The Ouachita telegraph., 1878-02-08
THE WAYS OF THE TRAMP.
Revelations of Two Detectives Who
Joined the Ramblers.

Revelations of Two Detectives Who
Joined the Ramblers.
The appended diary, printed from
ihe report of Chief Detective Stephen
son, of Massachusetts, gives the adven-
lures of two amateurs sent out to study
by association the ways of the real
tramp: &N
/ July 1O.-Left Springfield. Very soon
met TWO traaps, and we Immediately
made inquiry as to our prospects for
getting food and lodgings while We
were pursuing our Investigations. These
men Informed us that we could get
very little food by begging, excepting
dry bread, and sometimes little milk !;
that they generally stole what they
got. These men were Irish, So and 40
years of age, one a shoemaker by trade
and the other u tailor; they said they
could get work if they desired, but
preferred to tramp; tney only workeu
when they wanted money to get liquor
and not then If they could steal it.
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 morning, after furnishing them
with some tobacco.
July 1I.-Started from Biandford to-
ward Russell; soon met a tramp, a
Frenchman fully so years OF age. He
had tramped 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
tor some petty crime, for the purpose
OF getting sentence that would keep
him in confinement during the winter
months. We gave him some bread.
He had with MIN large valise, con-
tanning four bottles of gin among other
things. This man was ON the road to
Buffalo, N. Y. Slept during the night
in Russell. @s344's 'i'
July Started from Russell at
daybreak in pouring rain soon went
into barn, while the Frenchman
went out to beg some food. He re-
turned with a large piece of corned
beef, which he had stolen.
July 13.-LefL the barn quite early
where we had passed the night soon
met three tramps; went with them
into the woods, where we met fourteen
more. Our party now numbered
tWShty. vi tuSoO3 ShIS0 WST0 06Iul6U,
Two Dutchmen, one Swede, one French
man, three Americans, and the re
mainder 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 q time.
July IA. = We divided into foul
squads, each of which was to take its
turn in providing food for the gang
The Germans went out to-day, and re.
turned with small pig, nine chickens
a quantity of eggs and bread, all OF
| which with the exception of the bread
were stolen. They carried with them
| fsh-hooks and lines, which they used
| for catching chickens, simply by put
ting on a kernel of corn for bait. III
| many instances, when they have rum
they soak bread with it and feed the
| fowls, which are soon in condition tC
be easily captured.
July I5.-Started with three Others
| to procure food. We were refused al
| the first house we called at. Some oi
the party found in a woodShed near
the house keg containing some five
or six gallons of cider, which they ap.
propriated to their own use, and left
for the camp. We went on alone, and
finally purchased at a farm house some
bread and meat, with which we re.
turned to the woods, where we found
most of the gang intoxicated from the
too free use of the cider.
July 16.-Concluded to leave this
locality, as it was getting rather no,
on account of the depredations made
upon the people in the vicinity. We
divided into four parties in order t.
avoid suspicion, taking two different
routes to the town of Washington
I, The party who passed over each route
first was to mark with chalk Gone
/ party using red and the other blue
4 the prominent points in their routes
! for the guidance of those who were t.
/ follow. An arrow is usually mad,
upon large rocks, trees, &C., particu
larIy at the cross roads, to direct eaci
gang to the place fixed upon as thu
general rendezvous. Nearly all of tn,
regular tramps carry chalk of differen
colors. The Frenchman left the gan,
II to-day. A short time after he left