The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1878-02-14
The Tramping Life.

The Chief of the Massachusetts State
Detective Force sent out two of his dep
uties to join the tramps and find out
their ways and character. His report
of their experiences is of quality that
does not often enliven heavy public
documents. They set out early in July
to join the American gypseys, who be-
lieve in the policy of "out-of-door-re-
lief.' They fell in with gang of
twenty tramps in Western Massachu-
sets. composed of all manners of ma
tionalities. They had rendezvous in
the woods, whence they started out in
attachments, returning at night with
their spoils. There was more stolen
than begged. An extract from the dia-
ry of one Of the detectives throws an
interesting light upon the life which is
growing more and more attractive,
and which can only be broken up by
relentlessly setting those to work who
take to it. One day they divided in
four squads. each of which was to take
its turn in providing food for the
gang. The Germans went out the first
day and returned with a small pig,
nine chickens, a quantity of eggs and
bread, all of which, with the excep-
ton of the bread, was stolen. They
carried with them fishhooks and lines,
which they used for catching chickens,
simply by putting on kernel of corn
for bait. In some instances, when
they had enough rum, they soaked
bread with it and fed the fowls, which
are soon in a condition to be easily cap
tured.
On the march the four squads took
different roads, running toward an APP
pointed place of rendezvous, using red
and blue chalk in guiding their stray
comrades along the roads. In truth,
they exhibited an intelligent and we'll
planned organization which will re-
quire well-planned and intelligent
system of correction to break up.
Otherwise the industry of the country
will be permanently mortgaged in the
interests of a rapidly increasing class,
whose laziness will be stimulated and
gratified by the free. wild, vagabond,
adventurous life of plunderers.
1t would be surprising to see, under
the fostering of neglect, a system of
brigandage developing out Of this vag-
abondism, until some parts of the coun-
try will be as dangerous as Greece or
Italy. The close relationship of tramp
ism to pillage and plundering was Oh
served by the detectives, when the rail
road riots began. The bands began at
once to concentrate at the most popu-
lous points, where rioting and disturb
ance were most probable. They were
restrained by no sense of order or law;
in fact, they were not beggars so much
as robbers. Nor were they disposed to
earn their living by work. The detect
ives say that " during all the time they
were engagedin tramping, they made II
their business, at the suggestion of the
chief detective, to ascertain whether il
was the lack of employment that
caused these people to become wander
ers and Migrants. Of the entire mum
hes with whom they conversed they
found but two who did not scout the
idea of going to work for the purpose
of earning an honest livelihood and
they very much doubt if these two were
ready to engage in any laborious EN-
ployment.'
There is no reason for supposing,
from the outbreaks that have occurred
elsewhere, the plundering and pillage
by tramps in Pennsylvania, Maryland
and other States, that there is much
difference in the character of tramps
Many of them are said to be the bum
mers and bounty-jumpers of the war
who grew fond of their irregular life
but that generation is fast passing away
and is being succeeded by another
which is just as fond, in all probability
of the mingled experiences of crime
| violence, adventure and wild freedom
as though they had run the guard OF
followed Sherman through Georgia.
| Detroit Post anil Tribune.