The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1877-11-15
AMONG THE TRAMPS.
A Novel Experience-A Free Ride and {
Luxurions Repast-Life in a Tie-hOuse-
Secrets of the Craft.
From the San Francisco CALI

"Now, then, off ye go!" .
"Well, you needn't be so rough about
it. I'm going, amt IP,'
The first speaker conductor of
the Central Pacific Railroad. =
The second was curious looking |
specimen of humanity He was tall and |
slightly built, and his slender frame was
encompassed by suit which told UNI
,mistakablyst that he was tramp, despite
: his well defined features, which betok-
ened rather tho gentleman of sentiment
and taste than a>yagrant wandering up
ON the face of the earth. He wore a
blue wooden blouse and SAILORS oil I
cloth hat. His legs were incased in a
pair of overalls, 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 disclosed to view pair Of old
fashioned blue wooden stockings, such |
as grandmother used to make in the
good old days gone by nyersno ii
This singular specimen OF humanity
with an audibly mutterd curse on conf
ductors in general, and this special eoff-1
dutor in particular, was thrown from,
the overland train going East, at about
o'clock in the morning, the 9th of
September A.. d. 1877, at Nark's Sta
ton, fourteen miles west Of Wadsworth,
He had been discoveredin the smo king
car, quiely smoothing the happy hours
away, awakened, and found to be with,
out the usual strip of pasteboard enti-
ting him to ride. The car was STOP
ped for his especial benefit, which
placed him on level with kings and
emperors and he was summarily elected.
A careful observer might have noticed
that the shove which sent him from the
car was not particularly energetic; but
there were no carefuf observers to Watch
his movements. He made quick
bound from the train, landed on all
tours, 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 great apparent difficulty, voice
came Kissing through the morning air:
''Well, pard, you're . jolly 'un, you
is!''
The tramp, gathering himself togeth-
er, peered through the gloom of early
morning 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. @lf. SAY Ete& .sal
"Why, what's the matter?,' ~
"Oh, nothin's the matter, onlyye'ye
gone and GIN us away
stGin' We away?'' q aA
E-a-s, gin JUS away. We WAS
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 us, an here
we're blocked. There amt another
caboose till O'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 varnacular of the
tribe. st, ~.
"Why, the -,'' cried another,
"didn't you come the truck racket till
ye got here? Don't yer know this is one
OF our reg'la stations, and the cop new
er goes through the car from Wadsworth
to Winnemucca?"
81 didn't know that
Well, you are green 'un."
This fact was modestly admitted by
the new arrival. Heeven became frank,
and admitted that this was his first
tramp. "Bub," he said, in a sudden
outburst of ingenious candor,s Boys,
I've made up my mind to lead free
an easy life after this I've work ed for
blasted monopolies all my life; Isdon't
mean to do it no longer; I want to join
the jolly boys of the road, will We take
me along and learn me the rackets?''
In course we will,n said the first
speaker, !" but the first thing ye must
learn is not to give us away. We'd a
been nigh on to Wadsworth afore now,
but for yer stupid racket ON that ere
The morning sun was Just sending
forth his advance guard 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 fell
Ter, jest, go to the house there an see if
you can get us sumthin' ter eat.''
The new conner started for the house,
while the other four sheltered them
selves from observation on the farther
side OF the water tank. Two bits (25
4cents) secured generous lunch from
the kind-hearted .landlady. Rich bread
and creamy butter, three slices of cur
rant cake, two pieces of pie, and some
crackers and cheese thrown in, were
wrapped neatly in a newspapera month