Daily Yellowstone journal., 1884-07-23
TRAMPS' NIGHT REFUGE

unsSUVE WV VIE
Oae or the strange sights or Gotha.
"A Peculiar saloon On Chathaul
square.
New York News
Detective Carr stopped in front of q
saloon in Chatham square and said to the
reporter: This is the tramps' night
refuge" 1t was a two-story frame
building, and coarsely painted sign
proclaimed it to be hotel. Show
cards in the window announced hot free
lunch and all hot drinks for cents.
Just keep close to Yourself, said the
detective, as he opened the door and
stepped inside. A low-sized man with
heavy brown mustache behind the
bar, a big kettle of beef stew boiling
away on the stove, and about twenty
tables at which nearly one hundred
men were congregated. They were of
all classes and conditions. Occasionally
one would call for drink and help
himself to plateful of the appetizing
though not aristocratic stew with a
listlessly mechanical air that would
seem to indicate that he was comforting
a favor instead of receiving one. Having
drank and eaten. he sank into chair
and looked steadily at the floor. Once
in a while he ventured to raise bis
head, but did so in dazed, uncertain
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 2
Well, in years gone by he was known
all over the city as the telescope man,
and had his stand in the square. He
was as big q skin as there was in the
business, and swindled many country
man. He has no telescope now, and
peddles pencils.
You see that man with the black
mustache and dark eyes, who sells Har-
rigan and Harris songs ON Broadway?
Six years ago he was in business in
Third avenue, and was worth from
$4,000 to $4,000. He met with
domestic troubles, and here he is. He
may come to the front again; but |
doubt it, for once man comes here il
is rarely he quits until he is carried out,
feet foremost.
"aser in TIE corner there, wrestling
with that bot rum, is the old East
Indian sailor, who for years has
solicited charity on New Chambers and
South streets. Look at that chest and
neck. What a powerful man he was
when perfect. Unfortunately, he
shipped On an Arctic whaler, was frost
bitten, and lost his legs. Still old
Ramsur is no SLOUGH to-day, and ii takes
four policemen to bring him in.
If you want to see an inventor who
is always hat.broke, there is one ready
made for you-that man with the keen
blue eyes and gray hair who is stand.
irg by the store. You see him during
the day selling needle-threaders on
Broadway. He ha, invented several
machines which ought to have brought
him fortune, but others have reaped
the benefit Of his brains. He isnot the
only man of brains here. There is
Congregationalist minister in that
second chair and journalist arguing
with him, The man with the crisp
black hair and bloated face, who Is
smoking that dirty clay pipe, is one Of
re best engineers In the land, and the
fellow asleep, who looks as II he wanted
to break his neck over the back OF his
chair, is lawyer, and smart one, too.
How do they drift here, did you sayg
/ will tell you. Rum"
By this time the lights had been
lowered, and stretching themselves on
chairs and tables, entered into rest.
some removed their hats and boots,
which they placed under their heads
for safety. Others were not so careful
and brayed adverse fortune without
frown; one young man Remaining:
well, any Teller what nails my kicks
won't have q of lot" So they
slept undisturbed until o'clock, when
the bartender beat the reveille on the
tables with huge cane. Ten minutes
after the motley gathering had com.
pletely disappeared. They had washed
themselves, stepped into the street and
had been swallowed up by the pulsing
tide of the great city.