The Lucknow Sentinel, 1979-04-25, Page 7The railway no longer links with Redtrees. The
station building is locked and barred - the rails just
lengths of rusting steel, almost hidden amongst wild
grass and weeds. I remember the day the last train
passed through and the long drawn out whistle of its
sad goodbye.
To record this historic occasion, I took a photograph•
of the train to publish in the Grunt and Thunder..I had
hoped too, to find a story, and I did, but it was not
printed until now.
Doc Peters and I were sitting on one of the stout old
seats reflecting on the departure of the last train - as if
we had just left a friend we would never see again.
"I first came here on a train in the dirty thirties,"
Doc Peters said softly. "It seems like only yesterday."
There was an air of sadness in the way he spoke and
I guessed the old station had once , played an
important role in his life.
"I came here illegally, although it didn't seem that
way at the time.I was riding the rails." He paused for..
a moment and sighed. "I guess you could say I was a
bum!„
Doc Peters had been studying medicine at Western
University and was in his third year when the crash of
• 1929 hit Wall Street. His family became penniless
overnight and. -Doc was forced to suspend his studies.
One would have imagined that.a well educated young
man could have found work to tide him over a difficult
period, but work was hard to find. He became a
_ drifter., living from one hobo jungle: tothe next,
searching for work but most of the time living on the
charityof others.
One day he climbed into a railway boxcar for shelter
and hid behind some crates. He must have been tired
and fell asleep". When he awoke the train was on the
move and the door had been closed. This was the first
time he had dared to enter a car which was carrying
freight. It was too late to worry about it then and too
late to change his mind.The boxcar had been locked!
For a whole day, Doc Peters remained in that car
and there is no need to elaborate on the embarrassing
circumstances which prevailed: He was 'cold,- and,
thirsty by the time the train stopped at the place
where the freight was to be unloaded. This was
'Redtrees!
The Station Master and general factotum was a man
named Fatso Flynn. He and a smaller individual
called Bert. Walker eventually decided to unload the
freight.
"This 'tire box o' bananas,is broken somebody's
been in 'ere.'
"'Can't 'ave, the car was locked."
"Then the so'nnavawitch is. still 'ere, Fatso said
menacingly, his eyes sweeping the box car.
"There. 'e is. Be'ind that there big packin' case."
Fatson Flynn picked his way between the cratesand
yanked a bedraggled and pathetic looking. Doc Peters.
to his feet. "Real. choosey fee a bum, ain't yer-
in a box car!"
"It's still not exactly first class travel," Doc Peters.
cheekily told his over weight captor.
"An look at the filthy mess - an them there banana
skins,", Fatson said.
DOC Peters eyed Flynn with contempt. ''What did
you expect me to do? I'vebeen locked,up inhere for a
long time. Yeah, I was hungry enough to pinch the
bananas but I never did figure on eating the skins."
"Smart youngbasket ain't yer?" said Fatson
khaking him roughly by the shoulder. "Yer won't be
so smart when the cops come ter git yer."
"I'll tell you what," Doc Peters said. "When they
put me in the calaboose, I'll get three squares a day
and a better bed than I've beenused to for a long.
time."
Doc Peters was half dragged and half walked to the.
station office where a farmer was standing, waiting to
collect an express parcel.
"You phone the police Bert - tell 'em I've got a real
smart ass 'ere - a railway bum an' a thief that broke
into a case of bananas."
The farmer looked at the young law .breaker and
made 'a few quick mental calculations. "Just a
minute," he told Fatso. "Before you do anythin' - let
me ave a word with this young man."
Fatso puffed out his cheeks as if he were abou.r to
speak but the farmer cut him short.
"You 'eard me - 'ang on a minute," the farmer said
gruffly: He turned to Doc Peters, his eyes softened
and he spoke gently. "What were you doin' in that
boxcar son?"
"I went in for shelter.Sir, and I fell asleep. When I
woke up the train was on the move."
"Ask 'im why he broke open thecrate an' pinched
the bananas."
