The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-12-27
THE DEAD HEAD RIDERS.
MEN WHO TRAVEL WITHOUT PAY
ING FARE.

how It Feels to Ride Under q Gar.
Beating the Railway Is Cheap But
an Heroic Experience Tramp"
Printers, Theatrical Cnfortunates
and Other Picturesque Company.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 26.-Congress has not
yet settled down to a routine and the in
teresting company Of men whose business it
is to put the days session into type SO that
the Record may be on the members desks
the following day at noon are not yet too
busy to sit around and tell stories, stories
upon greatly varied topics. but chiefly
stories about themselves.
Every printing office has its quota, how
ever small, of men who are, IL not tramp"
printers In the strict sense, at least men
who have sampled the experience Of seeing
the country under more or less adventurous
conditions.
The other day got hold of young fell
low in the government Office who, notwith-
standing his comparative youth. has seen
an amazing area Of life. A fresh. hearty
looking character, he takes things for
granted that the average man might feel
inclined to regard. as highly exceptional
But he has "seen his see" aud is ready to
national capital.
YES" he said, across the cafe table, II
did knock about good deal ! wanted to
do it and did it. l wanted to get a squint
at the country. But / wasn't rich and | had
to work my passage. You know how the
printers do it. They tackle an office in
one town and stick type until they raise
enough dust to carry them to the next.
They carry their union card In their pocket
that is their certificate Of membership in
the printers union-and save themselves
some trouble that way; for If they are not
union printers they can't stick line in a
union office, and that cuts down their
chances a good DEAL
you see it is pretty good plan. You
work week, and then you knock about a
week or SO. The worst OF 1t is that the plan
doesn't always work. You get strapped.
You blow In your money somewhere be-
tween the money-making points and have
to scratch gravel, as the boys say, until you
can make connections again. Sometimes 1t
ia not 80 much Of a thing to make these con-
nections again, but If you actually get
strapped, haven't cent, 1t is serious. My
sian was to begin to scratch gravel before
actually got strapped That is. always
tried to keep some money by me. wasn't
always able to do this. But | stuck 1t out
pretty well.
This last resort money l carried under
all my clothes, so that nothing could hap
pen to 1t without my knowledge. will
never forget the first time that felt had
to beat my way on a train. It was away
out 10 Kansas. The evening came on and
hung around the station where a train was
due. There were two trains within short
time OF each other. One was an express
that would not stop again for forty minutes
The other was way train that would make
frequent stoppages- As an amateur made
up my mind to tackle the way train.
But got them mixed up i1he way train
came first and lay to on a siding at the next
town while the express passed. When
thought was taking the way train l was
really taking the express. sneaked up be-
side the train. ! had examined the car
trucks In daylight aud thought knew how
TO get on. When / bolted under one OF
the long parlor cars my heart was In my
nouth
II was fumbling my way In the dark,
when heavy voice said:
Be careful, young fellerp
THE voice came from somewhere on one
OF the trucks. Peering through ] saw the
shadowy outlines of man. i don't think
you're on to this racket. said the man. In
amoment he was beside me. Quick be
said, pushing me in'between the truck and