The age-herald., 1901-04-05
4 CHICAGO YOUTH
 TELLS F|SHY TALE Boy "Hobe" Gives New York Reporter a "GOodV Story EXPERIENCE IN ALABAMA Alleged Incarceration in Coal Mine Near This City the Basis of His
 Plaint-He Is "Wander-
 ing Willie."
EXPERIENCE IN ALABAMA

A Chicago lad of II tells remarkable story of his experience in an Alabama coal mine, which in the light of recent publications concerning the imprison- ment of men in the mines in this State and the hobo" qualities of the youth appears to be somewhat "fishy."
 'The boy" says the New York Sun. lis disposed to wander about, and has had some wonderful experiences. He be- longs to a good family, but it has been thought best not to place too severe check on his rowing tendencies and so he has roved a good deal about this coun- try, and when only 14 made six months bicycle trip alone in Europe.
 One of his experiences was brought out by his remark that he learned to smoke while he was working in coal mine in Alabama.
 You worked in a coal mine did your? asked a reporter for the Sun, wonder ingly.
 "Yes; something of that sort" and here a faint flush overspread the youths coun- tenance, and he gazed silently into the fire. It was only for a moment, however; then his face cleared and he looked up brightly and went on. II served my time there-three months," he explained.
 Do you mean to say that you worked out sentence?'
 That's it I ain't ashamed of it, for I hadn't committed any crime-at least nothing that I call crime-hadn't stolen anything nor tried to kill anybody, nor that like.
 You see 1t came about this way In the summer of '99 I got one of my restless fits on me and nothing would do but must take trip of some kind. l hadn't saved any money and I didn't want to bother father, But go ava from Chica- go 1 must. One night 1 was hanging round some freight cars and got into con versation with a good-natured hobo, who told me he had just come from St. Louis on top of mail car and meant to go to Pittsburg that night on top of another. In just that instance my resolution was taken. If he could ride on top of a mail car why couldn't I, and l would. The limited express started somewhere about midnight and that was the train for me-
 Travelling Like Hobo.
 
 storm brewing, and l watched the light ming playing along the rails. Well, pretty soon the limited moved out of the sta tion, and as the mail car passed us my hobo and I made jump for the front platform. We hung there till we were well into the dark, and then clambered onto the roof, lay fiat, and hung on like grim ,I,,tA fo,. the swaying and tilting of the car kept throwing us from one side to the other, and it wasn't pleasant. Every time I lift ed my head to look about me blast of air filled with hot cinders stung my face like needles, and I was glad to drop it a gain and pull my coat collar up.
 Riding on top of car is a queer enough sensation to an old hand, but to a fellow that's new to that sort of thing, it's-well, it's something that aint easily forgotten. It was an awful dark night and we seemed to be rushing into black gulf, with the wind blowing like mad and the engine sending up showers of red hot cinders just ahead. It came on to rain hard, after awhile, and the hobo and I were soaked to the skin.
 "Well, that was how I started on my travels. From Pittsburg worked my way south-sometimes walking, sometimes stealing rides I had d few dollars in my pocket and I did few chores But I rode into Birmingham on top of car and saw my finish. was nabbed for vagrancy, and had to choose between paying good big fine or working out three months sem tence in the penitentiary. l chose the penitentiary, because I didn't want to write and tell father of my plight and bother him for money. I'd got myself into the scrape and made up my mind to get out of it the best way I could.
 Rough Treatment in Alabama.
 ''So I was put to work with lot of con- victs in a coal mine near Birmingham. A tough lot they were, tell you. Not the best company for boy of b, I guess. We slept in jail and got up every morning at 5, working until at night Our cots