The Hickman courier. [volume] (Hickman, Ky.) 1859-current, 1878-02-15
The Tale Of a Tramp.

Inc remarkable article written some
years ago by James Greenwood about
the Lambeth workhouse finds parallel
in the report Of the chief Of the Massa-
chusetts detective force upon the subject
of TIamps." The report is the result
of the observation of two detectives who
were detailed last summer for this special
purpose. 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 lie.
The plan was not a difficult one to carry
out. The fraternity is 80 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 Irishmer,
thirty and forty-fve years of age.
the one a shoemaker, the other tailor.
Both could get work If they desired, but
preferred to tramp. They only worked
when they wanted money to get liquor,
and not then if they could steal it. one
had tramped five, the other eight years.
As rule they could get very little food
by begging, only dry bead and milk.
What they ate they generally stole, and
recommended the detectives to do like
wise.
After parting from these communica-
tive and unsuspicious vagrants, the next
person interviewed was 8 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 months
in the congeniaI retirement of a prison.
His personal effects, including four bot
ties Of gin, were carried in a valise.
On a following day the travellers met
three tramps VINO TOOK them TO n reBuez.
vous in the words where were gathered
fourteen others. OF these, three were
German, two Dutch, one Swede, one
French, three Americans and two
Irish. The party had already been in
the place five days, subsistiDg upon
chickens and potatoes distracted from
neighboring farm-hOuses. For securing
the chickens such ingenius expedients
were adopted as fish-hooks baited with
corn, and bread soaked in rum.
In leaving this retreat the party divid-
ed into four squads, those who went first
marking with chalk the prominent
points IN the route Tor the guidance of
those VINO were to follow. Nearly all
of the regular tramps carry chalk of
different colors. On coming to villages
they would go through separately and
meet again outside. Plenty of food was
obtained by begging and stealing. Old
men more frequently excited compressor
than young ones. The latter, when they
were asked why they did not go to work,
always professed readiness, but repre-
sented themselves as being familiar with
some trade which they knew would not
be practiced in that locality.
During the last week of these travels
the detectives encountered large numbers
of men on their way TO the railroad riots
in Pennsylvania. At one point, about
twenty miles from Pittsfield, they met q
gang of thirty-three, and were told that
there were in the woods along the line OF
the Boston and Albany road not less than
four hundred others expecting a strike
to occur there. These outlaws were ready
for any plan of pillage and destruction
that might be proposed.
1t is the testimony of the detectives
that of the entire number 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 expressed the doubt
whether these two were ready to engage
in any laborious employment.
This experience, more authentic and
suggestive than anything of the kind
that has ever before appeared, will no
doubt be of great value III the treatment
of the general subject. 1t defines very
accurately the social status OF the tramp
He is no longer merely a nuisance. He
! is criminal.