The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-07-06
SANTA FEES DOG HOBO.
Superintendent Shepard Finds a Dog
Which Rides Brake Beams.

F. ]. Shepard, general superinten-
dent of the Santa Fe, who has charge
of the operating department. has been
making a careful study of the hobo
question, especially of how to exclude
the jumpers from the brakebealns OF
the overland freight and passenger
trains, says the Los Angeles Express
ON his last trip out. however, Shepard
encountered a new transitory problem,
which has baff1ed his ingenuity
1T was just a yellow dog he said.
mot the kind of yellow purp which
gets run over by an automobile in
San Diego county, but canine that
rides the beam like man, only with
far more comfort and pleasure A dog
which enjoys its meals better If they
are taken in a different environment
each day and the SmarteSt beast that
has ever been brought to my notice.
you may doubt this story as you
would the tale of a man just over
from Catalina, but 1 was out in my
official capacity and was attending
strictly to business, when 1 made my
acquaintance with the original hobo
dog. 1 don't know its name, but he is
nondescript as to breed. yellow in
appearance, and probably in charac-
ter. / have not heard of the peculiar
traits which he has developed, or
which perhaps he hasinherently; only
know that those traits are akin to the
biped called hobo and assert them
selves in the most remarkable manner
ut seems that a few weeks ago
his home is in Winslow, where he is
owned by a leading barber. People
who recognized the dog in Flagstaff
Immediately speculated as to how he
got there, and after a day two
they were more nonpluSSed by learn
ing of his temperance in WinSloW.
The subject was called to my atten-
ton, and with the help of the station
agent we solved the mystery.
I'VE followed the skulking animal
at a distance and saw him disappear
under an engine. Investigation found
him curled up on a steel beam-which
is a necessary adjunct to the con-
struction of our largest locomotives
and he was the picture of comfort
Not understanding just why he had
been disturbed, the dog moved from
his resting place, which is equivalent
to a shelf, got out from under the
tender, and glancing up at the num-
Der of the tank. became convinced he
had made a mistake and crossed the
track to engine No. 101S of the prairie
type, which was at the time waiting
for No. 7. After the crew had dis
persed he sneaked under the tender
and took a ride to Flagstaff.
THE canine hobo returned Sunday
presumably on the limited as he put
in an appearance shortly after the ar
rival of that train
The story has become the talk of
the western division and 1T has since
been learned that DO" he is now
called, has been followed by the tele
graph, his departure from Flagstaff
having been wired ahead and his safe
arrival at Winslow being received as
an answer two hours later. On one
occasion he was called out from his
resting place and taken into the en-
CINE cab, but at the next station he
sneaked back again to comfort, be-
tween the wheels. The engineers con-
slider him the mascot of the dine and
say he will yet save a train in some
way or other"
IF / heard 30 bark I would GER
tainly stop and see what was the mat
ter" said an engineer.
Shepard assumes that the dog ac-
quired his habit of being a hobo from
the fact that in his early days he
dragged a tomato can at the end of