Below are some interesting articles from The Jackson Hustler, the first newspaper in Jackson.

Drowned

Jackson Hustler, April 9, 1896

Capt. J. S. J. Bull was drowned late Wednesday evening in the Kentucky River, on the lower side of the Pan Handle, opposite town, near Hagins' Landing, while on a pleasure trip around the Pan Bowl. In company with Prof. C. A. Logan, John Patrick, John Blanton, Robert Baker, Jerry Taulbee, John Noble, Stephen Frazier, and Kenny Carpenter, he was on a rudely constructed raft of three logs, and everything went well until they attempted to land opposite Hagins' Landing. The current was very swift, and their first attempt to land was unsuccessful, the raft striking a fallen tree, and one of the three logs was broken loose. The remaining logs drifted about 20 yards and again struck a tree, tearing them apart and throwing the young men into the water, about 40 feet from the shore. All swam to the shore or to overhanging limbs, except Capt. Bull, who could not swim. He caught a hold of John Patrick, and both went under, and when Patrick saw he could not save him he told him to let go of his hold. Capt. Bull did so and was immediately drowned. Few men under the circumstances would have acted as heroically. Patrick had a hard struggle to save himself. Stephen Frazier swam to an overhanging limb and held to it until Joe Hagins, who was on the opposite side in a boat, rescued him, and they immediately started in search of Capt. Bull's body; but did not find it.

Capt. Bull's home is in Louisville, and he was the only child of a widowed mother. He was a highly educated young man, and had bright prospects for the future. He was an instructor in Trinity Hall, Louisville, before coming to Jackson Collegiate Institute, where he had charge of the military department, and was an instructor in Latin, Greek, and Ancient History. Capt. Bull was a faithful and efficient teacher, and was deservedly popular with his pupils and all who came in contact with him. He was a devout member of the Episcopal Church. The entire community deeply sympathizes with his mother in her affliction.

A diligent search was made for the body Thursday, but up to the hour of going to the press it had not been found.

Mail Route

Jackson Hustler, November 1898

The government has been forced to take charge of the mail route which leads from Jackson to Hindman, a distance of 45 miles, and over which daily mails must pass. No rougher route could be found in the United States, since it leads over high mountains and across numerous dangerous streams; and strange to say, the man who threw up his job had undertaken to carry the mail over this long distance for $1.50 per day, where the government now by direct contract pays $6.25, which is considered by good judges to be too small a sum. It seems pitiful that all over the mountains of Kentucky the men who are carrying mails are almost to a man doing a work for two-thirds what they ought to have, which necessarily gives the people a very poor mail service. Of course, the government pays the original contractors liberal sums for this work, but these in turn invariably sublet to parties who are ignorant of the kind of labor they are undertaking; and there is rarely ever an occasion when a poor mountain farmer gets hold of a mail route but it ruins him financially for all time to come. Such a state of affairs leads thinking men to believe that if the government's system of contracting its star routes to lowest bidders is not wrong in principle, it is wrong in practice and ought to be modified.

Feud Ended

Hazel Green Herald, April 22, 1897

Dispatches from Jackson state that Wednesday of last week was a day of much excitement in Jackson, the county seat of Breathitt County, on account of the presence of Capt. Bill Strong and Ed Callahan, and leaders of rival factions. Each of these men had about 25 heavily armed followers, and many expected them to engage in a pitched battle at any moment.

They came to Jackson because peace warrants had been sworn out against them, and they were cited to appear before County Judge C. B. Day. The leaders of the rival factions met in Judge Day's office; each accompanied by a few friends. Upon being asked by Judge Day what he had against Callahan personally, Captain Strong replied: "Not a thing." Upon Callahan being asked what he had against Strong, he replied: "Nothing."

Judge Day then asked them to shake hands, which they did, and both of the armed squads left town at nightfall, swearing eternal peace.

Three men have been killed as the result of this feud in the vicinity of George's Beech, in Breathitt County, during the past few months, and more trouble was expected.

Reuben Fletcher

April 9, 1896

Reuben Fletcher, of Breathitt County, is the happy father of 21 children, and has never had but one wife, who is still living. Having run out of names to distunguish so many, the parents have named the three younger children, respectively, Nineteen, Twenty, and Twenty-one.