Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1893-02-16
THE DESERT TRAMP.
Incidents of Nomad Lifo in the
Land Of Thirst.
Picnty OF Feed |, Spite OF the Aridlty-
instructed In Applying for Work
Got n BeefstcalS In Harsh
Fashion.

hithouRu tranp3 a-plenty can DC
found in all parts of the United States,
the people of the desert mining camps
that like Daggett, California, are To-
Gated on railroads, believe that three
times as many can be found there in
proportion to the population as in any
other part of the country. Wretched as
this country is as q site for human hab-
itation, devoid of all human necessities
devoid, even, of water save at the
stations-and cursed with climate all
but intolcrablc, day never passes
without tramp coming to the doors
for food. Nor do they confnc them
selves to begging. They brow beat and
terrorize women found alone in their
homes and the Chinese cooks employed
in restaurants and kitchens, very
much as tramps do elsewhere, and this,
too in spite of the reputation which
desert men have for taking the law in
their own hands in dealing with such
cases.
Then, too the reputation of the aver
age desert man as man-killer is unde-
served. There are dcsperadoes on the
desert and they do the killing, rs q
rule. The men who have wives and
kitchens are not desperadocs. They
are respectable citizens, willing to en-
durc great privatons in the hope Of a
future competence. They arc like re-
spectacle citizens elsewhere in their
slowness to take q bloody revenge for
n personal injury. The tramp knows
this very well, and acts or his know
ledge. Il. . Journey that included the
widest towns on the Mojavo desert
the writer did not hear of single
tramp who had been killed for his
temerity nor did he find moro than one
house that was at all free from their
visits, and that house did not enjoy en-
tire immunity. 1t was left compare
lively free, however, because of the
vigorous treatment which the nomad
received at The hands of it's master.
Mr.. ]. w. S. Perry, of Daggett, is
the superintendent of borate of
lime mine in the Calico mountains,
nine miles from there. II s Office is in
his house there, where he lives with his
wife, who, during most of the year,
keeps no servant. When they first
came there the tramps swarmed about
the house. Mrs. Perry is California
girl, aud could not bear to refuse man
who asked for food in respectful Ian
guage. But one day came tramp to
the kitchen door who was not respect
full. lie walked right in without a
word. AS luck had it Mr.. Perry hap
pened to walk in at the dining-room
at the same instant.
superintendent of desert mines are
accustomed to dealing with all kinds
of men and arc particularly prompt in
action.
'What do you want?" said Perry to
the tramp, s
81 came to see you about getting a
job" replied the tramp, who was try
ing to make the best OF bad case.
"And you thought the way to get
work was to come around to the lSitch-
en- door and enter without knocking,
did you?' The tramp made no reply,
and Mr. Perry continued:
II VII; conduct you to the Office door
and show YOU how to get in there in q
proper way"
At e,at Perry turned the tramr
around. kicked him out the kitchen
door. XII ,kcd him around the house tc
the Off, door and stood him up there
and said; :
Now knock on the door,"
The man knocked and Perry opened
it and catered.
Como in" he said, and the tramp
followed
"Do vou want work or have you go'
rather more than you wanted? Perry
continued.
The man glanced up and then fed
Perry is six-footer, who can kick like
n desert mule.
It was long time before Mrs. Perry
YEAS troubled by tramps again; but, o.
course, there was no escaping them al
together Even the purchase of won
derfully intelligent and well-trainet
dog did not keep them away alto
rether. Mr. Perry had to drive to the
mine, nine miles away, several times
week. and the wife was often lef
alone for severe hours at a time. Ont
afternoon something-at the mine de
taiaed Perry so that be could not reaci
home until after dark. Mrs. Perry un
Iars.ooI the matter. and did not begiI
10 prepare supper until after nightfall
She was going to broil steak tina
night, and, having lighted the hre am
ianp was putting the broiler on tn
stove when tramp stalked in at IN
oren kitchen door, having in some wa.
sscaned the dog. The frightened looI
that csue to Myn0SITy's tBss g onc'
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