The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-08
THE TRAMPS' REST.
Sleeping Not In but Just
Outside the Palace.
A Professional Ratcatcher's Piaint-A
"Green I'M Is Told How to Work
the Sympathy Game.

A few evenings ago a CALL representa-
tive was asked by an employe Of the Palace
H0te electric plant, which Is situated on
the south side of the hotel and immed ately
opposite Wells, Fargo Il Co.'S building, to
drop around early some morning and have
peep at the tramps' camping grounds.
The Invitation was-accepted and a truly
novel sight was witnessed.
l, was rather early for full house."
but there were enough sleepers in line to
guarantees a good haul OF Migrants should
a newly appointed policeman happen that
way.
The traInpS, nearly dozen in number.
were rOosting Ia line on the windo ills
or ventilators Of the engine-house. which
faces on Annie street. The heat from the
engine-room kept their bodies warm.
Some had rocks for pillows, while others of
a more particular fancy rested their weary
heads on grain sacks.
They give us no annoyance" said the
young man who works In the department
immed lately Under the tTamps nocturnal
headquarters, Some nights IL would RmuSe
you 10 hear them relate some OF their ex-
perences.
There is one big fellow who is known to
his companions bY the name OF Rats l
heard BIN relate his experience one night,
and II would have made good reading If IL
could have been prin ted as he gave il.
Rats was once ratcatcheT, and made
good money some years ago in this city
clearing houses Of yermin and catching
rodents for sporting characters, who held
| raI-killng matches ia some of the saloons
about town. The business Of rat h Hing has
been ruined. so Rats said. by some indi-
yiduals who furnish the rodents for half
what / got for them-but it don't make
| much difference IN The end, for 1 always
manage without hard work to get plenty to
eat and good place TO sleep, and what
more dees a Teller like me want
There is another fellow who dresses
tolerably we'll. and one would think that ne
was provided with means sufficient, from
his appearance. TO procure himself respect
able sleeping apartments.
He is, ! think, the king of the tramps
that eongTegate here at midnight. He was
giving q chum pointers the other morning
rs 10 the surest way, as he said, Of making
the dust
Il can't remember half of the instruc-
tons he gave his friend, but there was one
scheme lie mentioned which l remember
Y on must never said he TO his friend
strike man for stuff the second time, for
if you do your name is mud. Always size
no your victim well before bracing him.
| Never strike man when he is in a hurry
or you will be sure to get the cold shoulder.
Nail these fellars you see with smiles on
their faces, ana especially III jley are mead
ing for a saloon. They are generally good
hearted fell VS., and f you can give them a
good story of misfortune you are good for
anywhere from 10 cents 10 so cents. | have
found that one OF tho very best ways OF
making killing is to select one man from a
| crowd of three or four. Go right up boldly,
but with feeling Of nervousness, TO your
mark tap him on the shoulder, and ask him
in quiet way if you cannot see him per-
| sOnally for few seconds.
Nile times out of ten he would leave his
| companions and step TO one side 10 hear
| your statement never thinking for an in
slant that you are going to dun him for
| some stuff. When you get him right drop a
! tear il you can'-thiS IS great bait-and
| then hit him with your story, adding that
| proud feelings would not permit you to un-
| burden yourself to the crowd. Ii you think
| be is at all suspicious of you when relating
| your experience don't bit him for money.
| but ask him TO accompany you to some res
| tauraDt where you can eat for the first time
| in day and half. Very seldom will he
| go with you to restaurant, and unless he
is mighty hard game you can safely rely
upon at least quarter. | have often
| caught them for as much as a dollar, and
| that Is good graft for one CATCH
This SAID the speaker, SIS only one Of
| the many yarns / hear while working at
| night under the ventlator stills, where the
fpa Gloon -