Huntsville gazette., 1882-11-04
Tramp-Architecture.


ton, on the Pennsylvania Railroad, for
more than year past has been a regu-
lar rendezvous for tramps The woods
are about quarter of mile from the
Lancaster road, and embrace nearly a
hundred acres of wild, unbroken forest.
Such wilderness affords stragglers all
the seclusion and protection that they
desire. Through the woods flows a
stream, along the banks of which are
high, shelving rocks, and fantastic,
gnarled roots of trees, overhung and in
tertwined with saplings, vines, ferns,
and wild flowers. The rocks afford
numerous places of shelter to the tramps,
the roots give them opportunity for the
exercise of their skill, while, strange as
it may sound to some, they were not OBJ
livious to the charms of the sylvan beau
ties by which they were surrounded.
Traces of amp-occupancy may be seen
all along the creek. In one place sew
eral fence-rails have been stretched from
stump to stump to form benches, the
backs being made by bending down and
Interviewing young beech-trees and
grape-vines. Beech-trees and grape
vines also form quite an airy rustic
bower, within which may be seen large,
fat, blackened stones piled together for
fire e-place; several old pots, tin-pans
and walters, while here and there may
be seen scattered faded flag, an old
boot, or piece of suspender. Perhaps
this was summer-house, winter quar-
ters evidently being more substantial.
One place was in sort of natural cave,
formed by deep depression in the
earth, overhung by great rocks. Here
may still be seen the blackened "hearth-
stone," with the inevitable accompani-
ment of old tin-pans. From one tree to
another stretches piece of telegraph
wire, from which are suspended lam
tern and hanging-basket filled with
moss and vines. 1t would seem that
tramps have taste for the beautiful.
The hut is quite a work of art, con-
structed according to no rules but a
tramp's own sweet will. The visitor
sees hollow about ten feet square and
six feet deep, the hollow being on the
side of q hill, which slopes above the
depression for about fifty feet and be-
low it for about fifty more, covered with
most luxuriant growth of tall forest
trees, thick underbrush, and a carpet
of ferns. At the left side and back of
the hollow rise high rocks, with smooth,
perpendicular faces, and around it grow
8 dozen or more slender young beech
trees. The visitor can imagine tramp
or other architect tying some of these
beech trees together with telegraph wire,
bending others against them, and rest
ing logs and rails upon the wire and
saplings by one end and placing the 9TH
er upon the rocks and swelling ground.
He could easily form roof so, filling in
the crevices with sticks and dried leaves.
He could close the spaces between the
upright young beeches with perpendicu-
lar pieces of wood and bark, so as to
make the front and one end of the cabin,
the rocks and hill constituting the back
and the other end. OF course he would
leave door and window in front. He
might-for this tramp did-make fire.
place of stone against the rocky end,
and fix an old rusty milk-churn above
it, through the roof, so as to do duty as
chimney He also filled greater part
of the earth floor with dry leaves for
bed. The architect of the cabin is
known in the neighborhood as Indian
Jack. He has had, until recently, great
number of companions, off and on, some
of them women; but all looked up to
Indian Jack as the smart one of the
number. The shanty was decorated
with old pots and pans, walters and
lanterns, cast-off clothing and black
ing -brush-though what tramp needs
of blacking- brush in not clear.
Indian Jack is quite sculptor. One
of his productions is the head of a rhi
noceros carved out of the root of a beech
tree, overhanging the creek. Another
root is made to resemble an elephant.
Some of his figures are movable, but
nearly all constructed from peculiar
pieces of root, partially suggesting the
shape into which they are finally
wrought. Most of the elaboration is
bestowed upon the head. "The Clown"
has bright eyes, grinning mouth, and
jaunty hat. "The Squaw" is crowned
with flowing name of horsehair, be-
meath which dangle earrings formed OF
ourled pieces Of woody vine. "The
Baby'' reposes in hammock of inter-
woven grape twigs. "The Chief is
gorgeous in feathers and fnery. In this
WOFk OI dIb IIc uodu 10 % iouhet hhOo3
which has grown from the side OF a
shaggy tree, so that the warrior, as it
were, looks out from bark medallion.
His earrings and other ornaments hang
ing from his tangled horsehair locks are
of twisted pieces of metal and old tin
types. Ali of these human effigies are
plentifully besmeared with red, white
and black pigments, the red being poke
berry Juice Ali the eyes and teeth fairly
glisten in their white Besides these
fantastic images Indian Jack has made
many other queer things, among them
a most ingenious puzzle composed Of an
intricate network of vine-twigs and
few iron rings.
Now that the great body of the tramps
have betaken themselves to other re-
gions, the people in the neighborhood
can safely explore their recent haunts
and learn something Of their habits and
occupations. Indian Jack still fingers,
but he is far above the ordinary run of
tramps. He is not an Indian, nor has
he, as some have supposed, Indian blood
in his veins. His real name is mys-
terry He belongs to a respectable Phil