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Hobos

by Jerry McClish

  They road the rails and most of the time that was their home. They even had their own convention and much like northerners, they went south for the winter. Because of their panhandling, they were also called bums.

  Riding the rail could be dangerous. They knew a lot of other hobos but it could be dangerous as some of them would get killed by each other, they would be killed trying to jump onto a moving train, suffocate when the doors of the box cars would be shut and locked, etc.

  Twice I recall one of them dying in Elwood in accidents. I can recall dad parking long enough to go into William's (Edgell's) to get some hamburgers. While in there, we heard cars putting on their brakes, and suddenly the freight train trying to stop.

  A hobo had got killed in front of Zip's barber shop. Some say he was walking along the track while others said he was trying to hop onto one of the ladders on a box car. He was not killed instantly but was almost cut in half. He asked for a cigarette and someone gave him one. Dad said he died within 5 minutes. The other time I recall was when one was trying to get into a box car on a slow moving train on the rails behind Zimmer's.

  We lived on the South east corner of South H Street and 21st Street. The road curved there and passed Cindy Patty's home and came up to the side of Kenny' Hill's house at South I Street and 22nd street. We would see the hobo's behind Zimmer's camping out or behind the Heekin Can Company where there were a lot of apple trees.

  We used to get several each year who came to the back door which mother kept the screen locked. Often feel they came every year or told others where to stop. Most were just begging for food or water. I can recall most of the time that Mom made them a lunch meat sandwich and gave them cold water. Some would ask if we had any pants or socks that they could have.

  The one who I recalled the most was a guy who reminded me of "Freddie the Freeloader," which was a character Red Skelton played. The guy was very nice but looked awful in the clothes he had on. Mom noticed this one hobo was about Dad's build and she was planning to throw out some of his old stuff. She gave the guy a pair of pants and a pair of shoes that she also was going to throw out. The man's shoes had no sole hardly as they were falling apart. He started to cry and kept thanking my mother.

  A couple of days later we were playing behind Zimmer's where we saw those awful shoes and pants. I could not explain to you the condition the shoes were in. They smelled awful and we told Dad about them. I recall him going there and set fire to them.

  They would often scare us. As we were going to and from school we often would see one approaching us or behind us as we walked down the path Which ran along the Pennsylvania Railroad. This was our short cut home. We would not walk the tracks at dusk or night. Anyway, surprisingly many of them would greet you.

  I guess they were somewhat like the homeless people that walk and beg on the streets of our big cities. Just in Cleveland alone, they estimate some 3,000 sleep on the side walks, in abandoned buildings, or under bridges. The Salvation Army and other groups get to know many of them plus these groups drive around the city at night offering them hot coffee and a sandwich.

  I would have no idea as to how many ride the rails today but it must be in the thousands. It was quite an experience watching them as I grew up.

The OL Panther
Jerry McClish 1956
North Ridgeville, OH

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