Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-01-13
THE DESERT TRAMP.


Although tramps a-pleuty can b
found In al parts of the United States.
tho people OF the desert mining camps
that. Ike Daggetr. California, are To-
Gated On railroads. believe that three
tiznes a. many can be found there in
proportlon 70 the population as in any
other part OF the country. Wretched a.
thix country "a "a a site for human hab-
3tation, devoid OF all human necessities
devoid. even, of water save AZ the
stations-and cursed with a climate all
but tatoierable. a day never passes
without a tramp coming to the doors
OF some of the houses and begging
for food Nor do they eontine 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 else where, and this,
TOO. IN spite Of the reputation which
desert men have for taking the law in
their own hands in dealing with such
casea-
Then. too. the reputation OF the aver
nge desert man as a man-killer Is unde-
served. There are despersdoes on the
desert. and they do the killing, as a
rule Tho men who have wives and
kitchens are not desperadocs- They
are respectable citizens. willing to en-
dure great rrivations in the hope Of q
future competence. They are like re-
spectacle citizens elsewhere in their
sloxness TO take bloody revenge for
a personal injury. The tramp knows
this very well. aud acts on his know
ledge. In = journey that included tho
wildest towns on the Mojave desert
tie writer did not hear Of single
tramp who had been killed for his
temcrity nor did he ind moro than one
house that was at AL free from their
visits, and that house did not enjoy en-
ere immunity. Il Was left compare
lively free. however. because OF the
vigorous treatment which the nomad
received at The hands Of its master.
Mr.. J. w. s. Perry, of Daggett Ia
ne superintendent OF q borabe OF
lirae mine In the Calico mountains,
ntee niles from there HIS office Is in
Ma house there. where he lives with bis
wife. who. during most Of the year,
keeps no servant When they frs,
came thsro the trsrnps swarmed about
- honsa MIS- Perry In Californis
eirl. ana could not bear 70 refuse \ man
who asked for food in respectful Ian.
Guags- But one day came . tramp to
4hc kitchen door who was not respect
4ul He walked right in without a
word AZ luck had it Mr.. Perry hap
peneA 20 walk in at the dining-room
ut the same instant.
Supcrintondents of desert mines are
nccustonsa to dealing with all kinds
OF men and are particularly prompt in
action
.-what do you want7" said Perry to
Abe tramp.
COB" replied the tramp. who was try
3ng TO make the best OF q bad case.
And you thought the way to get
work was 70 come around to the kitch-
&c door and enter without knocking
did you?" The tramp made no reply,
and Mr.. Perry continued:
ct viii conduct you 20 the Office door
and show yOu how 70 get m there in 9
proper way"
around. kicked him out the kitchen
door. kicked him around the house Il
an, ofics door nnd stood him up there
nn3 said;
NssNow knock on the door,
The nan Knocked aud Perry opened
81 and entered.
s'csns M he said. and the tramp
followed
DO you want work or have you go
rashcr more than you wanted?" Perry
eec tsaaed.
Tas man glanced up and then aed
rerrv is a six-footer. who can kick like
u desert aule.
Il was long time before Mrs. PERI
was troubled by trsmps again; but, o
icours-. there was no escaping them al
toe~.her. Even The purchase Of won
tl~rfoIi7 intelligent and wciI-srsine'
de- did net keep them away alto
rrtaer. Mr.. Perry had 20 drive TO th'
rrirc. nine niles away. several times
week. and the wife was often lei
aioue Tor seve raj hours az time- On
.sfsornoon something at she mine de
fafaed Perry so that he could not reacl
heua~ unsil after dark Mrs Perry I'm
sfsrstespi The NATTER and did not bcgi'
A. rrspers supper untn after nigf<fsil
sshe vas geinr to broa steak tia
nisht and. having llxated the Gre AM
Rfafaa, was yrtrunz Enc s-offcr on sn'
stew when a ramp ssallsed in a. th'
opsn xitcheu eoor. hnvfag N some "a.
esca2sd ne dog TIE frightened ios1
thss sarae - Mrs.. P-rry's face At ones
she~ed bim hat IA was master OF ts'
rituaiisn. snd sitsinr down at the "a
ble. be hade her % on and get IN,