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According to Bruce Gurner, Wallace Saunders was a black engine wiper in the railroad shop at Canton. Making up little songs and ballads about people appeared to have been his specialty. Wallace was known to sing and whistle as he went about his work. The railroad shop was his stage and the locomotives his audience.
After the wreck, Wallace wrote a little song about Casey that had a catchy little tune. As the railroad men stopped in Canton they would pick up on the song. If you've heard the Ballad of Casey Jones, you know from experience that it tends to stick in your head for awhile. The men would sing it as the traveled on down the line. At the next railyard or station, others would pick up on the tune. Soon, the song was a hit up and down the IC line.
The legend goes that IC Engineer William Leighton heard the song and shared it with his brothers Frank and Bert who were vaudeville performers. The brother brushed the song up, added a chorus, and took it on the road with them. T. Lawarence Seibert was credited for the music and Eddie Newton for the words when the song was first published in 1902.
The popularity of the song on the vaudeville circuit helped Casey's legend transcend the rails. Since then, according to the Casey Jones Village, more than 40 versions of the song have been published. Ironically, or maybe typically, Casey's family never received a dime from the proceeds of the song, nor did Wallace Saunders.
Sources: D. F Barnhardt
& Associates, Bruce Gurner, The Casey Jones Village
This version was considered by Janie Jones, Casey's wife, to be the most accurate representation of Wallace's original version. Mrs. Jones spent much of her life refuting some of the vulgar references other versions made about her husband.
Come all you rounders if
you want to hear
A story 'bout a brave engineer,
Casey Jones was the rounder's
name
"Twas on the Illinois Central
that he won his fame.
Casey Jones, he loved a locomotive.
Casey Jones, a mighty man
was he.
Casey Jones run his final
locomotive
With the Cannonball Special
on the old I.C.
Casey pulled into memphis
on Number Four,
The engine foreman met him
at the roundhouse door;
Said, "Joe Lewis won't be
able to make his run
So you'll have to double
out on Number One."
If I can have Sim Webb, my
fireman, my engine 382,
Although I'm tired and weary,
I'll take her through.
Put on my whistle that come
in today
Cause I mean to keep her
wailing as we ride and pray.
Casey Jones, mounted the
cabin,
Casey Jones, with the orders
in his hand.
Casey Jones, he mounted
the cabin,
Started on his farewell
Journey to the promised land.
They pulled out of Memphis
nearly two hours late,
Soon they were speeding
at a terrible rate.
And the people knew by the
whistle's moan.
That the man at the throttle
was Casey Jones.
Need more coal there, fireman
Sim,
Open that door and heave
it in.
Give that shovel all you
got
And we'll reach Canton on
the dot
On April 30, 1900, that rainy
morn,
Down in Mississippi near
the town of Vaughan,
Sped the Cannonball Special
only two minutes late
Traveling 70 miles an hour
when they saw a freight.
The caboose number 83 was
on the main line,
Casey's last words were
"Jump, Sim, while you have the time.
"At 3:52 that morning came
the fareful end,
Casey took his farewell
trip to the promised land.
Casey Jones, he died at the
throttle,
With the whistle in his
hand.
Casey Jones, he died at
the throttlle,
But we'll all see Casey
in the promised land.
His wife and three children
were left to mourn
The tragic death of Casey
on that April morn.
May God through His goodness
keep them by His grace
Till they all meet together
in that heavenly place.
Casey's body lies buried
in Jackson, Tennessee
Close beside the tracks
of the old I.C.
May his spirit live forever
throughout the land
As the greatest of all heroes
of a railroad man.
Casey Jones, he died at the
throttle,
Casey Jones, with the whistle
in his hand.
Casey Jones, he died at
the throttle,
But we'll all see Casey
in the promised land.
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