The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-01-29
THE WAYS OF THE TRAMP.
REpEL1 TONS OF TUO Difficulties
VINO JOINED THE RIMBLERS.
Biii OF Fare OF the Pedestrinns OF the Road
How they FornRe-Steniina, Fighting. aud
Drinking-A Chapter OF the Labor Hiots.


Drinking-A Chapter OF the Lnbor Riots.
The appended diary, printed from the re-
port OF Chief Detective Stephenson Of Massa-
.husctts gives tho adventures Of two anna
eurs sent out 10 study by association the ways
,f the real tramp:
July 10.-Left Springfield. Very soon met
NO tramps. and we Immediately made inquiry
is 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. 80 and
IL years OF age. ono shoemaker by trade. ana
The other tailor: they said they could get
work II they desired. hut preferred to tram;
hey only worked when they wanted money to
snt liuuor. and not then If they could steal It.
One had trnmprd five and the other eight years.
We ali slcpt together in the woods during the
night nj n place near BlandiOrd. and parted
company in the morning. after furnishing them
july ii Started from Bnndford toward
Russcll; soon met 4 trump. n Ircd'hmnn fully
30 years OF ago. He had tramped about ciLht
years. went w tn him He spid he tramprd
through the country during the summer and
TALL going to ono of the larger cities when the
cold weather came on. whore he generally man.
aged to get arrested for som" petty crime for
the purpose OF getting sentence that would
keep him in confinement during the winter
months. We gave him some hrcud. He had
with him large yalise containing four bottles
81 gin among other things. This man was on
me, rond 10 buffalo n. =. Slept during the
JufY i2.~Started from Russell at daybreak in
hponring rain soon went into barn. whilc
The Frcuchman went out TO beg some food. He
returned with n large piece OF corned beef.
which he had stolen.
july l3.-Left the barn quite early where we
had PASSED the night; soon met three tramps !;
went with them into the woods, where we found
fourteen more. Our party now numbered
twenty. OF these three were German, two
Dutchmcn. one Swelr. one Frenchman, three
Americans, and the remainder Irish; They
had been canppd IN this place some five days
subsisting principally upon chickens md pota-
toes which had been stolen in the night. Con-
'gg july aaiyed nt5 S oar ,9uads Zach Of
which WAS 10 take it, turn in providing food for
the gang. The Germans went ont to-day. and
quantity Of eggs and bread, all Of which. with
the exception Of the bread were stolen. They
they used for catching chickens. simply by put
ting on kernel OF corn for bait. In many in.
stances, when they have rum, they soak bread
with it and feed the fowls. whch are soon in a
condition 10 be easily captured.
July 10 Started with three others 10 procure
food. We were refused at the first hous" We
cnlled az. some Of the purity found In wood
shed near the houss k"Econtaining some five
or six gallons Of cider which they appropriated
TO their own u.s.. an left for the camp We wen,
on alone. and finally purchased Il farmhouse
~ the woods whore We found most OF the l.nnl
Intoxicated from the too FREQ use II the cider.
July l6.-Concluted 70 leave this locality as
deprndations made upon the people in the
vicinity. We divided into four pari"s in order
TO avoid SUSPICION. taking two q lrrent routes
u the town of Washington. The party who
passed over each route first was 10 mark with
chalk lone party using red ana the other biuel
the prominent points IN their routes. for the
guidance Of those who were 10 follow An
arrow Is usually made upon large rocks trees.
IT,, particularly AZ the cross ronds. 10 direct
each gang 10 tue place liked upon rs the gem
eral rendezvous. Nearly all Of the regn!!hr
trAmps carry chalk Of different colors. The
trpu hmm left the vNng TODAY. \ short time
alter he left some Of the party fearing that he
might sell them out 70 the people in. the
town. and cause them trouble on account ~ the
theits committed. followed him for the purpose
OF compelling him to return: but they failed
10 find him. Slept in the woods AZ night
around large fire. but suffered very much
July l7-Reached Middeneld. where we met
three men belonging 70 one OF the other gnngs.
