Box 17

Mr. Tallent speaks rapidly and puts a lot of detail into his story. He does remember and names the train lines he rode. The railroad names are underlined.

Mr. Thornall does not speak or give any information about himself or his personal history. He also sings with accompaniment.

Mr. Vicks had a difficult life in general and his stories tell of the hardship of the rails and the depression. Mr. Vicks carried a harmonica with him on his travels and he shared his music wherever he went.

Mr. Vicks is a songwriter with Frank and Eugene his son. There is very little information about riding the rails in this tape, but there is a good deal of music, some of which has been published. Mr. Vicks sings songs, tells stories, and twelve not so clean jokes. There is not very much said about riding the rails. He taped four sides of tape of which this is the fourth and final tape of the four.

Mr. Wells tells the story of his life including some time on the rails. He tells stories in a very direct manner.

Mr. Barrett discusses a historical time for him which is the blizzard, he speaks about in chapters 1 to 5. He started being around trains at the age of ten years old and learned the ropes by listening and watching the older and more experienced rail riders.

Carle Benson tells a story about hobos that documents the life of "riding the rails" during the Depression era.

Mr Bjorngjeld answers his questionnaire by singing with an instrument accompiament.

1. Know I’m A Hobo, But Who Said I’m A Bum? 2. A Great American Bum – Crystal Cove to Many Jobs 3. Hallelujah! I’m a Bum 4. On the Bum Again 5. Big Rock Candy Mountain 6. I Am The Gay Caballero 7. They Say We’re All Born 8. I Don’t Work For a Living – Old Gray Mare 9. Back To Where I Come From

Mr. Bogart plays the guitar, harmonica and sings the words to the songs. 1. Song from 1930 – Abilene, Kansas 2. Song: Meet Your Baby on the Three Mile Grade 3. Song: Prisoner and a Rose 4. Railroad Song: Wreck No. 9 (appeared the same time as the arrival of Ninety-seven)

C.A. Bourne tells many stories about hobos on the rails and a Harley-Davidson trip, with great detail.