The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-05-05
WHERE TIE TRAMpS CAMP.
WHAT 4 REPORTER LEARNED ON A
VISIT TO 7HE HfMMOCkS.
He adqunrtcrs or the Tramps Of souihcr r New
Specimens OF Men Of Leisure who
Travel on Country Roads Wanderers.

Some three miles from the ancient city OF
Elizabeth. ~ j., and less than one mile from the
still more ancient village Of Union. which con-
sists to-day as ii did n century ago of a tavern.
n blacksmith shop. store and a few cottages,
lies tract OF sterile, marshy land. fanked by
hilloeks. This has loug b"ch known among
the country people IA The ITammocks. Tho
marsh IL long and narrow. marked here and
there by small ponds OF stasnant water and the
hillocks are covered with scrubby grOwlh OF
unlnrhrush.
These hillo'ks the tramps " southern Ncw
Jersey have made their headquarters ana gon-
cral rendezvous for The past two years. In the
holows they have found protection. not only
from the chilling winds. but from the impcrti-
mont scrutiny OF curious counlrymen who use
the road which skirts tho 1lammo ks Here
they have met 1T intervals md compared their
notes Of travel. communi 'ating to each otherthe
location Of the best houses On tucir din rent
routes
SuN reporter visited Elizabeth recently in
search II the campof the tramps. having been
informed thutsiNty Of the frat rnty had congrc-
gated near that city. lie failed 10 gam any IN
formation from tho police. but, finally.
MA 60 Ia" HauuOcks Ii r.. rs it was
stu carry IN IN" afternoon, h" SAW no
tranps but at NE, loot oi three OF tn
10y. wore tiie ash ot three fir - around Will
vs. &c etrcWn the leather. Oi chickens crumbs Of
brad. tn KIN ut some furry animal. and one
or TWO empty bottles amt tomato cans. remnants
oi recent i'Hst lnoy, am hftn son" ION,
sa.d Ga" r'pou RS gu T.. appyn!i an enly
..n wou.l Aaye e,ap1rated. st.l, hpw AN you
i'ii what Nni oi I'm thru inilrts drintsF
NJ Union \liitA". nobody knnw muHn about
tn tranis. although nearly every one i'd
dl's- a h.d somrillns tosny; one oia sent'e'-
lag WIS founded. snid he mad of'n sen the
/ trtiuis faiup Il IA ile hdinhOcN -ai tie way
from ~" a. tihtty oi tlem at Nmr-nut had
n ElhOrAood. T.ey seem 81 o. nave pi.niy to
cat ine oli ;entleman SAID AMI NJ DOUBT they
stNi' IT, oiii. ne 'ontnued, win profound
philosophy. rs long ms thcN lion steal around
mere. WAY should cf wlrryF
On las way bA n 10 i.nlstbl IN. just as the sun
had = I. the reporter met tramp. There was
Do M stalking nlin ior anything eiS'. HIS every
notion seemed tD be- a protest against moving.
Ihe luic paeS carried "a a stuck thrown oy r
/ MS shoulder WIS shifted every ten steps, and
his eyes roamei listrssy from one side Of the
road 10 the qtler in search d a convenient ST
iu. pn,,e. H. wore Il blue cipth coat two 50
100 large for INN. iaded flannel shirt. open al
tn mock "A uAlr of dlluuldnied trousers of tho
! Bow ~ style. and "a -,ourn hat wnirh had
served so long ~ pillow as 10 nave lost All
minnst,,ns sii.r Kin mi If les 1eslJ.d
color. hi h.s lower lace. but the cunning ewes
whi n locked out over the short stumuy nose
anStnln.. or any body tod plainly a tale Of utter
| dc.rldation
'FrraNelDng? ?" asked the reporter (who knew
that TRAMP ef. uunits preferred Lat word 10 the
palmer and more obvious ono.
/ head seated himself / a1t trayeliin' Whut
/ tnon -
! Of yonr4. ami -" ~''''''
wen. II youll wait awhile my pardner II
be along. Hes a chinncr. he Is, and ne II may
] Ih.n he SANG down on the green eyard AZ the
! side ol the road. placed MS bundle under his
! N,t long aiferwari his "pardner" young
fenow of tw. nty-nyc or 50. with chetry Voice