I am sending you a poem (or song) that my brother, Gilbert Wheeler, composed during the winter of 1921, at the age of 18, while working for the Newfoundland Railway. During the winter, Gilbert, with a crew of other men, would travel with the train and clear the tracks of any snowdrifts so that the train could continue its journey across the land. At the time our family lived at the North Battery, as our father worked as a longshoreman on the St. John's waterfront. Our permanent home was at Lower Island Cove, Conception Bay North, to which we returned in 1923. My brother had quite a few copies made of the poem (or song) and one day while he was at work, I found them. I thought I would sell some of the copies to get some money for him. I was eight years old at the time (ha ha). I went all around the Battery area, Signal Hill, Plymouth Road and Forest Road, and sold all the copies I had for five cents a copy. When I came home and gave him the money, I think he was a little annoyed with me, but he didn't scold me. What could he say to his little eight-year-old sister who was selling his composition and making money for him? In 1922 he went to Nova Scotia, and worked there for a year before going to the USA, where he lived until 1961, when he passed away at the age of 58. I thought that this information and composition would be good for the readers of the Downhome, informing them how the trains got through during and after snowstorms in the 1920's and earlier years. One of your readers may have a copy of this composition handed down from their parents or grandparents. if so, I would love to get a copy, as I have relayed the words from memory only.

The Boys In On the Line

We are a crowd of hearty boys
Full one hundred strong
And it's about those heroes
That I'm about to write this song.

We would all turn out at 5 a.m.
As we had to be on time
Then board the train with our hearty crowd
The boys in on the line.

Now a few of their names I will repeat
Jack Furlong, Bill Lush and Pat O'Brien
Johnny Garrett, he's our foreman who
During World War I, sailed the ocean in a
Submarine many a time,
But now he's joined our hearty crowd
The boys in on the line.

Each time after a large fall of snow
Across the island we would have to go
Because to get the train in on time
Was the job of the hearty crowd,
The boys in on the line.

So now my song is ended, I have no more to say
I'll relate a little more on some other day.
If my name you want to know, just call me Mr. Ryan
You'll find me, if you want me, with
The boys in on the line.

By: Gilbert Wheeler   Submitted By: NULL