The Greeley tribune., 1904-03-03
Deadheading
1t to Tex a S

to send produce in imprOviSed refrig-
orator cars, and men to attend the
fires in these. The word ''refriger-
ator" is, however, a misnomer in
this connection, as the object sought
is not refrigeration Of the contents,
but just the opposite. So, likewise,
the object for which many men who
could we'll afford to pay their fare to
Texas, is a misnomer when they call
it pleasure. 1t Is like the taste for
olives, IL must be acquired-buta after
. man has been on one Of those spud
tours to Texas he is usually willing
to eat any amount OF olives, II that
would save him from again making
the Tip, and he may not even have
acquired the olive education. All
this is presuppusins that he goes for
the pleasure OF it and not purely for
the hard cash he may be paid. un-
der the latter condition, even tip
to Texas could be endured, although
it is tough. AS a matter of advice
to those who intend to go it might be
stated that your bunk in the caboose
is just as soft when you are paid for
the trip as when you are doing the
work merely for the love OF travel in
a little different way from the ordi-
nary tourist. And yCui cup OF
happiness will be just as Iull If you
remember that 1t is all for Molly and
the babies, and not for your own
selfish pleasure, when you are being
jolted and pounded as soft as wind
fallen apple on your bench in the
Ca bose. You make yourself think
at the time that your are gaming all
kinds Of pleasure and fun out OF your
experience with each new lump that
Is raised on your head or body but
the bumps are only humorous to the
fellow who sees you upon your return
home. Then the pleasure you antic-
ipated in seeing the country also
turns to gail and wormwood about the
third day out, when you begin to
long for a sight OF something else
from the rear end Of a freight train
besides country. That's about all
they have in Texas, rough country,
smooth country, big country, but all
country.
Your start from the warehouse at
Greeley is made under very auspic-
ious circumstances. Your friends
come down u see you yanked away
from the siding by the switch en-
gine, after you have chucked the five
sheet iron stoves full of hay, coal or
wood, enough, you think, TO last the
entire trip. Then, as the freight
train that is to haul you and youI
consignment of spuds to Fort Worth
o, some otner good Texas place. pulls
out OF town you begin to view your
surroundings. These are hardly up to
the standard OF the Pullamn car that
you came west in. Two or three
benches, mostly wood, half ton of
rope, about hundred feet OF wire
cable, dozen coupling pins and
links, some handspikes, a misce liam
eOus lot of lanterns, and a coal stove,
built for business, IS about the ex-
tent of the furnishings. High above
you In the observation tower sits the
conductor and couple OF brakes,
paying no more attention to you than
to the coupling pins. Every two or
three minutes one Of them comes
down from his perch to throw in
new shovel full OF coal. Down be-
low, where you are located enjoying
your trip, the thermometer would
register ITO degrees, Brandenburg,
but every time you. open the door
just the least bit for breath OF fresh
air one Of the men above you shouts
like sea captain to cut it out. Att
the end Of hundred miles or so,
you'd are pounded and parboiled until
you are tender all over. Then. more
TO gain relief from your misery in
side than for any belief in the neces
sity. you 20 to your potato cals to
fire up bit
You then discover that the caboose
Is not the only wagon in the train
that has stit1 springs and hot stove.
half dozen sacks have shifted and
the pleasant aroma of baked potato
meets your nose, the only familiar
smell that you have run into since
leaving home. There is a chill wind
blowing from the north and you feel
as tender as a young onion, as you
90 from car to car to poke the fires.
You have only looked into two or
three OF them when you hear the
long train being yanked forward and
you mud 1t necessary to Chamber the
iron ladder of the nearest car aud
then make your way back over the
tops OF Thirty OF these to the clboose
1t looks easy when you see a brake |