We kept together On the tramp. generally sepa-
rating when We came 70 villages. and going
through singy. We laid in the woods most 81
the day. getting plenty o. food by begging and
stealing: The young fellows find i illcult "a
get food of any description. but the old men
seem 10 excite more compass ion they generally
have pitiiul, story ready for use gotten up
ss eErI no VIM ds s question rHn 10
work." They always profess readiness to work.
but generally give. Ms Il trade 10 which they ARE
accustomed to work. some occupation in which
they are sure no employment Will he offered IN
that locality. One Of the gang stole to-day a
luz Of bay rum out of a farmers wagon. all Of
which was drank during the night. Slept in u
barn.
July lH.-lt rhluru very nara Wnen morning
came. but We Intended 20 move on; were pre-
vented hy the fact that most Of the party were
sex from the effects OF the bay rum. We
passed through Pttsfleld during the night:
went through singly. because the old tramps
10 the lookup and made 10 work in the morning
Tor lodging and breakfast. This plan II WORK
ing 10 pay for board IS not in accordance with
the identhat trnmps entertain rs to what il Just
and suitable. We reached the Shaker village
about o'clock on the morning Of july 10.
Some Of the gang went out to beg; got all We
give literally.
July 2O.-separated from the gang to-day, as
they were going 10 the western pnrt Of New
York. We passed through Richmond AZ night
reaching West stockbridge. where we slept IN
July 2l.-Reached the State line. md. taking
me railroad track passed through West Stock;
bridge 10 Storkbrldge. and about mile beyond
the latter place met two tramps who had been
roads for their ride from Dunkirk 10 this point.
They started originally from Chicago One Of
longed 70 Spencer, Mass. He was about s5
He was about 80 years old; had tramped four
t~n years. We slept during the night IN II barn
joy 22-Pass1d through Hnsdale very
early. About two miles out We met a gang OF
elE, tramls, WHO sad they were on their way
u Pennsy wanna 10 ioin tue railroad riots They
proposed ~ travel On the railroad tracks. = ipl.
rat ~ ana gonE singly through the iliagcs
stenling rides on freight trans If possible. and
expected to reach PENNSYLVANIA in about Il
week. Let them. AMI Travelled until u-ary
Midnight. when We met four others who were
also bound Tor tie riots. Gotta supper of them
consisting Of ast'd potatoes. b.','i. ANA hnn
WI ch they saIt tNcy had Eot 10y begging. one
Of the party was very well dressed with plenty
OF cigars in his pocket. lie wore a lnrge pHlu
gold ring W. tried To grt h- connIcn''e. Gni
failed. His appraranc" Indicated that Ar had
been but Il short time on the tramp. Another
man in this gung had "A large Valise containing
light buggy harurss. He said he raised 1t tins
side of Springfield Lett them, and arrived at
Huntington S"pt IN "A barn by permission Of
the owner
July 2j.-Nent % Russell. but could not get
onythins - cat by logging and; heng nearly
Rrnph"l 20 Boston 'or funds. Remained during
thg nest dag; July -6. waiting lor money.
July 16.-KrrlVrd SOmr money hv telegraph
nnd moved on; soon met two iranps with
vaiscs 80 NJ 10 the mOuntIins went with
them, AMI soon met IN tlrr party Of seven
They " re engaged IN roasting chickens and
potatoes. Remained with them during the
night These fellows had brrn waiting -four
Gays IN ms place, hoping there would be q
slrlk" ON the j p~ton and Albany rOnd.
July 2s.-Ne s'uid in this place all day
1hrre 81 Tire party went out M u ight and brought
IL ihrre hens ana "a cau II milk whi Ia they had
stolen.
July 29.-Tne usriy separated. ~ meet b,.
twcen On -t-r aud u dd..ilrld. five tnking the
turnplke ana 10 ui Inr~tNr rtlroui. Tnegnnp
o. which we belonged arrived 40 the Designated
pace 81 needing on IN" morning II July 3O