Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1884-02-29
NO.s6.
TIE TRAMP'S NIGHT REFUGE.
One OF the strange sights of GOtham-A
Peculiar Place on Chatham Square.

One OF the Strange sights of Gotham-A
Peculiar Place on Chatham Square.
Detective Gilbert Carr turned the
corner of Pearl and Chatham streets
promptly at midnight, and shaking
hands with the Ne1cS reporter, said "l'm
not much behind time, anyhow. Where
we are going you will see number OF
People whose faces you may know from
meeting them in the street, but you
will see them as they really are" The
detective stopped in front of saloon
in Chatham square and said; This is
the tramps night refuge" 1t was
two-story frame building, and coarse
ly painted sign proclaimed it to be a
hotel Show cards in the windows an
nounced hot free lunch and all hot
drinks for six cents.
"Just keep close to yourself" said
Detective Carr, as he opened the door
and stepped inside. \ low-sized man
with a heavy brown mustache behind
the bar, a big kettle of beef stew boil
ing away on the stove, and about twen-
ty tables at which nearly one hundred
men were congregated. They were of
all classes and conditions. Occasional
1 ly one would call for drink and help
himself to a plateful of the appetizing
\ though not aristocratic stew with
lstlessly mechanical air that would
seem to indicate that he was comforting
favor instead of receiving one. Hav-
ing drank and eaten, he sank into a
chair and looked steadily at the floor.
Once in awhile he ventured to raise
his head, but did so in dazed, uncer-
tain way, as if afraid or ashamed to
be seen.
you see that old man at the second
table, said Detective Carr, "who is
talking about stars and planets and
such like? His face is familiar, isn't
, it? Well, in years gone by, he was
known all over the city as the tele-
scope man. and had his stand in the
square. He was as big skin as there
! was in the business, and swindled many
a man. He has no telescope now, but
peddles pencils.
r "You see that man with the blacl
mustache and dark eyes, who sell
. songs on Broadway? Six years ago h
f was in business in Sd avenue, and wa
o worth from $4,000 to $4,000. II
,e met with domestic troubles, and her
iie Is. Gemay cono-tosahe front agail
Ill but doubt it. for once a man come
I'd here, it is rarely he quits until he
or carried out, feet foremost
TX "Over in the corner there, is the oil
r East Indian sailor, who for years hs
solicited charity on New Chambers an
South streets. Look at that chest an
neck. What a powerful man he wa
III when perfect. Unfortunately, b
We shipped on an arctic whaler, was fros
bitten and lost his legs Still old Ran
o. sur is no slouch to-day. and it takt
four policemen to bring him in.
"If you want to see an inventor VIII
III is always nat broke, there is one read,
% made for yoI-that man with the kee
y blue eyes and gray hair, who is stanc
y ing by the store. You see him durin
~ the day selling needle-threaders q
~ Broadway. lie has invented sever
machines which ought to have brougl
g him a fortune, but others have reape
~ the benefit of his brains. He is n,
~ the only man of brains here. Thel
n0 is a minister in that second chair an
-. a journalist arguing with him, II
g man with the crisp black hair an
bloated face, who is smoking that di
~. ty clay pipe, is one of the best eng
VI neers ill the land, and the fellow aslee
ho who looks as if he wanted to break h
neck over the back of his chair, is
re lawyer, and a smart one, too. How
ST they drift here, did you say? l wi
tell you. Rum"
oll By this time the lights had bee
lg lowered, and they, stretching then
VI selves on chairs and tables, entered il
70 to rest. Some removed their hats ar
'lt boots, which they placed under the
Ell heads for safety. Others were not {
'es careful and braved adverse fortur
ne without fr0wn; one young man II
ne marking. "Well, any feller what mai
On my kicks won't have much" So the
IN slept undisturbed until six ocloc
ms when the bartender beats the receli
OF on the tables with huge cane. Tt
be minutes after the motley gatherin
ne had completely disappeared. They ha
9lr washed themselves, stepped into IL
so street and had been swallowed up
rs the pulsing tide Of the great city.