The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-02-24
VALENTINE GREER's ADVENTURES.
WESTERN FARMERS AND APPRENTIcED boys
HOW THEY ARE TREArED-rHx BOYS TRAMP

HOW THEY ARE TREArED-rHx Box's TRAMP
IRON INDIANA.
In the latter part OF 1872 John Greer the father OF
nine children, seven boys and two girls, died. His
wife being poor support her family sent i've OF
the boys named John, Alonzo, Henry, Valentine and
George Washington, 10 the Juvenile Asylum IN West
Thirteenth street. The boys remained In The Asylum
for about SIX months, when they were engaged 10
farmers out West. Valentine hired 10 Sim Dowell,
farmer ofHoopston, Ill, he being at that time only
ten years OF age. No sooner had no reached
the farm when no was set TO work
chopping wood and following the plough Being I'M
able TO perform tho necessary amount Of work i'm
posed upon h,m b. Sim he rather roughly used
by his employer. For eighteen months he was Kept
hard at work tho Illinois farm, then Dowell moved
place called Rensselaer,, In Jasper county Indiana.
Hero he was again iorccd to DO enough work Tor
man, and not being able to comply with what re-
CURED OF him, ne was frequently beaten by hts
employer. II was after one OF these thrash
ings that he resolved to run away
from DoweI. One day about noon in last
September, while Dowei out SUPER intending
The work on his farm he embraced tho opportunity
aud away. For thirteen long miles he travelled as
last he could mil he reached the village Of Francis
vile, arriving about nigh,ial! Here he rested his
weary limbs III Old barn. The next morning ho
Went search OF work, but beng unable TO get en-
ploymcnt lac determined 10 start Tor New York.
STEALING RIDES.
Being without money 10 dciray his expenses to this
city he waited around the depot until tho arrival
OF freight train, IN which he stowca himself
until II had started on It's way East He
Was however discovered by inc Conductor and
put OIL the train Ut Lafayette. i0rty miles from
Frnncisville. When the train was about leaving this
he secretcd himself ON the tender aud travelled
reached Losansporl, whcn driven by hunger, hc lett
his hiding place and sought something 10 cat. He
called at farmers house. and on stating MS pitiabe
condition the good wife look compassion on him and
supplied ms wants. lie returned To the depot soon
stop I'll another tram would The night
he lett for Fort Wayne, eighty miles distant, and
reached there the following morning. He wandered
that city for several days, aud on going SIX
miles OF the depot caught freight train and Ind
himself IN an empty Car nnt'i his arrv" at small VII
lage called Van Vert. Ho would have continued
his journey but the cold beng Intense he COIL
PEELED to leave the cars and seek shelter.
a rRAMr's PAiApsE.
While trying to ana ome place in which to lay his
head he met a miserable, wrcchcd looking tramp.
The tramp more experienced than the boy III the art
OF living without money brought HIM to the county
lookup, where fifteen or twenty other lramps were
assembled. There was 10 hre in the broken down
stove the congregation oil Deggars tore tho poplar
boards from the partition dividing The front ana back
OF the lookup. With these they butt ire aud the con-
gress OF cudgers went 70 sleep The nrc gradually
increasing the stove pipe became rod hot and
the shingles OF the ROOF iguied The
!ramps .xakenea by the cracking ing, Of 1.-The the
Abe Prousc who had tramped from Fort Wayne, Ind,
fed with young Greer. They separated about TWO
miles from the lookup Prouss, who only thirteen
wears Of age told Greer he intended go 10 PhIla
delpha Young Greer lett Van Vert day later aud
continued his journey eastward encountrring great
dhcul,ie IN getting from ono place to another He
passed through some OF the principal towns and cities
In the state OF OHIO stepping number OF days 10 each.
until his arrival IN Pittsburg, Pa, which hc reached
New Years Day
SENT TO TIE PooRHorsE.
Crossing tho rvcr 10 Allegheny City, he rested for
the night under the Mayors oce, whore he was dis
covered by watchmau who had him sent TO the Poor
house. He remained about month there, when hc
was notified by Superintendent Grab that the rules of
the institution required being sent 10 tho House Of
Refuge. Becoming alarmed he 10 d him his history
and adventures. II was arranged that Greer was to
start once more his way toward home. lie lett Al
eghany and walked u East Liberty, distance OF thir
teen miles, where the superintendent told him he
could get train that would take INN To Philadelphia.
lie was successful in packing himself away In car
loaded lumber, and passed through all the small
towns and until his arrival on tuesday last in
the Quaker City.
THE PLACE WHERE WAS BORN.
Ho was directed 70 tho Mayors office py gentleman
TO wnom he related his story, and furnished with
q pass TO New YORK.. On Washington's Birthday no
arrived his city and proceeded TO the house
where he born In Th'ry-iith street, near Second
avenue. Upon making inquiries he could lind no trace
OF his mothers whereabouts. He wandered through
the strccts. hungry and iooisore, until noticed by
Ul,cer Lawson, OF the Tenth precinct, who took him
To the station house. Yesterday he brought 10 the
Central Onice and placed care OF Marion Webb. An
officer was detailed find tho res dencc OF tho boy
mother and alter long search, ascertaincd that she
resided ut No. $50 East Eightytirst street. She was
notified of tho arrival OF her son, and will no doubt
rulit or