Port Royal standard and commercial. [volume] (Beaufort, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1876-09-21
THE TRAMPS' PARADISE.

THE TRAMPS' PARADISE.
Camps of Idle Migrants in the New Jersey
swamps-How They Live.
The main retreat of the tramps in
Eastern New Jersey, a correspondent OF
the Sun says, is in the groves and
swamps bordering the Pennsylvania rail
road o short distance above Waverley
station. AS this point is nearly midway
between Elizabeth and Newark, the
officers of both cities disclaim iurisdic-
tion over it. and the tramps, recognizing
it as neutral grounds, have taken pos
session. Night after night during the
past four months their camp fires have
lighted up the swamp, and crowds OF
males and females have held carnival
beneath the trees. Tramps of every
nationality, age, and condition resort to
this rendezvous, and the farmers of the
adjacent district have suffered so severe
ly from their depredations that they
have determined to take the matter into
their own hands. and drive ont the ma
.auders. The Pennsylvania railroad
company has also suffered from their
piracies and lawlessness, as new and old
ties have been burned, telegraph poles
have been injured, and trains have been
stoned by some of the drunken mis-
creants. A few nightsago at least thirty
of these outcasts were congregated in
and around blazing log fire far in
among tho trees in the swamp. In
terspersed among the crowd were five
hideous looking women. One of the
peculiar yelps of one of the men in the
gang, while passing farmyard at night,
it is said, will set every dog in the neigh
borhood to howling, and he is further
distinguished as one of the most adroit
thieves on the road. Not far off sat four
men playing "seven up" for pennies,
and scattered around in various positions
were dozen of more, chatting or max
ing preparations for turning in" for
the night. Empty tomato cans, ham
bones, broken crackers, and feathers,
the debris of former feasts, were scat
tered on the ground.
A short distance above, cooking their
evening meal, were several strange
tramps, ragged, filthy, and, judging
from their language, "down on =" the
crowd below. One of the party, dirtier
and more piratical in appearance than
his companions, was pointed out as
French Lou" He said that he had
Just reached "the retreat" the night
before, and had been robbed of silver
watch by the other gang, pointing over
his shoulder. "Wait and see" said an,
other, in a significant way, elf we don't
get square yet wild dem fellows. Well
put up a Job on 'em that'n make 'em
sick" When questioned as to work and
tho prospects, the Frenchman-who
spoke excellent English - replied
"Work! What do wo care for work
when there's plenty to eat without lti'
"That's so," chimed in another. "It's
no use for US to attempt to work; We
couldn't get any if we tried. Down in
Philadelphy, the other day, I was arrest
ed and locked up for asking for work,
and do you. think I'll run that risk
again9 Why, the country is rich enough
to support such gentlemen as We be.
aud then not feel it. Talk about hard
times, why these are just bully!"
Chow about the coming winter3"
The tramps made no reply for min
ute or so, when little dried-up fellow
answered: "We'll get along vel
enough. We understand our business
and if there isn't bot times in the big
cities by Christmas, Pm'a fool"
"'Tain't going to be like it was las
winter, you can Just bet your bottom
dollar" said another. "Weil have
something to live on; and if we have te
fight for It, why we'll do that"
The night following, Troy molder
while walking along the railroad track
with little bundle in his hand, was ac
costed by three tramps from the swamp,
who demanded his money. The molde,
knocked the spokesman down; but be
fore he could realize his peril was IL
turn knocked down, and was robbed ol
S1.5O-all the money he possessed. Two
of his assailants even wanted to take hlF
bundle, but we're persuaded by the
third of the party to let him retain It,
and he was suffered to go on his way
upon giving his promise not to tell the
police.
"The retreat" as it is known to the
tramps, is silent during the day, IT.
} regular denizens being ont on begging
tours in adjacent towns or cities, OF
among the farmers in the vicinity. 10
ward dusk they may be seen returning
dropping in from the railroad tract
} and country road, singly, or in pairs
and are lost sight of in the thicket which
screens their haunts from the road. a
} farmer WHO lives in the vicinity estl
mates that, since the commencement o
the present year, fully one thousan'
chickens, young turkeys and geese hav'
) been stolen from himself and his neigh
bors: their fences have been torn down
} their COWS MIXED in their pastures, and
in several instances, their orchard
J stripped of the green fruit. They ar
now apprehensive that the corn in tn
fields will suffer unless prompt actor
, for the driving away Of tramps is inau
gurated.