Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1896-07-23

Ihey drifted around to the subiec,
OF "dead-heading" and spoke of some
of the various cranks who were or had
been making tours of the world. start
ing without money and travelling on
their nerve. One after another gave
ms opinion of the practice. At last
an old "switchie" took his turn. He
aid: ,
If l had some one to back me and
there was something in it I believe |
could make trip of over 100, 900 miles
inside OF year. never miss a meal or
handle cent of money. and get back
to st. Louis with at least as good if no.
better clothes than l have now, and |
wouldn't work a day"
This brought up lot of arguments.
Dut the man continued
How much worse would that he
than the trip which my partner and
myself have just made? July of "a
puts us on the hog train proper and
since then we have had no chance for
work until very lately. We couldn't
hold up in any one place and the black
list kept us from getting work in this
country.
we started in August, after the big
strike, to try and get out of the United
states. We went to Mexico, but the
General Managers association fol-
lowed us even there. We got from the
City of Mexico down to Tampico and
from there we went to Costa RIGA. We
hit the wrong end of the season and
there was no work there, so We went to
Rio Janeiro on a coaster, working our
way, and tried Brazil
There was no work there. so as we
mad chance to pass coal on an ocean
liner from there to Liverpool we took
1t and in about fifteen days landed in
England. We tried for work there
but man has to be born into the serv-
ice there, so of course we failed. Jack
heard that an American company was
building railroads in China, and, stow
ing away, we beat our way to France
THE railroads of continental Europe
are the easiest mark on earth to get
over, and it was not long until we
made Malta. From there we slowed
away on steamer and made Cairo
but the captain. when the crew found
us, put us to work scrubbing.
I'VE talked the matter over in Cairo
and concluded that we had rather GO
to some country where they talked
something like United States and
getting a chance to work our passage
on boat bound for Australia. we took
1t. and in January we were in Sydney.
New South Wales. From there we
went to Melbourne. but they wouldn't
hire an American railroad man, and we
wouldn't work for any such money as
they paid there, SO We went back to
Sydney, and slowed away to make the
Sandwich islands.
"Of course, they soon found us, and
We had to work every blessed day after
that until we landed in Honolulu.
From there to Frisco it was dead
easy, but when We got back to this
country the railroads were doing moth
ing, and 1t meant more travelling. look
ing for work and keeping out of Jail.
If we stayed in any town for over
day or two the police spotted us and
1t was clear case of move on or the
rock pile
Since we got back here, a year ago,
we have gridironed this country from
top to bottom, and from one side 10
the other. but no job showed up until
we hit here.
Since we started out in August of
1894, I'll bet, and prove, that we have
Travelled over 100, 900 miles, and it could
have been done in much less time if we
had not stopped to look for work.
we have been in every state and
territory of the United States, and in
eleven foreign countries, and il we
have had over $40 at any one time |
do not know of it. We have bought
clothes. piece at time, whenever we
had the money to spare, and in this
way have kept from getting ragged.
the time.
Then, too. the railroads in this
country are getting mighty stiff to get
over. and on some of them there i.s
absolutely no chance to make it excep.
riding brake beam On the trucks or on
top of passenger trains. l rode a
truck of passenger train from Los
Angeles, Cal, to Bakersfield, and when
they fired me out Of that l went back
10 the hind end, climbed up on the yes
thule, and rode on top for over 300
miles before l got fired off again.
Il have hit back doors for grub ali
over this country. and. as l have al
ways offered to work for 1t, have
hardly ever been refused, but tell
YOU it knocks the self-respect out of a
man mighty fast to live that way.
I've got Job now and I'm going to
freeze to II until l can save enough to
get little piece of land, then good-by
o railroading. It's too much of hot
GOT job for me-