New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-05-04
IERROEIZED BY TR1UPS.
GANGS OF yACRAyr IN ORANGE COUNTY

TRAGN-wGECKEcs AND ROBBERs-A PEEiLoUs RIDE
-DEPREDATONs AT SPRING VALLEY.
FROM AZ OCCASIONAL CORREsPuSDESr Of THE TRIBUNE.
TURNER'S, \. Y, April 2S.-Thc country
along The Eastern Division OF the Erie Railway swarm
ing with uamps. Scarcely freight train goes through
this place without from two to dozen misunderstanding
vagabonds upon They ride the bumpers. break into
empty ears. and cling to the cars wherever they can
gain ;ootho swhcn TIE sht stopped here yes
tcray going west twelve tramps found In various
places about one had ridden from >uferns on
the iron that lengthwise Of freight This
rod not more than inch in diameter and the tramp
had kept his position on 1t for twenty miles lying his
stomach and holding with his and legs lie was
nearly socatod By tho dust and fell from the rod when
the train stopped here and unable rise to his feet
II the train had gone half mile further before stopping
he would have dropped TO the track Freight ears have
been into and goods stolen from them in transit
almost daily within the past week. barrel Of fresh
fish was thrown from by two ramps on Thursday
Last. They arrested while peddinG the fish al
southfeds L few nights ago three tramps were dis
covered fastening railroad lie cross the west-bOund
track mile this side Of suferns freight train was
nearly due and supposed It tie intention % the
tramp, to wrcc; the train and plumber IT, They escaped
one night last week less than twcuty-four tramps
aghted Creycourt. station west or this place. from
Erie and Ieldgh and Hudson They boldly n
tered houses and three at time and demanded food.
and 10 ono house tive tTamp- appeared at once AMI
supper ana beds for the night supper was pre-
pared for them. and while they eating cOnstabes
for -Four of the party arrested aftera
hard struggle. The fifth escaped The army of tramps
scattered about the place breaking into houses and
committing depredatious OF various kinds. Two Of the
tramIs seized old woman on the Chester road and
were dragging her the. meadows when the ap-
proach Of two men in wagon alarmed them and they
ran away.
The next day they boarded westbound freight trains
4 hrak art al 10 OF
the tramps who had climbed to the roof from the
bumpers In the struggle that followed tile tramp struck
the brakeman with billy, knocking him down. He then
attempted to throw the brakeman from the car But
another train hand having the struggle from the
cahoo,c. ran to the assistance Of the brakeman me
tramp hurried 10 the ladder AT the end or the car ana IN
going down slipped and fell He struck on the bumpers
The train was going at the rate OF tteh mics an hot
The tramp chung Tor moment 10 the bumpersand then
seeing that he could not maintain his mold Jumped irou
the car lie struck WIN one 1901 larsly Oh inc ra anu
the passed &C. The tramp spranS 70 his feet
OF his and his great and the two toes neXt 10 Il
OF the right foot were picked up on the track
TIE CAMP NEAR SPRING VALLEY.
For several piece OF woods the village OF
sprns Valley ROckard County. on the PicrmOnt
Branch OF the Erc hats been camping place for gang
of tramps They, remain hayl there auc alarm the
entire community. They arrived IN larger force than
usual this ,Iring. and last week thirty Of the most
misunderstanding Migrants we're IN the camp Ihcy De
came unusually bold and desperate last week They
rOaed among the Villages aud among ,the ilnlers' de~
maMdiug food In daytime ana breaking into ldruhOuscS
and out-budinss in the night They stole everything
they could lay thcc hands In every instance where
food refused them they resOrcd 10 force and com
nltted many Violent ASSAULTS on women an" cnluIeh
school children waylad and their bats, books and
uncn-ha~kets taken from them. hlny parents kept
they would fall into the hands Of the trlmp7.
Two desperate members oil the gang went 70 tue house
Of William Champney distance Out:Of the village OF
>TrnS Valley. There Fas no one home but Miss Lott
house without any ceremony and throwing the GIseycs
sofa ia the sitting room ordered Miss Elliott to pre-
ftlgul f|I.- GfI nni
It, OF the tramps took pistol from his pocket and
aiming It at the girl swOre that uuess she went to ~oik
ard spread them out n4ed Le would shoot her She Ic
fused comply with their demand and started 70 20 IN
search Of help when tho other tramp caught her NY e
and threw her 10 the floor The girl struggled
bravev with her assaan and screamed loudly for help
nai in the face of the tramp ana tore his
reeased her The with the pistol then Joined in the
assault Miss Elliott seized heavy poker and fought
the tramps brayey that they wore forced to beat
retreat.
THE PEOPLE ORGANIZE IN sELF-DEFESCE.
This outrage aroused the people OF Spring Valley. and
another one Immediately following II, prompted them to
take 10 deal summsrily with the tramps The
day after the assault the young woman at the
Champuoy house. tramp entered G. b. snyder's house.
r snyder had just left home and his wife alone In
the house The tranip seized Mrs. snycer without
word struck her heavy blow IN the face with his fist,
dragged her FROM the kitchen into the front part of
the house. she screamed for help and the tramp en-
dcayOred render her Hsensble by pounding her with
his hst Mrs snyders cries heard by William Old
field who was passing the house and no ran 70 ler ana
The tramp fed the appearance Oldneld The latter
gave chase Finding that he could NOT catch him, he
picked large and threw at the fleeing tramp
The stone struck the vagahond the head aud he
dropped to the ground. MI Oldhed examined him and
believed that he dead He hurried away 10 give in
formation 0f what had occurred. When ne lsnrued 10
the spot with others IN the OF twenty minutes the
tramp had disappeared Whether he had recovered con-
soiOusness aud hurried away To place Of safety or COM
paniOns had him and carried him away could not 90
ascertained Mrs snyder was badyhur by her as'ali-
ant "
The citizens resolved to rid the community OF this
gang II 1t had to be done by force OF arms raid was
planned 20 be made certain night, but the trAmps
evidently " tho movement departed N various
directions.
Reports OF ourages by members OF the gang have been
received from the farming district farmer named
Wright compelled TO re At Two who called at his
house before they would leave the premises The next
day he fond ton OF his sheep deal In the pasture with
their throats out Several OF fence also
down. and the rails piled and burned. These Outrages
no believed committed w the Two uamps out Of rs
yon9A