The toiler. [volume] (Cleveland, Ohio) 1919-1922, 1920-04-23
CHAPT. XVII.
The Jungle.

The Jungle.
II il not an uncommon sight Tor
one travelling on the RAILROADS Just
before entering some of our western
towns. to see q small group of poorly
clad men huddlcd about camp fire
on the RIGHT of way. Some times they
are sheltered by little shed made OF
old ties, at other times they are camp
ed among the willows or other forest
growth which grows along the track.
Even when the men are not there the
place is generally marked by a variety
of old cans and buckets, store boxes,
and other apparently worthless stuff.
Also by variety of names ana inI'
tials carved on the trees and fences,
if such there be-. "It is jungle,
and to spend IT. night in such a
place is known as "jungling mp.
The average person living in cont
Portable home and having an income
from business or otherwise as rule
has very erroneous idea of the class
of meu that inhabited these places
during the time of this story They
were not tramps in the common
meaning of that word; they were migra
tory workers who followed the har'
vests and other seasonal occupations
This work was too poorly paid Il
allcw the worker to establish a homt
and live with any degree of comfort
/ for no sooner did he accumulate a
few dollars than he had to move on
il search Of new employment This
form cf labor which is absolutely es
sential to American grain and fruit
industry could not help but develoT
the rolling stone which in its rolling
lost what little moss it was inclined
TO gather.
These men as rule did rot earn
money enough to partake of the com
rercial Hospitality of the towns ol
to ride on passenger trains. Their mod:
of travel was in box cars or on th'
rods under them, and their hotels
were the places described at the be
ginning of this chapter Here the,
STAYED regardless of rain or storm
while they waited for their next op
rortunity to board a freight whicl
would carry them in the direction the,
wanted to 90.
Tt was in such place tina
lack found himself the evening h
tnmbled down the railroad embanli
mcnt and joined the group that wa
sheltered in the Culbert behind tn
r CHEEKY blaze that had attracted hi
attention. Tt was what they called
"jungle of some class" That sygnifie,
that it afforded more than averag
shelter. IT was located in a little "a
{ vine at the bottom Of which was
culbert under the railroad grade. Th
men had stopped up the further en-
with railroad ties, dry grass, and tamr
ed it with snow excluding the bite
Y north wind and in front of this the
had built a fire As long as the fir
burned brightly the interior of tn
cave so constructed was comfortabl
0 warm hut the moment the fire die
i down the cold struck in and chilled ih
inmates to the marrow. Thus it wa
that while two or three slept two {
. three were kept busy rustling wood t
e keep up the glim.
IS When Jack arrived at the bottom G
the ravine he found that the me
about the fire were just an ordinar
i group of Jungle birds They were wori
Ii crs in search of job and consequent
r like himself broke. One or two {
Il them were extremely ragged and a
=. most shoeless. Tired and footsore {
- the boy was he pited them, and carr
a. estly wished that he had the nir
d dollars which he paid the railroa
n company for the trip to his Montar
: Job. 1t never dawned on him that
! he had that nine dollars he migi
IL never have left that cave alive.
T. those days as now poverty was q
70 essential to safety for the man wi
., follows migratory labor.
y" There was but little formalitv
Il welcome except an anxious query {
lc he part of the iunelcrs as to Il
~ boys financial condition. Or if he h;
any punk (brcad> in his posscssio
When he Informed them that lol
III fifty cent piece was his only col
r pdnion they Immediately began
Id figure what that would buy if the a
-, diticnal sixty cents possessed hv &
U" company were added to it. The who
III amount was now intrusted to one
is their number who was delegated
Of 20 to the village about mile dov
i, yh2 road and purchase the trimmin
~ fer muIigan. 1t may he well to 9
is plniG what 4 mulligan is. 1t is nothil
ne more than such eatallcs that can
cd scrarcd together and boiled into
~. stew hich the hungry men eat wi
improvised forks and spoons general
cut from twigs of trees. The steami
III hot mess has wonderful revivifyi
en- efiect upon any group of half fro2
,s Jungle Ambassador departed to {
~ Jungle ambassador departed to I
'se village than two others were sent
er raid the defenseless hen roost of
ev farmer who was known te live $,
40 where down the ravine. Jack havi
" contributed the largest single share
''; the finance and being in an exaust
physical condition was elected to st
,te near the fire and rest and being m,
;lv tired than hungry he laid down IN
-. the frozen grouud and fell asleep. /
't' lecp vas not drcamlcss however for
'ch vision CT hot soup drifted before
to eyes and then again he saw visions
pa tho little cabin on the shores Of Co,
d'Alane and Collins and Rudo
et' frying fish and arguing philosop
i'd, and then again more PERSISTENT Il
Of all others he saw the bars of the
,;n at Anamoose aud beyond them,
-. auburn hair and blue eyes of Ol
avs Anderson. lie really slept for {
lys hours but to him Il seemed but
ga. moment when the two men came tur
,en ling into the cave with the mortal
mains Of a couple Of old hens.
ers Iuan thn nj ,o.t,,a oi,i> oJ,..,nJi,. nj