The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-09-01
UNDER A SKYEY CANOPY.
Thousands OF Respectable People Sieep-
Ing In tho Open Air.

terfercd with the manner of living q,
quite large section Of New Works in.
habitants, namely, the people who slcer
out of doors on r0of.tops, fire escapes. in
areaways, trucks and on park bena.hes.
II is quite a mistake that many people
labor under in supposing that necessarily
all persons who sleep in other places than
fine airy bedrooms and on pallets not
made of downy feathers or fine hair be.
long TO the order of tramps and yagrants.
OF course, the great majority of people
TO be found snoring so vigorously in the
parks at night, and whose boot solcs arc
80 extremely familiar with the police.
mans club, are members Of the tramp
fraternity, as are also the specimens to
he found along the docks and river fronts.
These latter, in fact, are dangerous
tramps,. who are quite at home with the
rats and the other vermin of tho docks.
and who would not for moment hesitate
to rob and throw into the river any inc.
oriated person who might stray down
among them during the night. In fact,
many of the bodies picked up in The
river and classed as found drowned find
their way into the waters with the assist.
ancc of the dock tramps, and many n foul
and violent deed takes place on the piers
that No living eye secs except the actors
i'll the tragedy.
A shout for help by the half drunken
victim, who realizes his danger when too
late, with none near to help, 4 few stun
ming blows from the weapons used by the
tramps, body quietly dropped into the
river, to be fished out several days or
weeks aftcrward, weeping friends at the
Morgue and funeral to Cavalry or
n,nt 20, 81 l.
1T is another case Of accidental drowning.
But this article does not deal with these
characters, but rather with people VINO
have houses and yet sleep out of doors.
The roOf-tops of many tenement
houses, particularly in the crowded quar-.
tiers, where the old and wretched class of
houses have been erected, are by far the
most pleasant part Of those places of
abode in the warm weather During the
hot Summer nights tho dingy little cribs
in the houses, called rooms, are not en-
viable places, and when the mercury
goes beyond 80 stampede is made for
the roof
The Star commissioner wandered up
through the scuttles Of several great ten
emcnt houses ut the risk Of being taken
Tor an Intruder, if not thief, and took
bird's-eye view Of the roofs. Whole
families were found camping out, totally
regardless Of the stray burglars who
might be at work ON their rooms below.
The necessity for having high fence rail-
logs dividing the roofs of adjoining
houses is Ioadily seen, for, even with
such provisions, the families fight like the
historical cats of Kilkenny.
In Cherry street are MANY tenement
houses, and the true population of them
will probably ho never known. In Dou-
bic Alley, which mainly consists of Nos.
36 and So Cherry street, it is said no less
than 156 families reside, and, as most of
the families are prolific, 600 souls would
be fair estimate of the number who
live within these walls.
During the hot nights the roofs are at
premium, and, like late passengers in
street car, the late arrivals have either
70 s,and up or brace themselves against
the chimneys.
One enio.prising gentleman made
what he considered hit in squatting
himself on the chimney-top, but when
the family downstairs "fired up'' for
late supper, he was rudeiy awakened.
Then there is Mullins Alley, No. 81
Cherry street, and the Barracks, Nos. 7
and Mulberry street, are also houses
whose roof-tops are much sought after.
Some unpleasant surprises are expe.
rienced sometimes by the occupants of
the roof-tops
Not unfrequcntly whole family will
drop gently 10 sleep under the influence
OF the smiling moon ind the Summers
night breeze, and few hours later they
will be rudcly awakened by drenching
rain, which causes a hasty retreat below.
| Ic nm, tl,,k 4
weather prophets generally come in for
some powerful blessings. A poetical
gentleman was discovered OH roof.top
behind chimney last week by Star re-
porter. He was in meditatve mood.
Mice view from here ~ remarked the
reporter.
Magnificent, lovely, sir 1t is, in
fact, glorious. | pass days and nights
here in dreamland, gazing with rapture
on the rising moon, and then again as it
sets, and sometimes even await for the
sun in the Eastern horizon To-
"You do, eh," remarked shril female
voice from the scuttle, followed by a dc.
ided-looking person with broom and
cloth around her head. $50 this is
where you are when | have been hunting
to get your rent Get out of here YOU
good for nothing fellow, and go look for
n ship"
The lady gave the broom vigorous
sweep and the poetic gentleman disap-
peared down the scuttle at a 2.10 gait
The female informed the Star man that
he was deck hand on q coaster, and
owed her about months rent, but she
never could land on him before, as he
evidently hid behind the chimney on the
roof
The cold weather Of last week caused
the trucks and grocers' wagons, which
stand c .cr night in the street, TO he we'll
patronized In Washington street, near
Canal, number of carts are to be found,
and they are well patronizcd.
eyes," remarked night watchman in
the locality, "we've lots of customers.
Every bed is taken before 10 o'clock, and
strangers without recommendation amt
admitted"
"Ho" DC you .:can?"
We'll. there's n regular set of sleepers-
out come here every night, and they
know each other, and when a stranger
comes along and tries to climb in they
have habit of throwing out their heels
which is not agreeable to the stranger, as
he generally finds himself on his back
thinking star struck him."
"What recommendations are needed
by new boarder?"
"Well, he has no show without bot.
tie of whisky and some tobacco. If he
develops n good ham bone or loaf ol
fresh bread, he is taken in, but these fel.
lows are particular, l tell you, about
their victuals, and if he plays them of
On tba yvhistyy with ban-;no - a.,oh III.