Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-08-03
4 COLLEGE STUDENT
TELLS OF HOBO DAYS
Continued from lst page)

ance proved the wisdom of my course
During the night three men climbed
in but as had no particular desire tc
become acquainted. and they were un.
aware of my presence, we did not
mix, which was fortunate for me. Al
one stop the brakeman must have no
ticed the closed doors, and being sus-
picious, opened up. The discovery
led to the usual conversation which
covers such cases, and was about as
follows:
"You stiffs got any money!" from
the brakeman.
Not red." the men answered.
No money; no ride Pile out !"
Then followed disjointed plea by
one of the men for lift as far as
Umatilla, but the brakeman's char
liable feelings had been calloused by
much contact with "stiffs" and if no
cash was forthcoming no arguments
were strong enough to carry weight.
The men "piled OUT but after the
train was again in motion the "shack -
returned to see that his orders had
been obeyed.
Umatilla was reached the following
afternoon and here l "piled out" for
feed. An hour later the Spokane
Portland passenger came in and when
she pulled out Portlandwards |. with
another young man, was on the blind
baggage. My only reason for at
tempting the passenger at this time in
broad daylight was the comparative
nearness to Portland, and the fact
that the Columbia River division of
the 0. r. & N. road was "easier, )"
in the parlance of the fraternity, than
the wearisome. God-forsaken stretches
of desert to the East. Trains were
more numerous because all hauls into
the Rose City, either from the Spo-
kane territory, or that tributary to
Salt Lake City, Denver, or Mississippi
Valley points, passed over this divis-
ion. Consequently getting "ditched"
was not very serious proposition.
Arlington. forty-fve miles out Of
Umatilla, proved the first hoodoo on
the trip. Four of US were unceremon-
iously requested to get off and stay
off, which we did under stress of cir
cumstances. Cutting loose from my
travelling mates l sought information
from a laxative native who assured
me that freight was due sometime
in the early evening. This was en-
couraging although indefinite. The
freight finally arrived but was forced
to ride the rods into The Dalles, ar
irving there about three in the morn
ing. l was certainly disreputable
appearing specimen of humanity walk
ing about the streets of The Dalles
that morning, and any "bull" would
have been justified in running me in as
a "vag." Three nights and two days,
principally on freights, with only two
meals, one wash-up and scattered
hours of sleep had reduced me to a
condition where appearances affected
me but slightly. The familiar lights
of saloon shone resplendent when
tured a corner a few blocks from the
station, and through the swinging doors
l went for to see what | could see. -
The half-dozen loungers, men about
town to judge from their appearance,
glanced at me when | drew near the
bar as though seeking some diversion
from the monotonous pastime of STAY
ing off sleep during the wee small
hours. | courteousIy asked for a glass
of water, at the same time edging to-
wards the cheese and pretzels near the
end of the bar. A man drinking at
the time looked at me rather curiouslv
and remarked:
You look as if something more
substantial than water ought to tickle
your insides; won't you join me?"
The contents of that long glass GER
tainly tasted like it would touch the
right spot. After the drink l respond
ed, in few brief words, to the in
quiries regarding starting point and
destination. together with few de-
tails of the trip, and was rewarded by
a concoction from the man behind the
bar. as we'll as by information from
the bystanders that the Salt Lake
Portland passenger was due at four.
My inroads into the cheese and pretzels
threatened the complete determination
OF these two commodities, but as no
one made any objections | was CRATE
full for the opportunity of filling up,
even on cheese and pretzels. I was
at the station when the passenger
pulled in and on the blind baggage
when 1T pulled out. simultaneously
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