For the last selection I will stray from Robert Service and share a bit of whimsy I found in "The Hobo In Song and Poetry". Monikers, I discovered, are nicknames which a hobo will take. Unlike a Christened name a moniker will often tell a bit about the person. To me this naming process makes more sense as it tells a story about the person and for me it easier to put a face with the name.
The seemingly endless monikers listed in this piece represents a time when the hoboes were more prevalent in America. An army of wandering workers. This river of wanderers is today but a trickle of its former force.
But once a year in Britt Iowa the faithful arrive. They talk of days gone by and the new hardships of the road. They remember those fellow travelers who have passed on and pass on encouragement to those who are still rambling. They scratch their monicker on an old Milwaukee Road boxcar and at weeks end continue their travels.
Monikers On A Water Tank
by Harry C. Morrison
Now a short time ago I jumped upon a freight sure I was bound for Chicago.
When the head-shack came and ditched me at a tank outside of Fargo.
He said, if your a proper stiff, not a gay-cat or a chronicker,
Just utilize your leisure time, by chalking up your monicker.
Then I strolled down to the water-tank, it was all scratched up with chalk,
With names of stiffs from every state from Frisco to New York.
Now while attention for a while, one and all I'll thank,
I'll mention some of the monickers upon that water tank.
There was Boston Slim, New Orleans Jim, Portland Fish, and Scrapper Red,
K.Y. Crutch and P.A. Dutch, Little Chi Curly and Chicago Ed.
Michigan Jack, and Bible Back, Brocky, Fritz and Flood,
Spoons and Famous, Brooks and Lamous, New York Curly and St Louis Bud.
Billy Moran and Conci Don, Jerry the Ditcher and Mail-Bags,
Yorky Dick and Omaha Brick, Fatty Ryan Rats and Rags.
Sheenie Si and Johnny Fly, A.P. Riley and P.A. French,
There was Reddy the Rough and Lady Buff, Phillie-Bob, The Lilly,
Wheeling Jack and Boston Mack, Swift and P.A. Billy.
St. Louis Phil and Troy Bill, Sickly, Shirts and Smocks,
Hikes and Spikes and Old Bill Sykes, Cinci Mike and Mox.
Boston Clam, Hoosier Sam, Hoosier Slim and Dexter,
Preacher Bill, Alton Gill, Buff Dutch, Boots and Baxter.
New Haven Red Painter Ned, Chi Tom, Link and Lank.
Old Scully and Skelly and Thumby Kelly, Dempsey and the English Nut,
Warren Paddy and Locke and P.A. Brock and the boy he had from Butte
Harris and Heel and Danny Deal, Curtis, Crum and Cooker,
Otto and Parr, Big Gansie and Star, Soldier Jim , the Trooper.
Montreal Danny and Jack Devanny and the kid called Vestibule,
Brooklyn Dutch, Cinci Butch , Skysail Leavenworth, Fatty and Pool,
Andy O'Neil; and Spring Heel, Tieg Wilson, Chi Frank.
Now Those were some of the monickers upon that water tank.
There was Denver Slow and Boston Joe, Little Jesse and Gorman,
Saxe, Mahoney, Liverpool Toney, Utah Slim, the Mormon.
Atlanta Mar and Old Hart, Pitts, Smokey and Pitts Slim,
Caribou and Hoosier Due, Ford and Valejo Tim,
Belfast Jim and Iowa Slim, Boston Jack and Choke,
Seldom Seen and Old Tom Deane, and the Kid from Roanoke,
Brooklyn Sip, Montana Grip, Harrison and Hasher Frank.
There was Frisco Guinnie, Nova Scotia Skinny, and the Kid from New Orleans,
Ottawa Brock and Cleveland Doe, Con Fingers and Sardines.
Frisco Larry and Yorky Harry, Hannibal and Naylor,
Sailor Puck, Nebraska Buck, Anchor Jack, the Whaler,
Pedro and Fox, Harrigan and Knox, Pincers, Cherokee, Craig and Cline,
Blue Cheroo and McAdoo, Diamond Tom and Denver Slim,
Big Chi Mitch and P.A Stitch, Stormy, Jinn the Bank.
I was about to register when the Overland pulled in,
The passengers surrounded me before I could begin.
I began to bum them and was giving quite a talk,
One fellow said, "Give you money, pard? You'll;l spend it all for chalk."
They got some clever gags, how the joked and joshed,
One said, "Why that's not chalk, that tanks been whitewashed."
'Twas then my disappointment came, and how my courage sank,
For there was no room to register on that water tank.
Right- Monickers on the box car, Britt Iowa Hobo Jungle.
