In the past we’ve covered hoboes creating problems in Joplin, but this time we’ve found the story of a hobo dog. Brakemen and conductors who worked the run between Joplin and Mena, Arkansas, reported that a large Newfoundland dog was riding the rails. Although it was unknown if the dog jumped on the train in Mena, it was first noticed there “sneaking in and out of boxcars.” A brakeman, checking the cars for tramps, found the dog asleep in one of the cars and left it in peace. At the next stop, however, the dog was shooed off the train.
The dog, though, had other ideas and jumped unobserved back on board the train. At the next stop, however, the Newfoundland was once again discovered, and was put in charge of the stationmaster. Somehow the crafty dog managed to sneak away and jumped on board the next train. He was discovered by a porter who ushered him off the train. The dog could not be deterred and continued hopping trains until he was discovered in Neosho. A brakeman who had previously kicked the dog off a train in Arkansas was surprised to find the Newfoundland perched inside of a large furniture car. The brakeman decided to let the dog ride the train to Joplin.
As the engine pulled into Joplin, the dog began to bark, and once the train had stopped, it jumped from the car, and headed off to parts unknown. The Globe remarked, “It is the only incident of the kind that ever happened on the Kansas City Southern line, and perhaps the only one that ever did happen; and a dog that would have intelligence enough to ride in such a manner, instead of walking, should be highly valued by his master.”
As a present day aside, stray dogs in Moscow have also learned the benefits of riding the train.
Source: Joplin Globe
