Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-01-06
TELLS HIS EXPERIENCES
AS BUILDER OF BARNS
KNIGHTS OF BRAKEREAM ERECT
WEIRD STRUCTURE
Take Contract from Prairie Rancher,
but Leave After Viewing Handi-
work In Early Morning
Light

They stood together in front of the new
Hamburger building watching the crowds
of busy workmen swarm like so many
ants about the frame Of the great struc-
ture.
Yes said the red-nosed man, the
framework of building is of great IN
terest to me; it reminds me of strip
took through Kansas during the winter
of 1891 with a pal named Shorty Smith"
"Well, what has the framework of
building got to do with your trip?" in
quired a thln-faced man In dirty
sweater.
Its a tale of my usual hard luck"
was the reply, but as L have had moth
ing except hard luck the last few years
1 might as we'll say 1t was one OF my
common experiences.
shorty and 1 had been working on
o sheep ranch in the northern part of
Idaho, but on account of the cold
weather we decided TO quit and go as
far south as we could. We had been
on the water wagon for over three
months, as we were long distance from
Black Foot and could only go to town
about once in three or four months.
Shorty and l agreed we would not take
drink until we got as far south as
we wanted to CO.. Well, to make a long
tale short we rode a freight out of
Black Foot into Pocatello, where we got
shave and haircut had a good nights
rest, and next morning caught another
freight and made into Ogden.
Are Nearly Frozen
I'VE were nearly frozen when we
reached there and went into a saloon
and thawed out. Shorty wanted a
drink mighty bad, but 1 held him to his
promise, for knew If he took one he
would not stop until he was fiat broke.
After some hard riding we landed In
Denver, just five days after leaving Po-
catello. 1t was showing hard and both
of us wanted a drink of whisky, so we
thought we would break the rule just
once and take one drink apiece. 1t
turned out just as l thought it would.
we tried to make our fortune shooting
craps and went dead broke. We were
up against it good and hard, but 1t
wasn't anything new for us.
1--WE started on a slSirmishing eXpedi-
ton and gathered in some biscuits and
such truck and then made for the freight
yards, caught fast freight and rode
it as far as Trinidad. After nearly get
ting pincheu there \ caught the blind
baggage of a Santa Fe train and were
we'll over in Kansas before we were
put off.
1.-THE train had stopped at a water
tank and Shorty and I were speaking
Of our good luck in getting so far with
out being put off, when the negro porter
came up and made us unload.
I'VE were mad clear through, as 1t
was Just getting dark and the weather
was awful cold. We tried to get in the
pump house, but the pumper told us to
move on.
Walk to House
1--WE noticed light out on the prairie
about a mile or two away and decided
to walk to 1t and see If we couldn't
find a place to stay for the night, as
we We're nearly frozen.
I'VE got there all right and found
good sized farm house. l knocked at
the door and it was opened by large,
red-faced man, who let us in and gave
us a good feed. He told us he didn't
approve of hoboes but 1t would be muir
der to turn us out in such cold weather,
and let us sleep in the barn, telling us
to come in and get our breakfast in the
morning.
I'VE managed to keep warm during the
night and showed up for our breakfast.
When we finished the farmer asked us
If we knew anything about building
barn. and Shorty told him both OF us
were first class carpenters and would
be glad to take the Job.
1--WE were to get 81 day and our
board. so started to work and killed
the first two days making a bluff about
plans. When we saw the old fellow was
getting suspicious we built the founda-
tion and started on the framework
Shorty was a cabinet-maker and
sawed some stovewood one time, but out
side of that neither one of us knew
thing about carpenter work.
1--WE completed the frame one evening
lust before dark and early next morning
went out to look at it. | nearly dropped
dead when 1 saw how that thing looked
AT the south end the top was leaning
in and was about three feet narrower
than the bottom, and at the north end
It reminded me of a leaning tower that
had seen in geography. After
~ consultation Shorty and l decided
ii ave at once, as we We're ahead
rteeo G7vs' board. and if that old farmer
saF &C. iuzzle we had put up we might
ot get alive. We got to the water
&c in tlr p catch local freight and
ll cto City that evening. ]
t1 and he got me job
H oeq re',ant.
sa. lra 1aeou always watch the
ne ara outing up the
- pa,s aHfp
LAA 9Rr npl'7 me
cause. N-