Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-11-16
THE EXPERIENCE OF TRAMps.

of the Public.
From the San Francisco Call.
Now then, off we go"
Well, you needn't be so rough about
it. I'm going, amt L? ;"
The first speaker was a conductor or
the Central Pacific railroad.
The second was a curious looking
specimen of humanity. He was tall and
slightly built, and his slender frame was
encompassed by suit which told un-
mistakably that he was tramp, despite
his well defined features, which betoken
rather the gentleman Of sentiment and
taste than vagrant wandering upon the
face of the earth. He wore blue wool
en- blouse and a sailors oil-cloth hat.
His legs were encased in pair of over
alls, which were so short that they did
not reach the top of his heavy brogans,
which were evidently about four sizes
too large for his small feet, and disclos-
ed to view pair of old-fashioned blue
woolen stockings. such as grandmother
used to make in the good old days gone
by.
This singular specimen of humanity.
with an audibly muttered curse on CON
ductors in general, and this conductor
in particular, was thrown from the over
land train going east, at about o'clock
in the morning, on the 9th of Septem-
Der, A. d. 1877, at Clark's Station. IA
miles west of Wadsworth. He had been
discovered in the smoking car, quietly
snoozing the happy hours away, awaken
ed, and found to be without the neces-
sary strip of cardboard emitting him to
a ride. The car was stopped for his es-
pecial benefit, which placed him on a
level with kings and emperors. and he
was summarily elected. A careful OBJ
server might have noticed that the shove
which sent him from the car was not
particularly energetic; but there were
no careful observers near to watch his
movements He made quick bound
from the train, landed on all fours, and
found himself sprawling at the foot of
a huge water-tank.
There were observers, though, al
though not careful. The moment the
tramp regained his feet, which he did
with apparent difficulty, voice came
kissing through the morning air:
Well, pard, you're jolly 'un, you
isl"
The tramp, gathering himself togeth-
er, peered through the gloom of early
at four ragged, besmirched
creatures in the shape of men, who were
scrutinizing him closely There was
nothing suggestive of evil in their eyes,
but they were not pleasant to look
upon.
Why, what's the matter?"
"Oh, nothin's the matter, only you've
gone and gin us away"
Gin ye away?
E-a-s, gin us away. We was a-goin
to jump that train, but when the cop
(conductor) threw we off, the racket was
up. Why, after fndin' you he had the
whole gang lookin' for u.s. and here we're
blocked. There ain another caboose till
four clock in the afternoon, an now
here we've got to stay till then, or foot
it to Wadsworth.' -
The elected tramp expressed his pro-
found regret in the vernacular of the
tribe.
"Why the -" cried another. didn't
you come the truck racket till you got
here? Don't yer know this is one of
our reglar stations, and the cop never
goes through the car from Wadsworth
to Winnemucca?
didn't know that"
Well, you are a green un.
This fact was modestly admitted by
the new arrival. He even became frank,
and admitted that it was his first
tramp.
But" he said, in sudden outburst
of ingenious candor, ''boys. I've made
up my mind to lead free and easy life,
after this. I've worked for blasted mo-
nopolies all my life: don't mean to do
it no longer; | want to join the jolly
boys of the road; will ye take me along
and learn me the rackets?
In course we will, said the first
speaker, ''but the first thing you must
learn is not to give us a way. We'd
a-been nigh on to Wadsworth afore now
but for yer stupid racket on that ere
train"
The morning sun was just sending
forth his advance guards Of rays to her.
aid his approach; the door Of the only
house at Clark's Station, that Of the
tender of the water-tank, opened, and
the four tramps looked at each other
significantly. One of them spoke up; he
said:
" Here's good chance to learn the
green 'un sumthin'! Here, young feller,
Jest go to the house yonder and see if
We can git us sumthin' ter cat.
The new conner started for the house,
while the other four sheltered them
selves from observation on the further
side of the water-tank. The two bits
(25 cents) secured generous lunch
from the kind-hcarted landlady. Rich
bread and creamy butter, three slices
of currant cake, two pieces of pie, and
some crackers and cheese thrown in
were wrapped neatly in newspaper a
month old, and the tramp returned to
his companions rejoicing.
ssAll for two bits! he exclaimed, as
he displayed his treasure to the -four
tramps.
"What!" they gasped, as with one
voice, starting back in utter astonish
ment.
I That's all. Only two bits!
Gin away ag'ip! muttered the firs'
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