The Yakima herald. [volume] (North Yakima, W.T. [Wash.]) 1889-1914, 1909-10-06

NEW YORK, Sept. 26.-Here is the
experience of a young New Yorker
who was robbed by a pickpocket at
San Francisco of his railroad ticket
the day before he was to start for
home, says the New York Sun.
saw l would have to beat my way
on the freights. 1 made the acquaint-
ance of a young fellow. c. F,
who wanted to get into the neighbor-
hood of Walla Walla. a great grain
country. They had just commence
harvesting and paid from 50 to $3.50
day and board. There is lots of work
and it is pleasant and at those wages
in ten weeks 1 should have $40 clear.
We could not jump train in the
Seattle yards because of the spoilers,
so Saturday at 2 p. m. we started to
walk to Auburn Junction, twenty
three miles. l had $3.50 (sold some
olothes) and he had about So. We
reached Auburn about noon the next
day. We had to wait till dark for a
train so the shacks (brakemen) would
not see us.
AT O'Clock we were under a tree at
the VI where one line runs to Tacoma
and the other east and our number
had grown to eleven, all clean young
Americans and not the typical hoboes
fellows who had been misled into 60
ing to Seattle, couldn't get work there
and were trying to reach the grain
country. About II O'Clock an over
land passenger came through from Sc
attic. 1t slowed up somewhat for the
curve and three of our company made
it.
One got on the blind" that is be-
tween the tender or coal car and the
baggage car, called the blind be-
cause there is no door in the forward
end of the baggage car. The two
others-they We're sign painters and
had their pockets fun of paint brushes
got on top of the coaches. This was
very difficult. and an eyeopener to me.
The through passenger coaches have
doors on the outside of the steps run
| ming down flush with the bottom step,
so that there is no place to stand; but
by elbow and knee purchases you can
work up between these doors until you
can get a hold on the roof and haul
yourself up.
Shortly after midnight long
freight came along but it was full,
that is, every car full and consequently
sealed, so it was us for the bumpers.
Charlie and | got separated and I was
alone between two box cars. OF
course we hid in the brush and only
got on after the start, as the shacks
patrol the length of the train when it
is still to keep 'boes off, but when it
started they got on and that was our
chance.
Pretty soon lantern flashed down
on me and a gentle voice wanted to
know "where in hell | was going =?
Charlie and | had agreed to leave it at
Kanasket, twenty miles from Auburn,
as Kanasket was a very picturesque
| place in the Cascade range. We were
| going to build a fire and camp and in
| the morning fish for trout in the
| Green river. I said | was going to
Kanasket and he said nothing and
| passed on.
| Seven miles up the mountain we
| stopped at a water tank to give the
big Mogul engine a drink and here |
was put off. We were all in the bush
where | found Charlie and he decided
to ditch his roll as it make it hard
for him to hold on. l was sorry for
| ing in his b. nket.
| When the train started we got on
again, but I was seen and the shack
got to me before we picked up speed
and told me to jump and be lively. |
told him another brakeman said
could ride to Kanasket but he said he
didn't give a damn and to drop before
| il was going too fast. / delayed so
7
! finally / was able to say I didn't dare
jump. But he was obdurate. so I
flshed up four bit piece ESQ cents)
He grabbed it and ran out to try his
luck with the next.
l left the train at Kanasket and
stood on the platform till it had
passed, but no Charlie. He either
went on through or didn't make it at
| the water tower below. 1t was now
/ two in the morning and nothing there
but a summer hotel on the side of the
mountain and the station. Also it was
| raining.
l passed the two hours until day
| break on bench on the leeward side
of the station, then went into the
woods where it was so dense the rain
had not penetrated, built me q fire,
and when anything in the way of a
train passed l popped out to look for
Charlie. At 4 p. m. my patience was
starved and frozen out, so l jumped n
freight which came along and gave
the attentive shack quarter.
| I was on a fiat car right behind the
tender and pretty soon the fireman
climbed over and asked me to pass
him some coal. Ishoveled coal from
the back of the tender to the forward
end where he shoveled it into the fire
In an hour what with an emty stomach
and trying not to pitch over the side
on the curves. I was all in, so at Les
ter. although l could have ridden fur
Their. l had to get of.
was about to looE for restaurant
when young fellow, who it trans
pired was waiting at Lester for the
overland limited. came up to me and
said that he saw me get off the
freight. that I looked bad and that il
I had the price there was restaurant
over there. pointing ii out. Well.
had spent some money Sunday morn
ing at a bakery and for tobacco-by