Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1878-02-01
LBsUermont 9Benif.
BRATTLEBOROi
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY /, 1873.


The "Tramp" Nuisance.
A needed light has been thrown upon the
tramp" question as a basis for legislation, by
the publication in the report of Chief Detect
i've Stephenson of Massachusetts,, of the ex-
perience of two Massachusetts detectives who
were sent out last season to join the tramping
fraternity. Here are few extracts from the
report
July 1O.-Left Springfield. Very soon met
two tramps, and we Immediately made in
quiries as to orr prospects for getting food
and lodgings while we were pursuing our in-
yestgations These men informed us that we
could get very little food by begging, except
ing dry bread, and sometimes little milk ;
that they generally stole what they got. These
men wore Irish, Is and a. years of age, one n
shoemaker by trade, and the other tailor ;
they could get work il they desired, but pre-
ferred TO tramp; they only worked when they
wanted money to get liquor and not then II
they could steal il. One had tramped five and
the other eight years. We all slept together
in the woods during the night at place near
Blandford, and parted company in the morn
ing, after furnishing them with some tobac-
co.
July l1.-Started from Blandford toward
Russell soon met tramp, II Frenchman full
80 years of age. He had tnmped about eight
years went with him. He said he tramped
through the country during the summer and
fall going to one of the larger cities when the
cold weather came on, where he generally
managed to get arrested for some petty crime
for the purpose of getting Il sentence that
would keep him in confinement during the
winter months. We gave him some bread.
He had with him large valise containing
four bottles of gin among other things. This
man was on the road to Buffalo, n. Y. Slept
during the night in Russell
July 12-Started from Russell at daybreak
in pouring rain soon went into barn,
while the Frenchman went out to beg some
food He returned with a large piece of
corned beef, which he had stolen.
July 13-Left the barn quite early where
we had passed the night soon met three
tramps; went with them into the woods,
where we found II more. Our party now
numbered 20. OF these, three were German,
two Dutchmen, one Swede, one Frenchman,
three Americans, and the remainder Irish.
They had been camped in this place some five
days. subsisting principally upon chickens and
potatoes which had been stolen in the night.
Concluded to remain with this gang for a
time.
July live divided into four squads,
each of which was to take its turn in provid-
ing food for the gang The Germans went
nine chickens, quantity Of eggs and bread
all of which, with the exception of the bread,
were stolen. They carried with them fish
hooks and lines, which they used for catching
chickens, simply by putting on a kernel of
corn for bait In many instances, when they
have rum, they soak bread with it and feed
the fowls, which are soon in n condition to be
easily captured.
July i7.-Reached Middlefield, where we
met three men belonging to the other gangs
We kept together on the tramp, generally sep
arating when we came to villages, and going
\ through singly. We laid in the woods most
of the day, getting plenty of food by begging
and stealing. The young fellows find it diff
ticult to get food of any description, but the
old men seem to excite more compassion ;
they generally have pitiful story ready for
use, gotten up without regard to truth. The
usual question to the young tramp is, why
don't you go to work 2" They always pro-
fess readiness to work. but generally give, as
n trade to which they are accustomed to work,
some occupation in which they are sure no
employment will be offered in that locality.
One of the gang stole to-day jug of bay
rum out of farmers wagon, all of which was
drank during the night. Slept in barn.
July 22.-Passed through Hinsdale very
early. About two miles out we met gang of
eight tramps, who said they were ON their
way to Pennsylvania to join the railroad riots.
They proposed to travel on the railroad tracks,
separating and going singly through the vii
lagos, stealing rides on freight trains if posi-
BILE, and expected to reach Pennsylvania in
about week. Left them, and travelled until
nearly midnight, when we met four Others
who were also bound for the riots Got n sup
. per of them, consisting of roasted potatoes,
beef and ham, which they said they had got
by begging. One of the party was very well
dressed, with plenty of cigars in his pocket.
He wore large, plain gold ring. We tried
to get his confidence but failed.
August 1.-The whole gang started on the
tramp toward the town of Washington we
met another party of 33 tramps in the woods
about 20 miles from Pittsield. In reply to
the question as to what they were up to. they
said they were waiting for n strike on the
Boston and Albany railroad; that there were
scattered about in that country about 400
men, who were all waiting to join the strikers.
These men appeared ready for any plan of
pillage and destruction that was proposed.
The proposition made to burn the small depots
on the road would have been carried into eff
feet excepting for our remonstrances, and
the argument that it would be laid to the poor
men who were employed on the road. The
plan of soaping the rails at various places, for
the purpose of stopping the cars, was discuss
ed but. feeling sure there would be a strike,
nothing was attempted, they prefering to
wait During all the time We were engaged
in tramping, We made it our business, Mt the
suggestion of the chief detective, to ascertain
whether it was the lack of employment that
caused these people TO become wanderers and
Migrants OF the entire number with whom
we conversed, we found but two who did not
scout the idea of going TO work for the pur-
pose of earning an honest livelihood and We
very much doubt if these two were ready to