The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-09-19
Three Days a Tramp.


| EIVAA ENNH AbAA 9Aus
Two gentlemen were talking in front Of
the S.. James Hotel an evening or two ago,
and = ShAbbily.dressed man asked them
for q little aiaistSnCe 10 get something 10
eat. He had just been repulSed BY 4
group Of four who stood near by, one say.
ing, unteelingly, "Ob, get on, you tramp
ave been there my self" said one gentle.
men 10 the other, as be tished In his peck.
ct for q quarter. Alter the poor fellow
had expressed his gratitude and moved
oil, this conversation ensued:
"You say you've been there yourself.
How's thAtI'
"why, short time ago l went out to
Chicago. and on my way back stopped
over in Cleveland. There / Stoppsd loo
long: ! had friends in Cleveland, but
didn't like the notion Of borrowing
money. Having enough 10 buy ticket
to Salamanca, bought II, and had few
dimes left over, had railroad friend
in SALAMANCA whom had often favored,
and knew he'd favor me. As soon as
arrived there I'd be all right. So l went.
reached SALAMANCA at dawn the next NOR.
ming only 10 lerrn to my disgust that my
friend was iB Cincinnati. | hadn't more
than enough money left for cigar and q
cocktail. Invested II. The New York
train was just leaving. | had check for
u large valise. SO | said 10 the cOnduc-
tor: Say Captain, my name Ia Il,
I'm connected with the house Of X. & Co.,
New York. I'm unfortunately broke.
Take my check and III redeem my
baggage at BtnghamLon.' The conductor
was grabbed. 4 don't do that kind Of
business, he said.
"Well, take my watch
"'There are four conductors between
here and Btnghamton.
"'WeIl, what shall do?
"llis only reply was, All aboardp and
the train moved out, There was, dead.
broke, stranger, in the meanest place in
New York State and as hungry as the
deuce"
"And what did you dol'
Il cursed that conductor 10 begin with.
Then l reflected. l had friends In Bling.
hamton; all | wanted was to get there. l
didn't want my employers to hear that
was in such 4 6x. was ashamed. There
was no train going until night. So
thought partly for the fun Of Il, I'd walk
on few miles, board the next train, find
somebody that | knew, aud get throug bCLI
lett my valise at the express otIice-after
putting on q clean shirt in dark room
at the depot-and started OF, angry, but
as proud as Napoleon"
Tramp, did. walked from 0 o'clock
in the morning until 5 in the afternoon,
from Salamanca to Portville, n. Y, near
the Pennsylvania line. That was twenty.
eight miles, the longest walk Of my life. /
got thirsty and dusty, and.waS stared at
by the country.folks until was ashamed.
Part Of my way | walked on the railroad.
track, but ] found the Wagon.road much
easier walking. got to Portville, n. Y.
as | said before, at 5 P. NJ, and thought
was on the Erie road. felt likesWear.
ing when the telegraph-operator told me
that was on the line Of the Buffalo and
Erie, aud that the Erie road was seven
miles away. / had left 1t at 0lean.
"'Can you send dispatch and receive
a teIegrnphiC money.order here?' [ asked.
No, sir; you would receive u tele.
graph moDey'order " Olean, seven miles
back
u hadn't enough money to pay my fare
back to Olean, and said I'd be blessed ii
I'd walk back. So asked II there was a
station on the road ahead where could
receive Geographic money.order. 'Yes,
at Emporium, the stupid telegraph oper.
atOr replied.
"'lIow far is il?'
'FUrIysix miles
"'Great heavensw
"But was bound to 20 it or die.
hadn't eIden anything for day and
night. Having two nickles left, l invested
one in crackers and cheese. 1t was near.
ly Z o'clock in the evening then. After
resting on the roadside, started off on the
railroad bed. hadn't walked a mile be-
fore man overlook me, carrying a bas-
ket on his arm. He was Just returning
from his work. lie babe me good even
ing, and We got to talking. l told him
that l was on my way to Emporium, and
that | had to walk. He generously
asked me togo home with him; and when
! saw he was sincere I went. There was
treated like prince. They were poor
people, but good ones. AT II in the
morning | resumed my trip. After
l walked twenty.four miles, kind far.
mer gave me lodging, supper, and break
fast. He said: no one in distress shall
pass my house, The third day reach.
ed Emporium-a tramp Of seventy-four
miles from Salamanca, through the noun.
tains, | found that no money order by
telegraph could reach me there. But /
met friend, former resident OF Bling.
hamton, ard became his guest. Three
days later l had money enough to pay
my bill and TO buy ticket to New York.
And ! resolved never to get broke again,
and never 10 refuse to assist poor fellow
in distress,