St. Landry democrat., 1878-02-23
. The Tale of a Tramp.


The remarkable article written some
wears ago by James Greenwood 'about
tho lambeth workhouse finds parallel
in the report of the chief of the Massa-
chusetts detective force upon the subject
of "Tranps" The report is the result
Of The observation of two detectives who
were detailed last summer for this special
n,,rpose. Their Instructions were to
assume the role of the tramp, proceed to
his ground and by intimate association
Obtain an inside view of his daily life.
The plan was not difficult one to carry
ont, The fraternity is so large and its
elements so diverse that not much more
than seedy clothing and decayed look
are necessary for passport"
Starting out from Springfield, it was
not long before the amateurs fell IN with
professionals. These were two in number,
and were disposed to be friendly and
confidential. They were lrishmeD,
thirty and forty-fve years of age,
the one shoemaker, the other a tailor.
Both could get work if they desired, but
preferred to tramp. They only worked
when they wanted money to get liquor
and not than if they could steal it. One
had tramped five, the other eight years.
AS q rule they could get very little food
bv begging, only dry bead and milk.
What they ate they generally stole, and
recommended the detectives to do like
wise.
After parting from these communities
tive and unsuspicious vagrants, the next
person interviewed was Frenchman
His plan was to tramp through the coun
try in the summer and fall, going to some
large city as cold weather came on
There he would get arrested for some
petty crime, and spend the winter month
in the congenial retirement of prison
His personal effects, including four bot
ties cf gin, were carried in valise.
! On following day the travellers me
) three tramps who took them to a arendez
yous in the words where were gathers
fourteen others. Of these, three wer
: German, two Dutch, one Swede, on
: French, three Americans and tw
g Irish. The party had already been
y the place five days, subsisting uPo
chickens and potatoes abstracted fro'
neighboring farm-houses. For securlp
y the chickens such ingenius expedlen'
It were adopted as fsh.hooks baited wit
IS corn, and bread soaked in rum.
y In leaving this retreat the party divlf
!. ed into four squads, those who went flr
u marking with chalk the promine'
points IN the route for the guidance
those who we're to follow. Nearly q
'g of the regular tramps carry chalk
as different colors. On coming to villag
Sc they would 60 through separately al
ID meet again outside. Plenty of food W
Dc obtained by begging and stealing. .
fe men more frequently excited compasss
oe than young ones. The latter, when tn
H. were asked why they did not 60 to VOL
70 always professed readiness, but rep
as sented themselves as being familiar WI
'ai some trade which they knew would
be practiced in that locality.
"a During the last week of these trav
up the detectives encountered large numb
'us of men on their way to the railroad ri
"o in Pennsylvania. At one point, abe
70 twenty miles from Pittsfeld, they me
ere gang Of thirty-three, and were told t
mes there were in the woods along the. lin
md the Boston and Albany road not less Il
tne four hundred others expecting sti
Tor to occur there. These outlaws were rel
'aif for any plan of pillage and destruct
'pe that might be proposed.
noA It is the testimony of the detectl
Il ! that of the entire number with WI
anu they conversed they found but two
ere, did not scout the idea of going to v
Q. for the purpose of earning an no
l'eo livelihood, and they expressed the de
CUT whether these two were ready to enl
NIL. in any laborious employment.
$ OF This experience, more authentic
suggestive than anything OF the
as that has ever before appeared, vii
The doubt be of great value in the treati
J the Of the general subject. It defines
nor accurately the social status OF the tt
! the He is no longer merely nuisance.
hich III criminal.