As told by a railway hobo------------------

…..On the Saturday night of April 15 my friend and I took the last street car to Sutherland having previously found out that a freight train was leaving for Winnipeg during the early hours of Sunday morning. We slunk around the yards till we came upon a brakeman and asked when the freight for the East was pulling out. Before he could reply a torch light beamed in our faces and the "bull" asked "Where are you guys going?" "East"---"Winnipeg." "Well that freight won’t pull out until seven to-morrow morning." We thanked the policeman for this information and retired to the shadow of a nearby Pool Elevator, lighted cigarettes and attempted to keep warm. Even I, with two pairs underclothing, 2 shirts, a sweater, my brown suit, overalls, overcoat, winter cap and two pairs of sox was getting chilly.

Presently we became restless and walked out onto the tracks to spy an ancient looking empty coach with a light in it. Prowling lower we observed a notice on the side telling us it was for the use of stockmen only. A brakeman informed us that the coach was to be put on a freight to Winnipeg for use of some stockmen traveling. We entered the coach, found a fire burning in the stove, wiped the dust off the seats, spread them out bed fashion and were soon asleep. We were suddenly awakened by the guard who informed us the train was pulling out in 5 minutes and that a "bull" was going to travel with the train. Observing the "bull" walking down the side of the train we waited until he rounded the end before ourselves, hopping out, walked after him and inspected the box cars. All but one was sealed, this "one" being half full of coal. There were already about ten other travelers sprawling in various positions amongst the coal. We climbed aboard.

The first division stop was Wynyard and here my friend turned back. He had a warm bed in Saskatoon, a mother and father and home, not work. He explained that he was a decent fellow, had never been in jail in his life and didn’t like freight riding.

…..The sun was warm and I rode on top of a box car all day. Towards evening the train pulled in at the next division stop, and I made for town semi satisfying my hunger. Returning to the train I fell in with two fellow passengers on the coal car who had been "bumming" houses.

…..Arriving at the tracks we walked boldly towards the freight and walked right into a "bull" who instantly showed his ignorance. "What the hell do you fellows want here". We put him right as to our wants while he accompanied us to the entrance of the yards and the freight steamed out. He informed us that should he see us around again he would put us in the "clink".

One of my new found confederates thanked him very much and suggested that as we had lost the freight and had nowhere to sleep we should very much appreciate his hospitality. But the "bull" was not so hospitable and so we slept in the C.P.R. round house beside a boiler. I slept well in spite of the sudden change from feather to concrete mattress. On the following morning a pail and water from the boiler brightened our appearance and we made for town agreeing that the inhabitants should pay dearly for their ignorant railway cop.

…….Towards evening the Winnipeg freight pulled in and we boarded it as it pulled out of the yards. There were no "empties" but a stock coach on the back, so we sat on the steps of this. As dusk fell we stopped for water at someplace and the guard sighted us. He came up and inspected us, then unlocked the coach and told us to get in there for the night, we might go to sleep on the steps and fall off. Next morning we awoke to find our freight standing in the Portage La Prairie yards. Two "bulls" walked up the train, inspected the seals, glanced at the stockcoach where we assumed an attitude of sleep once more, walked off. We left the freight at a street crossing outside of Winnipeg, yelled at a passing truck driver and were whirled into the city.

…..We left the soup kitchens and made enquiries about the times of freight trains. There was one leaving from the C.N.R. Transcona yards around midnight for Toronto. We commenced the 9 mile walk to Transcona. Towards late afternoon we arrived at the yards, parked ourselves on the grass outside the fencing and built a fire of old ties and commenced a 7 hour wait. As time passed more "travelers" appeared and settled around our fire; soon we had about a dozen fellow "unionists" and grew to discussing "this world of ours" as men often do. The depression, the railway companies and Prime Minister Bennett were our chief topics.

The complete story of the "Experiences of a Railway Hobo" are found in "A Country Nourished in Self-doubt" Broadview Press, ISBN 1-55111-151-9.