Jack Shelby was Texas Ranger in the 1880s given the moniker “Jack O’ the Plains” for his great familiarity with the wilds of Texas. As he and other Texas Rangers are traveling the plains, the talk about the sightings of a chalk-white horse carrying a headless Mazeppa on his back. A young man named Roman Carson shows up searching for his long-lost brother, one Hubert Carson, who had left home when Roman was too young to have a substantial recollection of his older brother. Roman had been seen by his aged parents to discover the fate of Hubert. Jack knew Hubert, and knew also that the Mazeppa was the headless body on the back of the white horse. He informed Roman of this, and Roman decided he must hunt down the mysterious horse and its headless rider. Jack agrees to go with Roman to discover the facts of the case.
First Appearance “Jack o’ the Plains; or, The Outlaw of the Border” in Wide Awake Library No. 36 (May 1886)
First Publisher Frank Tousey
Appearance List “Jack o’ the Plains; or, The Outlaw of the Border” in Wide Awake Library No. 36 (May 1886), “Jack o’ the Plains in Texas; or, The Rider of the Lightning Express” in Wide Awake Library No. 43 (July 1886), “Jack o’ the Plains’ Pledge; or, The Boy Rider’s Vow” in Wide Awake Library No. 52 (Sept 1886), “Jack o’ the Plains’ Race; or, The Rival Boy Riders of the Rio Grande” in Wide Awake Library No. 62 (Nov 1886), “Jack o’ the Plains’ Champion; or, The Bandits of the Border” in Wide Awake Library No. 71 (Jan 1887). Other installments continued into 1887–1888, often alternating with other frontier heroes in Wide Awake Library.
Sample Read Jack o’ the plains, or, The headless Mazeppa [DIME]
Description Jack Shelby was Texas Ranger in the 1880s given the moniker “Jack O’ the Plains” for his great familiarity with the wilds of Texas. As he and other Texas Rangers are traveling the plains, the talk about the sightings of a chalk-white horse carrying a headless Mazeppa on his back. A young man named Roman Carson shows up searching for his long-lost brother, one Hubert Carson, who had left home when Roman was too young to have a substantial recollection of his older brother. Roman had been seen by his aged parents to discover the fate of Hubert. Jack knew Hubert, and knew also that the Mazeppa was the headless body on the back of the white horse. He informed Roman of this, and Roman decided he must hunt down the mysterious horse and its headless rider. Jack agrees to go with Roman to discover the facts of the case.
