Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-03-14
TRAMPS IN MEXICO.
AN ARMY OF AMERICAN BUNS" IN
A WlNTERLESS LAND.


Poured into the Ears of Listening
Travelers-A True Test-Sailor in Dis.
tress-A Difference.
The same sort of greasy, squalid,
maiodorous hummer who comes into Bos-
ton when Novembers chill blasts sweep
through rural Massachusetts, has invaded
this winterless land He began his pill
grimage this way by first trying FL Paso,
Tex, as place of winter resort. II
Paso, the gate city to Mexico, has az al
most uncomfortable summer climate, but it
possesses model winter one, when it is a
pleasure to live merely for the sake Of hv-
ing. Invalids will find the dry, warm air
OF Ell Paso as good as that of many an
Italian or Mediterranean resort during
the winter months. But the American
bum is no invalid; he is a sturdy vaga
bond with genuine tropical liking for
the warm side of police station stove,
indeed. / believe he is actuated by that
semi-conscious desire all men of Northern
climates have to seek a warmer cline
when sharp and rigorous winter sets in,
fingers and toes.
Latterly quite an army of American
tramps have invaded Mexico. working
their way down the Central railway, and
reaching this cosmopolitan capital with an
instinct that surely points out to them
where may be found men who speak their
own language. They are cunning chaps,
these American gypsies and will tell you
thrilling tale of wrongs done them by
the Mexicans, of their utter and unmerited
destitution, and then strike you for the
usual small loan ''till they can get work. -
l met chap the other day and he whined
piteously. He had been stranded here
without cent, he said, the man for whom
he was to have worked having failed in
business, and he had tried to obtain work,
which | knew was untrue, at both the
Central and National railways. l asked
him if he had not been to see Col. More,
the United States consul general, who has
a sort of semi-parental function as regards
Americans in distress. No; he had not
thought of that. Well" l remarked,
until you have made known your case to
him and had it investigated l shall not
give you anything" He turned away
sorrowful, giving me a look as if l were q
very austere person upon whom a just and
discerning Providence would soon bring
we'll merited disaster. He never ent to
the consul general, and the last saw of
him he was working the same old racket
with occasional success.
CASES OF REAL DISTRESS.
There is an organization here known as
the American Benevolent society, which
tries to do something effective for Ameri-
can citizens really in distress, and this
society does good oftentimes, but its con-
ductors have come to know the difference
between genuine and simulated cases Of
distress, and when man asks aid they
test him with G meal ticket, for if fellow
is really hungry be will snatch at meal
ticket as if it were money itself. Then
for the sick American stranded here there
is an excellent institution known as the
American hospital well supported, but
requiring good sum for the extension Of
its buildings. The English colony con-
tribute to this institution when any British
subject needs to go there. 1t is good
charity for touring Americans to remem-
Der.
So the really deserving American here
who is in actual distress need not fear
starvation. The railway managers always
give passes out Of the country to men
well recommended to them: by the benevo-
lent societys officials. Of course a
charity passenger is not sent home in a
Pullman car, and this is resented by the
tramp, who would ask for a special train
if his nerve were little more developed.
At Vera Cruz, the othe- day, | was
standing on the custom house pier watch
ing the lateen sails of the flying water
craft, absorbed in the beauty o. the scene,
the tossing waters Of the big gulf, the
bright tropic sky and all the movement Of
a gay and lively port. Then there came
an unwelcome interruption in my own
native tongue, which sounds so i'll at
times when the wrong man uses it to you
under foreign skies. PLEASE, sir. could
you not do something for poor sailor in
distress? I'm sick and trying to get out
of this place" The speaker was n gaunt,
pale lad with eyes that could counterfeit
distress most languishingly. He added:
II have had no breakfast, and it's now Q
o'clock" To this broad hint | responded
by giving him a quarter and some sound
advice.
WAS NOT HIS FAULT.
"Have you been to the American con-
I T. hol h,,%