The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-08-31
A Bummer F b from..the Country

Beyond the Dumps past the old
Italians cabin, was to be seen the
hearding place of the tramping clans
Here was to be found he of the bum
mer' brigade who does not even choose
TO get q living from amongst the sur
rounding stores of castaway treasures.
Here comes the tramp who has travel
ed from where the luminous god greets
the early dawn TO where he cast his
farewell glance upon the western
world. Here, too, comes he who has
paced the many avenues OF our lower
cities. the bummers, bilks and others OF
that like, 10 compare notes and con-
suit as TO future movements. Gathered
there, then. ss: usual. in the midst of
those tall. rank weeds which fringe the
shores of Mission bay-over whose
waters. noisome smelling, and dark,
the winds watt the putrid odors OF the
dumps was heterogeneous crowd of
that description Beside the tramp
who daily begs from door to door, and
painter game. the reporter recognized
one whom he had before net on his
favorite stamping ground. Many of
the readers of the Post would also know
him al q glance. Who has not seen
the semi-genteel hummer Certainly
very few who have visited the numer-
Gus saloons that cluster in the immedi-
ate vicinity Of Leidesdorff street
have failed To notice him. as be hangs
around their portals with a half civil
lied, half dogged look. But there are
some among the residents of San Fran
cisco whose business pursuits or habits
never call them TO those resorts, where
the odor Of stale beer and bad cigars,
like the stencil from some miasmatic
sewer, offends the nostrils For their
benefit only is this pen picture drawn.
He is generally to be seen dressed in
seedy suit of clothes that once was
black, but now of that indescrihaoie
hue that
AGE AND ROUGH USAGE
Only impart. The coat had no doubt
seen service as a gentleman's best, but
now the lspels are bright with grease
and the garment, torn here and there,
. shows the effects of many a Tierce en-
counter with box, barrel or gutter.
He wears on his bushy head once
high toned and elegant stovepipe. but
now, battered and beaten, 1t rests upon
his crown like some wretched bark
upon an East Indian coral reef. Be
meath the hat his features, once, per-
haps. full Of intelligence ana manliness.
are TO be seen bearing the impress OF
many nights debauchery, many a
drunken stulDr in some out of the way
nook in hall or alley, where, unnoticed
0y the citys slumbers. he has crept in
To wear away the darkness OF the
night and regain his lost sense. This
hummer has seen the light OF other and
better days. He may once have been
a heavy operator who sold them seller
three at every session of the board; or
perchance he might have been an enter.
prising merchant, whose ships did sail
on every sea, and his ruin may be laid,
no doubt, to too frequent indulgence IN
the cup that cheers, but alas! In time
destroys. Riotous nights at the club
followed by descent to card playing
in some questionable resort, then loss
of business, of his fair name. of every
thing that was manly and noble with
in him. until at last the grandest work
of the Creator tottered and fell, over
thrown by an earthquake of misfor-
tune, and engulfed in ruin. Driven
to
rup npcp.n .n.rtoN nr pITNNfER's
LIFE,
Without friend left Of the many who
were once proud to call HIM by that
name, penniless. and without ray
of hope piercing the dark, drifting
gloom that enshrouds him in its mantle
of despair, he lives on. wreckless
forlorn and despised object. Watch
him as he half lounges. half shutties in
and out of the five cent beer halls.
patiently waiting the coming of some
lucky fellow who has, perehance, made
q few dollars by the rise in the Sierra
Nevada, or 'Bodie. and is flush enough
to ask the expectant up to the bar to
indulge. Should the welcome invita-
tion be given, although it be in whis'
pered tone, the hummer. is alert, alive
and happy A satisfied grin lights up
the countensnce of the ruby nosed Que,
as he cheorfully swaggers up to the
bar and calls for gin or bitters, accord
ing as his taste or fancy suggests.
What study for al artist his face
would be. as with half contemptuous,
half deprecatory air. he glances at the
legends which the flaming placards
hanging on the wall before him tell.
No trust Cash down. No money
loned, have now no terrors for him.
rs with ridiculously attempted grace
full motion be raises his glass and
drinks TO the health of the individual
who set them up for you. boys. With
one gulp he swallows the fiery draft.
draining the glass to the last dorp.
and then with a sigh of mingled pleas
ure and pain at parting with such a
friend, he draws his greasy sleeve
across his stained lips and sets indus.
triously TO the work of demolishing the
viands on the lunch table near at hand;
h. n,lu &c