The record-union., 1893-05-01
LITTLE PHIL.
A Sacramento Kid Who Set Out to
See the World.
How. He Worked His Way Across the
Continent and Fell Into Hands
OF the Police.

The New York police have in custody a
l4-year-old boy named Philip O'NeiIl,
who says he ran away from his home in
this city about four months ago and
worked his way to the Atlantic side as
boys usually do. He says his fathers
name is Frank O'Neill, machinist, re-
siding at $40 Sixteenth street, in this city.
SAYS HE RAN AWAY.
A late press telegram from New York
concerning this kid tourist states that ne
was found hanging around Barnum' S
circus in Brooklyn, and he made the DO
liceman who arrested him open his eyes
by asserting that he had crossed the con-
tinent alone without a cent. He is a
pocket edition of the typical tramp in ap-
pearance.
II didn't like it home," said the young
ster in the Police Court, 80 one day
when was near the railway l Jumped
on train, and when the car stopped l
jumped off and begged something TO eat.
Then got on another train.
After while got to Ogden. There 1
stayed while doing odd jobs and getting
things to eat from the people. L finally
got tired of that and jumped on another
train. One of the men that worked on it
told me 1t was going to Montana 1t did.
anu 50 ulu l. ulu inc same there as |
had in Ogden, begging victuals and sleep-
ing wherever could find place. 1t was
awful cold sometimes, and then I'd find
some barn and sleep under the hay. |
didn't have any oyercoat, and my clothes
were thin, too.
HAD HARD TINE.
II had pretty hard time of it till I
struck Chicago. There | made friends
with bootblack, and he used to take me
home with him when it got very cold.
I'd get papers and sell them and a good
many people gave me pennies.
After while / got tired of CHICAGO.
and having heard good deal about New
York | caught freight train one day and
started for here. | guess | was put off
fifty times before got here and walked
a long way, too. When l got to Jersey
City didn't have cent. so 1 sneaked on
one of the big boats that take people
across the river, and then was here.
Il soon got used to the crowds and
noise so they didn't bother me. But /
had hard work to live. l could hardly
get any one to give me cent. l used to
walk along the river and ask men work.
ing there TO give me things out of their
pals and they most always did it. They
were a good deal better To me than the
ones who looked rich.
ATTRACTED BY THE CIRCUS.
"Then 1 heard there was circus in
town and l made up mind to try and get
work there. but they didn't want bov.
They said l was too small. l STAYED
around the Madison Square Garden and
then / followed the circus over to Brook
lyn. used to sleep on the piles of straw
and hay around the tent l was sleeping
when they found me and locked me up.
"Now, see here" added ONeill. get
ting on his toes so that he could see over
the bench, II want to know how long
Pve got to stay here, and if you are go.
ing to lock me up before 1 go much far
ther."
The boy is very bright, but his clothes
are sight. His hair has not been cut for
months. All the buttons are OFF his coat.
He has no vest and his trousers have
fringes. He says he has father and
mother in Sacramento. His father does
whatever he can get, he says, but has no
regular occupation.