The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-25

Another dangerous procedure is to ride
the ''buffers'' between two freight cars.
The tramps' paradise is the top of
a freight car on a sumlner night. The
freight conductor and brakemen are often
the tramps' allies in these illicit journeys,
sometimes because they have been tramps
themselves. Not ~infrequently these Off
Gals compromise for a quarter. Mr.. Flynt
says he knows of a case wherein a tramp
made the entire journey from New York to
San Francisco for $1.25. These practices
are most prevalent in the middle and west
ern states and least so in the southern
states. for the singular reason that in that
section the brakeman is a negro who has no
| use for white trash" Some robberies on
the lines of railway are committed by
tramps, but not SO many as is generally
supposed. The tramp values his rail
them.
The tramp carries on a system of regis
tration and intercommunication which ia
most interesting. The water tank is his
register, on which he inscribes (nearlv all
tramps can read and write) his nickname
craftsman following on tie road reads the
legend and does the like. By this means
reunions are brought about. A tramp who
has made a stake" by theft or beggary
and desires to entertain his friends can
generally bring them together at a rendez-
Soub WAtulIl d E6uSOuHDl6 GlnG, he KNOWS
where they are and whittier pound. His
knowledge of the route and of the facilities
for tramp travel enables him to ovsrtake
his cronies, say, within a week, during
which time he boards his store, the price of
unlimited beer. The reunion is always Gel
ebrated by Il drunk, generally followed by a
free fight.
Again, suppose a tramp to be working"
a country town with his 'kid." He en-
counters the town marsha who warns him
TO leave. The tramp is too wise to disobey,
but before he goes away he registers at the
watering tank, and the kid" seeing the
sign, knows what direction to take. Bv
like means the tramp knows which of his
comrades are in Jail, in the poor house or
for they get there also the insane ASYLUM.
Scraps of newspapers are read with interest.
because they contain news of great catas-
trophies, which are the tram g harvest field,
! bus tralnps dOcked to Johnstown after
the food, not to avail themselves of the
high prices offered for labor, but trusting
to the liberal currency of money for a supe-
rlor opportunity to beg.
Some tramps have begging circuits in
which are regular "customeis'' on whom
they can depend for aims. A few of them
injure their limbs and bodies to excite SYM
pathy. Making n blister on the arm is a
favorlte form of this deception, College
town. afford a regular supply of clothing;
clothes lines n more precarIous source.
fubllc institutions, insane asvlums, pris-
ons, etc., are very popular with tramps re-
During clothes. Roman Catholic %institu-
tlons have a good name for generosity, and
the tramps have found that the priests usu-
ally favor a fellow protesting their religion.
The "fawney man" is a tramp who in
termitently carries on the bogus ring
fake" He buys n dozen giIded rings for
81 and sells them for 81 apiece. His ~'tlny',
Is generally at county fairs. To escape tho
law and at the same time attract the pud0-
con, he has a jovial way of assuring the
countryInan that tho rings are worth moth
ing to speak of, but the greenv thinks thew
must therefore be worth a good deal, and
30 10 caught. "Fawney men" are of tha
better class of tramps.
Some ramps mako a comfortable liv;n n,
at tattooinR. They are sailor men mostlv
who have learned this rude art in days
when they tramped. A railway camp or
other settlement containing workingmen of
the rougher class is q good fisld for thi.
sort of operations. The tattooer in such
surroundings not infrequently makes $40
OF a pleRaant Sunday.
Aside from the fact that professional va
grancy is itself a misd emeanor or. in some
states. a felony, there is not much crime in
trampdom. Criminal assaults are infre-
quent and are committed only by the uniu-
ltlated. But professional criminals ocoa-
~sionally assume the Disguise of tramps to
escape their own cognizances. The cel,.
DRAFTED case of 'Bllnky" Morgan is in point.
Morgan was hanged a few years back ON
evidence that centeted largely in railway
cars and among tfampg.
Mr. flynt thinks A Americans are altopether
TOO cement with tramrs. Being an English
man he naturally would think so. for th.
hineilcsn tramp iasoa much better than the