Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-13
The Odyssey Of a Sixteen Year-ON Boy Who
Left an Indiana Farm to See What Lay
Beyond the Horizon-7he High Road to
Lozv Aduenfurp- Years Wandering.


jungle" or hobo camp ground, which I had
heard of by reputation in half dozen States.
These "jungleS" are located Throughout the
country at places where the usual paths of
the hoboes cross. They are equipped with pots
and pans, washboardS, clotheSlineS and other
comforts of civilzation-an retrieved from city
rubbish dumps. The hobo who takes his calling
seriously win always add some useful article
to the camp equipment for the benefit of his
followers. Thus it is possible for the wanderer
so to guide his peregrinations as to arrive at
these places at convenient periods for a few
days rest, and-if he happens to be faStidious
an opportunity to do his washing.
Two or three other trampS were camped
there when arrived. Banking on the fact
that most small boys are hero worshippers, they
had struck up a friendship with a gang of
urchins in the neighborhood. who in exchange
for the doubtful privilege of keeping the camp
clean, brought them daily supplies of bacon,
eggs and bread, filched from their family cup
boards. threw in" to the extent of a dollar,
and for a week We lived royalty.
At Louisville, KY, crawled into box car
that was already occupied by three typical
hoboes.
There ! fell asleep l was awakened by loud
voices, and sat up to see four brakemen stand
ing in the doorway with lanterns and billy
clubs in their hands. The train seemed to be
picking up speed, so I assumed that we had
trainmen had made use of the opportunity to
so through the cars for a little ''hi-jacking."
They were demanding money from my COM
panionS-a favorite game at that time with
railroad men all over the country. Armed with
their "billieS," q group of them would search
train for trampS, who would be forced to
pay for the privilege of riding or else get Off
or be thrown on. had heard Of the practice.
and had talked with men who said they had
been flung from speeding trains, but this was
my first actual experience with railroad hi
jackers."
1t looked, however, as though these brakemen
had picked q bad group to practice upon One
man who was going to Memphis had slipped
pair Of brass knuckle- busters on his fingers
the philosopher was twirling q blackjack and
the third fellow had a stable length Of wood
In his hands.
Come ;crOSS. you BIRDS" the spokesman
Of the Tainmen was saying. 1.-TWO bucks
apiece, or on you CO."
The tramp with the knuckle busters respond
ed with flood Of oathS. when any something
something shack takes 81 from me" he be-
gan.
THE sentence was never finished. One of the
brakemen leaped upon him with appraised
club and moment later the whole lot Of them
were down on the floor, q Squirming mass Of
thraShing arms and legs. The air was filled
with groans curses and the sound of blows
had instinctively picked up a piece of board,
and now stood on one side, taking no part in
the fight The hair on the back of my neck
seemed to be bristling and I was scared badly
enough to be dangerous.
At last the brakeman and the ex-convict
separated themselves from the others and rolled
across the floor. The tramp was underneath,
breathing in sobbing gaSpS Wrenching himself
free, the brakeman raised his club and struck
the hobo across the head The man fell back
Imply, whereupon his opponent rose to his feet.
For moment he stood glazing at me, then
he darted in, intending to knock me out with
one blow. I swung my club like base ball bat
and hit him on the side of his face. 1t was q
terrific slap; the fellow went down IS though
struck by bullet, clutching at his jaw and
rolling about on the floor.
It was the first time had ever hurt q man
and all the tight Immediately went out of me.
Diving through the doorway, struck the
ground on my shoulders and began turning
somersaults down the embankment. Coming
up against fence, was momentarily knocked
unconscious. When I recovered my senses the
green lights Of the cabooSe were disappearing In
the distance.
My clothes were badly torn, my shins were
barked, part Of the skin was missing from my
nose, and one eye was black. But was not
seriously hurt. Limping to a nearby field, lay
GOWN III y Clunp Oh DEOOHl sage anu IeH asleep.
After number Of minor adventures, finally
arrived in Kansas City, Mo-, riding blind bag
gage on the water tender of fast passenger
locomotive.
Half frozen, headed for an all-night lunch
counter, where paid a dime for coffee and
"sinkers." Then began to look around for q
place to sleep. With only few dollars in my
pockets-earned at various temporary jobs
was facing the prospect of travelling many
hundreds of miles in bitterly cold weather, with
poor prospects of finding work. Realizing that
a decent hotel was out of the question, de-
cided, after some misgivings, to take my
chances IT. "nop house"
This term is applied by hoboes to any cheap
lodging place which draws its custom from the
transient working class, but it Is used with spe-
cial appropriateness to designate the Joints
~, that afford a miserable refuge to the derelict at