The farmer looked at Fatso with disgust. "'e were
'ungry, so 'e were - but you wouldn't know anythin'
about that. You never missed a meal in yer life did
Yer?
"I'm gonna phone the police,";Fatso said.
"Yeah, why don't yer do that, an I'll tell 'em who it
were that tried to molest that there city woman, whp
got off the late train a couple o' years back.'"
Fatso's face turned crimson, "You ain't got nuthin
on rile - yoVe you „
"An 1 -could tell 'em a few more things they might
like ter Fear," the 'farmer said in a convincing 'tone.
"You're gonna forgit this little matter - ain't yer
Fatso?' ,
The fat one reluctantly nodded his head.
'"an I'm gonna pay .for them there bananas an'.
everythin' will all be settled nice an easy like," the
farmer said with an impish grin.
'remember. Doc Peters telling me the story, as if it.
was only last week
"You wouldn't print that in the Grunt and Thunder,
would you Don?'"
"I'd like to," I said, "but if you don't want me to, I
won't."
Doc Peters' eyes took . on a far away look and he.
smiled mischievously. "I don't care, but that farmer
would never forgive you. You wouldn't want.to offend
him.Inow."
was puzzled. "Why, who is he?"
Doc Peters laughed' and dug a friendly elbow into
my ribs. "Oh! ;you,know him, real well. That farmer is
your old friend Angus - only a guy like him could pull a
trick ,like that.''.
Lettersto the editor
• from page 6
Mr. D. Miller, our General
Chairman.
The objective of $7,791.00
is needed if the Salvation
Armyis to : continue its
humantarian work in the
community for the next year.
Thecampaign theme is
"All You Need Is Love". •
Please show your love and
comm, n for tire; ne jy ,,by
your perl;onna1 supp� }
Lieutenant 'ainTrainor
expresses confidence in the
local citizens for their .sup-
port again this year in
-making -the •ealmpa'rgtr-object-
ive a reality.
Red Shield Campaign.
Dear Sir:
I am enclosing a cheque
for $9.00 (Sr. Citizen rate) for
the Sentinel. We look for-
ward to its arrival every
Thursday.
With best wishes to your
new business venture.
To the
I'm enclosing a cheque for
my Sentinel renewal. ' My
wife Marge and I look foc:.
ward to receiving The Sent-
inel{and its delivery this last
while has been just fine.
Best wishes,
editor:
Sincerely,
Jeane Reid.
Art Andrew,
Guelph, Ont.
To the Editor:
Would you be kind enough
to print this sometime in your
paper?
I am most anxious to locate
a lost branch of our Reid
family.
About 1868 they . moved
from Camden East Township
to West Wawanosh Town-
ship.. They are on the 1871
'census` of that Township and
religion was Church of Eng-
land.
William Reid was born in
1816 in Ireland and married
Isabella 13eavers 7 March..
1842, Children were Eliza
Ann 1844, Robert James
1845, Mary 1847, Sarah Jane
1849, William 1851, 'Isabelle
1853, Margaret 1855, John
1857, Archibald 1859, Har-
riet 1861, all born inCamden
East Township:
I would be very pleased to
hear from descendants,, or
anyone who knew this fam-
ily.
1
Mrs. Hugh Reid,
R. R. 1 Enterprise,
Ont. KOK 1ZO
Back A Winner
In Huron -Bruce
Elect
GRAEME
c
R
A
1
G
Published by the Official
Agent for Graeme Craig,
Walton, Ontario.
Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, April 25, 1979 --Page 7
NOl.AVAILABIE
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• Full Line of Agricultural Chemicals
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usinesses...
• Financial assistance
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• Information on government
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Can we help you?
See our Representatives
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at: ,I The Bedford Hotel, Goderich.
EVERY TUESDAY
017.. Neat Visit:. MAY 1ST
AliFEDERAL BUSINESS
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(Branch Office Address) For prior
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or write 1036 Ontario St. Stratford