Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-06-28
THE LIFE OF A HOBO.
A Prenchman Who Beat His Way from
San Francisco 10 Cincinnati.
ACTUAL EXPERIENCES OF A TRAMP.
How the Hobo Beats His Way, How lie
Procures Food. His Devices,
Slang. and Refrain.
Cincinnati Tlmes-stsr.)

Star the following account Of his expert
ence. II Is a well-told story Of the life
Of tramp. and presents such picture
as the press seldom has the privilege OF
holding up before the public:
This is not an article made up Of hear
| says and flights Of fancy. | am unfor-
tunately describing personal experiences,
and describing them for the purpose OF
coming some money before resuming my
long tramp for the East. Many a better
man, having been stranded, has had be-
fore me to beat his way home. The deli
cate point is how to do 1t. and it requires
some experience to do it successfully.
The novice al tramping generally starts
along the track. catches a freight train
at way-stati3n. and is invariably
ordered OF by the trains brakemen. he
soon gets discouraged making little, II
any. headway lie would hardly ever
reach his destination IL he did not fall
in with an old-timer and get posted. But
to fall in with an old-tincr is by no
means an easy thing. Tho latter dis
trusts and dis.ikes a green hand. who.
for all he knows, despises him In his
heart, and Keeps up with him just for
the sake OF instruction. And no one. no
matter what his walk OF life. is ever
inclined to give away hts experience and
become a teacher without some return
from his pupils.
Besides. the old-timer Is afraid that
the green hand viii sell both or them
out to the ''brakcy" as is generally the
case The "brakey" will always order
off freight train any man he sees
jumping on. but as a rule will not dis
turb him If he finds him on the train and
did not sec his lump on. And, to jump
on, or getting in" in tranps' pariance,
Is quite an achievement. The old-tmer
never walks, and. IN fact. he would he
very foolish t. do so, as a hundredweisht
more or less, makes no difference 10 a
freight train.
THE START.
On the 9Th Of April left San Francisco
via the Southern Pacific, and being an alto
gether green hand and afraid TO 20 boldly
into the freighi-yard, l started to walk
along the track. About three miles on the
outskirts Of the city at a crossing | met
an Old hagman and entered into CONVEX
sation with him. He was very respectful
and ready to answer my questions, in
sisting that 10 get on freight train was
almost an impOssbility. While we were
cOnyersing a freight train bound east
came along and stopped. Both brakemen
and conductor gOt off and approached me
with a Good afternoon; how TO you do
sir2' showing evident marks of defer
ence.
Thus encouraged ] asked the conductor
If he would let me ride on the train. Il
have just ordered three men off, SIR
was his answer you can see FOR your
self that no tramp is on nay train
sharply the old hagman when the train
pulled of. You see, sir he finally
blurted out IL took you for "A detective
and winked to the brakemen." lie then
explained to me that the company en-
ployed detectives to catch the trains crew
mapping. But" protested l. II carry a
valise, which detectives would not do.'
Yes, they DO" retortel the hagman.
Having at last convinced the old man
of my entire innocence and satisfied him
that ! was not "spOngy" IN railroad
parlance. he invited me to his shanty,
and for two hours kept instructinG me
how to beat my way. I bless 10 this day
the old man as without his valuable ad-
vice | would never have succeeded In the
ruge enterpri,e of riding about 5000 miles
across the continent almost In an air line.
choosing my trains and being ordered on a
train only three times III more than
twenty days. "Remember," were his part
ing instructions. "the brakemen are
always on the alert for detectives. Never
show yourself out at a station. Get on
trains only at night. Sleep during the
day. when you see your freight coming
get beyond the railroad fence, out OF
the rays Of the headlight on the engine.
The 'brakey on top or the car next the
engine cannot then see you, and II no
I.f. haa "A
not disturb you. Try 10 find "A partner,
some one going your way. To b. three IL
best, as then II Is a matter Of push. the
'brakey,' even II he wanted 10, being
afraid to order you off. Above all. never
! walk"
Greatly checred by these words, |
boarded that very evening through
freight, 10 my great satisfaction ana to
that OF the old nagman who had clung
to me, happy To have such a ready ana
willing pupil. and four hours later l
anghted at "A street crossing in Sacrd-
mento.
SACRAMENTO TO CINCINNATI.
Taking u survey Of the rallroad-yards
the next evening and having ascer-
tained the hours Of departure of freight
trains, / took a walk Of about one mile
along tho track. and encountered, 10
my satisfaction. several men warming
| themselves at fire made up with old
railroad ties. | Immediately joined the
! group, with Good evening. partners.
/ as the old flagey had taught me 10 say,
| and / was admitted among them ON an
equal footing. An men on the road are
I partners. IL IS the password, the open,
sesame. They were going my way. The
| freight was somewhat late in coming,
/ md then pulled of just for minute.
/ so We had 10 ride bumpers-that Is, To
/ ride staining on the little platform al
the end Of each car. It Is very un-
/ comfortable and dangerous position. one
has just room for his feet. lie can
/ hold on only by one hand To the ladder
or the iron bar Of the brake. and II the
! rOad-bed IS in bad condition, as most
Western and Pacific road-beds are, the
/ jumpings and shakings of the car are
such that | have seen an old ana eK-
perienced timer jump clean three feet IN
the air, slip between the two cars. lose
his hold. and be- ground 10 pieces.
In all, | have seen three men killed
by freight trains within twenty days
one as above described, another who tried
10 jump on a freight train running not
faster than ten miles an hour. at Pail
SADIE. In Nevada. He missed his hold.
fell. and had both legs cut OF. The
third one. n negro carrying Valise upon
his shoulders and walking along the track,
was struck Off in broad daylight by the
locomotive at the junction near Denver.
| The engineer did his best to avert the
/ calamity, blew the whistle repeatedly
| and reversed the engine. Another man.
not five feet from the unfortunate negro,
| but on the other side OF the track Kept
shouting TO him to look out. and even
/ tried TO pull him OF To no avail. The
! poor fellow was either deaf or so ex-
/ hausted as to be in stupor The man
| on the other side OF the track, who kept
shouting AT him. jumped Afterwards INTO
our car and rode with ne TO ST. Louis.
At Arcade we got Off our bumpers,
I boldly opened the door Of an empty box
I car. and shut ourselves In. The first thing
| one does once In the car Is to shut up the
| door. securely fasten 1t with stone or
a lump of coal, always carried in the
pocket for that purpose; then light
matches. inspect the car, and make one
self comfortable. He never reckons on
/ being disturbed as long as he keeps the
door OF the box-car closed, brakenen and
conductors never opening the doors OF
empty box cars. even when they know
| they are crowded with humanity. In fact
! railroad men never are on the lookout
for men heating their Nay. as long as