Connecticut western news., 1876-09-08
THE FRAMES PARADISE.
Camps of IdIC VaRrRnts in the New Jersey
 swRmps-HOw They Live.

Camps of Idlc VaRrnnts in the New Jerscy
 swRmps-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 Q short distance above Waverley station. As this point is nearly midway between Elizabeth and Newark, the officers of both cities disclaim jurisdic- 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 out the ma rauders. 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 the 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, 1t is said, will set every dog in the neigh borhood to bowling, and he is further distinguished as one of the most adroit i 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 mak- ing preparations for "turnipg 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 iron. their language, "down On the crowd below. One of the party, dirtier and more piratical in appearance than his companions, was pointed out US "French Lou" He said that he had just reached the retreat" the night before, and had been robbed of a silver watch by the other gang, pointing over bis shoulder. "Walt and see," said all other, in significant way, eff we don't get square yet wid dem fellows. We'll put up job on 'em that'l make 'em sick" When questioned as to work and the prospects, the Frenchman-who spoke excellent English - replied : "Work What do we care for work when there's plenty to cat without ita" "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 iu Philadelphy, the other day, I was arrest ed and locked up for asking for work, and do you think I'll run that risk again Why, the country is rich enough to support such gentlemen as we be, and then not feel it. Talk about hard times, why these are just bullyl"
 "How about the coming winterG"
 The tramps made no reply for a min ute or so, when little dried-up fellow answered: "WeIl get along well enough. We understand our business, and if there isn't bot times ill the big cities by Christmas, I'm fool"
 "'Taint going to be like it was last winter, you can just bet your bottom dollar," said another. "Well have something to live on; and if we have to 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 molder knocked the spokesman down; but be- fore he could realize his peril was in turn knocked down, and was robbed of $1. 50-all the money he possessed. Two of his assailants even wanted to take his bundle, but were 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, its regular denizens being out on begging tours in adjacent towns or cities, or among the farmers in the vicinity. To- ward dusk they may be seen returning, "droppipg in " from the railroad track and country road, singly, or in pairs and are lost sight of in the thicket which screens their haunts from the road. A farmer wbo lives in the vicinity esti mates tnat, Slnce tue commencement ol the present year, fully one thousand chickens, young turkeys and geese have been stolen from himself and his neigh bors; their fences have been torn down their COWS milked i'll their pastures, and, in several instances, their orchards stripped of the green fruit. They are now apprehensive that the corn in the fields will suffer unless prompt actior for the driving away of tramps is inau gurated.