Tough Times
Life as a hobo was extremely difficult. Most chose to travel by train. Following railroad tracks were an easy way in and out of towns to seek work. The railroad became so popular with this group because it was a faster alternative than walking. Although catching a train was extremely dangerous, hobos considered it a means to seek food, shelter, and a possibility of money. Many started jumping trains right after the Civil War. It was a way for soldiers to return home or disappear. During the late 1920's and 1930's hoboeing had a resurgence due to the economic bust, the stock market crashed. The Great Depression had begun.
According to The National Heritage Museum, "During the Great Depression, 1929-1939, over 250,000 young people left home in hope and desperation and began riding freight trains or hitchhiking across America. Most of the them were between 16 and 25 years of age. Thousands of businesses had failed, and scores of schools had been forced to close, making jobs scarce and advanced education unavailable. Whether they were escaping wrenching poverty or abusive families, or were simply seeking adventure, for many teenagers, leaving home seemed like the best option. " Railroads were saved by loans from the Government. Because they were a means of transportation for goods and services, it was only natural for the young men to try their hand at hoboeing. They were taught how to "jump" a train, find camps, and look for work by experienced hoboes. Catching a train was very dangerous. Many were severely injured or died trying to get on a moving train.
A Hobo Jungle is a camp for hobos needing a place to sleep, eat, and rest. There were usually people that would have food in exchange for a small amount of money or would just share whatever they had to eat. Usually a pot of beans, some picked fruit, and some hot coffee were the norm. Camps were never far from the rails. There was also a comfort in company. Information on where to look for work, food, and trains coming and going were exchanged. Many spoke about which trains were safer to catch with less "Bulls" to catch them.
Be Safe and Watch For Danger
Hobos were always looking over their shoulders. There were the "Railroad Bulls" who were hired men used by the rails to rough the hobos up and shake them down for fare money. Many Bulls were very abusive and could cause physical harm. Hobos also had to watch for police in towns they were in. Many were arrested for vagrancy or crimes they did not commit. To watch out for each other, hobos learned a code. There was a series of pictures depicting certain places to either watch out for, look for food and shelter, or even a sign where a kind person lived.
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Citations
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hobo
Kyvig, David E. Daily Life In The United States, 1920-1939 Decades Of Promise And Pain. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2002. N. pag. Print.
Labor, Earle. Jack London An American Life. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, n.d. N. pag. Print.
Uys, Errol L. Riding the Rails: Teenagers on the Move During the Great Depression. Boston: T.E. Winter & SOns, 2000. N. pag. Print.
http://www.nationalheritagemuseum.org/Exhibitions/CurrentExhibitions/TeenageHoboesintheGreatDepression/RailroadsDuringtheDepressionEra.aspx
Foster, Dean L. "Kansas Hobo: a saga of the dirty thirties." Emporia State University. N.p., 29 Mar. 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2014.
<https://esirc.emporia.edu/handle/123456789/681?show=full>.
Kyvig, David E. Daily Life In The United States, 1920-1939 Decades Of Promise And Pain. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2002. N. pag. Print.
Labor, Earle. Jack London An American Life. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, n.d. N. pag. Print.
Uys, Errol L. Riding the Rails: Teenagers on the Move During the Great Depression. Boston: T.E. Winter & SOns, 2000. N. pag. Print.
http://www.nationalheritagemuseum.org/Exhibitions/CurrentExhibitions/TeenageHoboesintheGreatDepression/RailroadsDuringtheDepressionEra.aspx
Foster, Dean L. "Kansas Hobo: a saga of the dirty thirties." Emporia State University. N.p., 29 Mar. 2012. Web. 5 Dec. 2014.
<https://esirc.emporia.edu/handle/123456789/681?show=full>.