Mrs. Jones; and Claude Pepper, local historian. Walter Bridgeforth, attorney of Yazoo City, was master of ceremonies. John R. Anderson, president of the Yazoo County Chamber of Commerce, was in attendance to make a presentation to Mrs. Jones on behalf of his organization.

The opening of a new paved road between Vaughan and Yazoo City, Miss., also was, a part of the day’s program. This included a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the site of the Casey Jones marker, a parade of ancient autos and buggies, an evening pageant complete with a fashion show of the era 1900 to 1953, and the appearance of many pioneer citizens of the area.

Among the hundreds of railroaders, railroad enthusiasts and others who came to the Casey Jones dedication was Louis “Casey Jones” Penningroth of St. Louis. Mr. Penningroth, a

Close up of 382 built by Harry L. Woodson, sheet metal tinner of St. Louis.

rail fan, brought with him a scale model of Casey’s engine 382, which was built by Harry L. Woodson, a sheet metal tinner of St. Louis. The engine was exhibited in the station at Vaughan where Agent R. R. Fiedler was host to the many persons who came to see it.