History of the Jackass Mail Run

Written by BILL RODGERS

in 1986 for the 25th Jackass Mail Run

Printed in the Porterville Recorder April 1986, unedited

    California history was shattered at 8:30 a.m., March 31, 1962, when the inaugural run of what was to become the infamous Jackass Mail moved south along the old Emigrant Trail through downtown Porterville, swung generally toward the East to pick up the 190 Trail near Worth bridge, then continued in an easterly direction toward the historic foothill town of Springville where the populace was divided as to whether a welcoming committee or a vigilante committee should be formed to greet what was billed as a Cavalcade of Stalwart Sons and Daughters of the Golden West, riding at their own risk and by their own volition to re-create the glorious days of the Old West as those days never were.

    Composing the aforementioned Cavalcade were assorted trail tramps, saddle bums, teamsters, dudes and dandies, mountain men and lovely ladies, along with an assortment of various and sundry characters whose actions indicated a more than casual acquaintance with certain fermented products of the farm, all of whom and which were under the protection of the Centennial Confederate Cannon Crew, Tule River Battery, led by the notorious Col. Robert Natzke (CSA ret.) who vowed that "no turn will be left unstoned" to thwart rumored plans of well-known bushwhackers, ruffians, hooligans and others to sack enroute the Jackass Mail's official freight wagon

    Actually, early in 1962 there was some reason to believe that denizens of Springville and Porterville were, or were not, meeting in Porterville's seat of culture - the Mountain Lion Saloon - to cogitate and contemplate an historic event of more than surpassing magnitude that would focus attention of at least the world on the Tule River country generally and on the Springville Rodeo specifically, an event to be patterned on Porterville's Centennial "Stage to Springville" in 1961.

    From usually unreliable sources it was learned that conclaves were indeed being held, but that tempers had flared when Chet Griswold, president of the Porterville Chamber of Commerce, and Col. Natzke had disagreed as to who would head up the contemplated event being referred to by some and others as the Jackass Mail.

    In fact, Col. Natzke with his southern blood running hot, reportedly threatened to resign if "them damn Yankees keep a stickin' their nose in ma business," but a threatened crisis was apparently averted when a barkeep at the Mountain Lion Saloon known as B.J. Ladd Prop., announced to all and sundry, "This one's on the house."

    Attempting to quell rampant rumor along the Emigrant Trail, Griswold, by public notice, summoned members of what he called the Jackass Mail committee to a meeting at the Porterville Chamber of Commerce office, also inviting Wes Kutzner, President of the Springville Chamber, to preside with him, however as tempers flared again when agreement could not be reached as to who was on the committee if there was a committee, and who was in charge if anyone, the committee unanimously adjourned to the back room of the Mountain Lion and with great acumen neglected to re-convene.

    Meanwhile, cooler heads were attempting to turn chaos into ordinary confusion: Joe Doctor, trail tramp, author and historian of alleged renown, after delving deeply into non-existent records and old western movies, confirmed unequivocally that mule-drawn Jackass Mail stages operated during California's Gold Rush days - or possibly, perhaps they may have.

    A drifter from the plains west of Porter's Place, identified as Lyle Attebury, fearlessly volunteered to reorganize the historic Pony Express and carry the mail to Springville, pledging nor rain, nor snow, nor etc, etc.

    Domer Power, a fugitive teamster from Iowa and president of the Tulare County Chamber of Commerce, let it be known he would handle the four-horse hitch on the Jackass Mail freight wagon.

    Ed Jones allowed that since old folks could not stand the rigors of the trail, he would provide horseless carriages for them.

    Don E. Jones and Walt Pratt agreed to provide food and fodder for the man and beast at a scheduled lunch stop on the Old River Road along the Tule, just a short fall down the bank from that prominent landmark, The Antlers.

    John Keck and Carroll Simmons, horsemen of renown, agreed to haze riders and teamsters onto the trail in the right direction - or at least onto some trail.

    The Goshen Mounted Police, with their authentic Butterfield stage coach and exuberant out-riders, verified they were heading south for the Mail Run.

    Tom Masonheimer publicly stated that for them as got lost or confused in Springville and were forced by unusual circumstances to spend the night, stalls and feed for horses and mules would be provided;  all others were on their own.

    Volunteering, but never accepted as official Jackass Mail scribes were Bill Rodgers (Wild Bill he was for some reason known as) and Art Thrall (later acclaimed for his dramatic theatrical role as Village Idiot.)

    Although never verified or denied, it was generally believed that agreement was finally reached between Col. Natzke, Griswold and Kutzner at a secret meeting somewhere along the Emigrant Trail, but it was common knowledge that none of them remembered what they had agreed to.

    Subsequently, however, Griswold appeared as wagonmaster; Kutzner took over control of Springville and environs; Col. Natzke ordered his cannon crew to active duty - namely Capt. Martin, Lt. McDonald, Pvt. Lucey, Battery Physician Doc Small - then after recruiting the noted gun runner Bill Ellsworth, let it be known the Jackass Mail would, in fact and actually, hit the trail to officially open Western Week in Springville - a week that would be climaxed by the professional Springville Rodeo.

    Such are the allegations concerning creation of the Jackass Mail that as a result of masterful planning, attention to intricate detail, and glowing press reports (pro and con) did, on that fateful day of March 31, in the year 1962, make its first run - and is still running, even though a serious problem of semantics developed early and has defied all effort at correction.

    There seems to be those among the general populace unable to comprehend meaning of the words - Jackass Mail.

    To them this prestigious event is known only as - Those Jackasses.