Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-14

Astonished Tramps and an Excited
Woman.

camp. FOR day or TWO III was
noticed they were working like
beavers, but not much attention was
paid to them until the section boss came
along and discovered that they bad re-
moved big pile OF ties and other timber.
He then made an investigation, which re-
suited in the discovery thai the tramps
had built house in the woods and were
making ready for winter. The authorities
were notified and posse was sent out to
break up the nest, as it was feared That
the wanderers Intended to commit fur
Their depredations.
When the officers approached the camp
they were met at some distance from the
cabin by a few of the tramps, who an
nounced that one OF their number was.
sick, and that il they were to be broken
up Immediately it would go hard with
him. Believing this to be ruse, the con-
stables said that they would have TO 20 at
once, and that any delay in getting out of
the county would result in their arrest
for stealing the railroad cOmpany's ties.
The tramps appeared to be men OF av-
erage intelligence, and few OF
them We're good-lookng fell
lows, whose faces gave evidence of men,
tai acuteness, if not some refinement.
They pleaded in vain. however, for the
posse was determined that they should
go, and 90 at once. Finding that nothing
was to be gained by talking, one of the
tramps, with a show of indignation, IN.
Vlted the officers into their cabin TO see
the sick man, with the remark as they en-
tered the cherries abode:
'YOu can't ask Teller like him to move
out in this storm"
On bed of straw, with an old blanket
and with pillow Of rags lay delicate
young fellow, who looked as though he
was near the end of his earthly career.
he was thin and pale, With big eyes
and flushed cheeks, and when the big
tramp asked them again if they could
have the heart to force them out while
their partner was in that condition and
the young fellow turned his plead
ing eyes upon them, the others shrank
away, and one by one stepped out
into daylight. They were undecided as
to what course to pursue. They had no
place 10 take the sick man, and, though
they were down on tramps and had duty
to perform, they came to the conclusion
that perhaps this was q superior party of
vagabonds, and, at any rate, they could
not deprive sick man ~ such wretched
shelter as that which Gem to satisfy
him so well.
AFTER A BRIEF FARLEY
and a warning that they would have to
be careful about how they appropriated
things in that neighb0rhoOd, the officers
withdrew with the remark that they.
would wait awhile and see what came of
the thing. One of the posse threw 80
cents into the sick mans hand and then
all withdrew.
The news that the tramps had built
house out of railroad ties and set up in
business spread rapidly, and when it was
learned that they had sick companion
whom they were tenderly caring for, the
chivalTOus spirit OF the people was
aroused, and several townsmen managed
to get time to go out and investigate.
When these had reported others went.
and finally party of women bent on good
work made the "trip. When they got
back the whole thing came out. The
sick man was not man at all,
but young woman, and there was
baby there-a regular young tramp. Four
or five ladies made it their business
that evening to collect a wardrobe for the
youngster, and in the morning they were
early at the camp with clothing for the
baby and many comforts for the mother.
The tramps hung around at a respectful
distance in a sheepisn way, and made no
move to 90 near the house unless called
for. Several of them seemed to have dis
appeared, as members of the posse re-
ported that they missed quite number
of them.
To the old lady who was hired by local
sewing society to stay with the young
girl the young mother told her story. She
had been to the mines in search OF her
husband, who left her for the West about
five months ago and who mas not written
TO her during his absence.
81 had an idea that l knew exactly
where he was" she said, "or / never
should have made the trip. When | got
out here my money was gone and | did
not find him. | was In despair. After n
week of starvation and Deggary | got
work in a boarding house, butI was home
sick and felt sure that l had made a
mistake that began to think
about getting back home. / heard
tramps and the way they got
over the country, and the thought oc-
CURED to me that | might be able TO get
back East in that way. The more |
studied over 1t the more it seemed the
only thing for me to do. ] was crazy to
get away from the place where | was.
My wages were small, and | knew If |
did not get home soon | would be sick.
and | didn't know what would become Of
me. So one day got some ola clothes
belonging to one OF the boarders, and,
after fixing myself as man and
COVERING MY FACE WITH DIRT.
L set OQbs DtluiS i udu BuuS lGT L came
across these men, who said they were
bound for the States, and / went along
with them. We didn't cover the ground
as fast as we ought to, but | had had eX-
perience enough on the road To convince
me that 1t was best TO have company, and
80 | kept with them. They never knew
nor suspected that | was "A woman until
they began to build this house, and
then / made them promise that they
would not tell. Oue OF these tramps
is fellow who studied medicine in Ger
many when he was young, and it was TO
him told the secret " hen Il found that
coucealment was no longer possible.
The thing that worried me the most was
the manner in which / was to travel after
was well enough 10 90 on. | mad no
clothes suitable to my sex, and l knew
that, dressed as "a man, my possession of
a baby would cause suspicion aud posi-
bly, lead me into trouble"
= The woman fixed the girl out in good
shape, and took such excellent care OF
her that she was soon able 10 be about.
The tramp baby, as it was called. had a
friend in every person in town, ana
measures were about to he taken to do
something handsome for the new conner.
when an event occurred which upset a
great many calculations. Among the
men who strolled into the tramp camp
yesterday was young man who seemed
to have no great curiosity, but who was
drawn thither by the crowd. He
had a few acquaiutances In
town, though he bad been