The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-08
A TRIO OF ODD BOHEMIANs.
Three Peculiar Individuals with Whom
q Retired Editor Had to Deal.
The Remarkable Career of an Ex-English
Army 0fficer-A Wanderer Who
Finally Found Perfect Rest.

Nearly every one who has mad an extensive
experience in daily newspaper Offices has fund
of interesting anecdotes about Bohemians, with
whom they have come in contact" said vet
eran journalist to the writer. During a news
paper career of over thirty years, have met a
great many OF them with whom have been i'm
pressed, but most of them are worthless to
themselves and the public. 1 have met three
men during that time, however who were genu-
inc Bohemians, for whom l had profound SYM
pathy, and whose natural talents would
have secured them permanently in good positions
had it not been for their unfortunate inability
to keep out of the gutter. / remember one case
in particular. was the city editor Of an East
ern paper, and was sitting at my desk in the
Office, one afternoon, when the door opened,
and in walked the most strikingly dilapi
dated individual 1 ever saw. He
wore coat so badly tattered that it
scarcely hung together; collarless shirt, the
bosom of which was. frayed out so that it ex-
posed his person. a SLOUGH hat that was devoid
of band, lining OF crown, and shoes that were
tied together with bits of twine He was SO
dirty that he was actually offensive to more
senses than the sight He inquired if he was
/ addressing the city editor, and receiving an
affirmative reply earelessly dropped into
a seat and began, I am news
paper man myself. Oh. I thought
you'd be surprised said he as betrayed my as
constituent with a look of incredulity.
THAT is, was anewspaper man the last time
was anything. My father is an officer in the
United States navy, and I entered its service
during the war; serving in the Mississippi river
and Gulf squadrons. was dismissed from the
service after the war, because l couldn't keep
sober. A few months later my fathers influence
got me into the United States signal service, and
was appointed as sergeant. l was discharged
for the same reason that was forced to leave
the navy. Then went to working about news
paper Offices, and since then have worked
on great many papers. (The fellow mention
ed at least twenty of the best known journals
in all parts of the country 1 have been assist
ant city editor twice, city editor twice, night
editor once, managing editor once, and on
others served in subordinate capacities. Every
job | got l lost as I had lost the others
couldn't let booze alone For two years l have
been tramp The only work l have
done in that time has been in the
""J VI SPC0loi JooS SAoouo AO"SPdPcl
offices wherever | could get an assignment
That's what I'm here for. I want chance to
make few dollars. wouldn't accept perma-
nent situation if you should offer it to me, be-
cause know that couldn't hold it; but if you
can give me some special assignment shall be
obliged, and think can do good work
81 don't know when l was ever so impressed
with man." continued the newspaper man.
1.-The fellow was evidently telling the truth
but he was the toughestlooking tramp
ever saw. l could think of nothing at first
that could put him at. At last thought OF
subject. The county poor-farm was four miles
from the city, and among its inmates were
several odd characters l mentioned it to the
Bohemian, gave him directions for getting there.
and he went out. When 1 got to the office the
next day the tramp was awaiting me, with his
story He had written it the night BEFORE at a
charity inn, by the light of candle and on a
desk formed by his own knee read it, and
was delighted, for it was one of the best,wrtten
newspaper sketches l ever read. paid him $40
for the SKETCH for which ne was very CRATE
full. Late that afternoon I saw him on the
street. He had procured coat of semi -respeeta-
bic appearance, reasonably good looking
hat, new shoes, q clean shirt and had
shaved, There had been perfect transforms
ton in the fellows appearance and he was now
IDENTIFY been purchased at some second hand
store and had probably cost six or seven dollars
of his money, and | could see that he was rap
idly putting the rest of it in circulation for he
was already comfortably drunk Late that
night he came into the Office stiff, blind drunk,
but happy as king. The next afternoon saw
him again and the new coat had been re-exchanged
for the old one, the difference paid him having
gone the way Of his other money. At the end
of two or three days he was in even worse plight
than when 1 first saw him, and think the only
part of his money that had not after all found its
way into some saloon till was the ten cents in
vested in the shave
but at the end of his three days he came in.
sober enough and asked for another assignment
Willing to give him another chance, told him
to write me sketch of his own experiences as a
tramp. Three hours later he brought it in 1t
was even better than the other and of course
took it, but was unwilling to trust my new
found acquaintance with another dollar l took
him to a restaurant and bought communication
ticket calling for s. worth of meals which gave
him. He threw in good feed then and there,
and left him eating Next time saw him was
as came down town in the morning, and he
was hilariousy and uneompromisingly drunk He
had sold the meal ticket fer 81 so, and was cele-
brating his good fortune after the fashion that
seemed most appropriate to him. But that set
tied him so far as was concerned When he
came to the Office again fired him unceremoni-
ously. He left, and never saw him again
within less than six months from the time
last saw the fellow of whom Il have just told you,
met another whose history was even more ro-
mantle He was handsome. soldierly-looking
fellow, but every feature of his face showed the
effects of dissipation. and his health was evil
IDENTIFY broken. When he came into the Office
one afternoon and asked for work. he was in
dreadful condition. His hands trembled like
those of man with the palsy, and even his voice
was unsteady. 1t was quite apparent that he
was on the verge of delirium tremens. saw
that it would be unwise to allow him to remain
at liberty, so I sent down to the office of the
president of the City Councils committee
on hospitals. with whom 1 was very
we'll acquainted, and got him admitted
to the hospital, He was there three
weeks and finally showed up at the Office to
thank me for the interest | had taken in him.
Itso happened that we needed good reporter
to look after the courts, and as he assured me
he had had experience in that line on one
or two other dailies gave him the situation. He