The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-10-28
KNIGHTS OF THE ROAD.
Many of Them Are Amateurs Nowadays-
A Grand Trunk Train Stoned by Tramps
The Case of the Young Man Killed at
Gor1am-A One Legged Expert.

are no dOuD6 bnaG Gnefe are great many
tramps along the road, and that they are
getting to be very troublesome to the
trainmen. For example, Thursday
night about 10 O'Clock, freight train
was stoned at point between Danville
junction and New Gloucester. The
trainmen were forced to dodge the
shower of flying rocks, vigorously sent
in their direction. The number of stones
used, and the length Of time the train
was under fire, indicated that quite
party was engaged in the work, and that
fact, and the place where the train was
stoned, showed that it must have been
party of tramps The theory of the
men is that the tramps, some or all, had
been put off from some other train, and
were anxious to show their feelings
against the road. So long as it was
Grand Trunk train that was stoned,
it was. 1t is very seldom now that a
freight train gets into Portland without
some of the tramps as passengers, and
there is commonly one or more waiting
here for chance to go west.
The trainmen have noticed of late that
the tramps seem to be of an entirely
different class from those who troubled
them few months ago. To be sure
there are still good many of the regular
knights of The road, the men who are in
the business for life, but there are
enough young fellows, well dressed, and
evidently well informed, to at least sug-
gest the question whether some of the
Chicago visitors have not gone broke
and been obliged to walk back. The
fact that in most cases of this sort, the
men are not seen again, would lead to
the belief that they are working their
way home, or beating it as the case may
be. There are many men on the road
who are believed by the trainmen to- be
honestly looking Tor work, not at all
OF the sort who are looking for work,
and praying that they may not find it,
but laboring men who are making for
some point where they expect to find
employment. M 3asq
That SO many of this class, and of the
other class described above, are on the
road, and are taking desperate chances
rather than not ride at all, leads the
railroad men to expect many fatal acct
dents The young fellow who was killed
at Go rham, N. H, was found to be a
member of good family in Massachu-
sets. When his father went for the body
Tuesday, he said he supposed his son
was in Bangor, and doing well, and his
shocking death at Gorham was perfect
surprise to his friends He was out of
money, and took desperate chances.
Others are doing the same, and the train
men say that hardly train gets out of
the inland stations without one or more
tramps trying to board it. Thursday
night brakeman was attending to the
train at Mechanic Falls, when he heard
voice in the darkness say, Hold on,
don't take my hand off," and found a
tramp there between the cars holding
fast to the brake rod. He was in a
position of great danger, and likely to
have been killed at any time.
The tramps are largely living off the
country. AS a freight train was coming
up the Yarmouth grade Thursday, the
trainmen noticed a party of tramps
gathered around fire. They were eager
ly watching the cooking of chicken in
a tin pail supported by cross sticks The
trainmen and the tramps exchanged
words, the former, asking if they had
opened boarding house, and the latter
replying. "No, only lunch room.n a.
A very interesting party of tramps was
observed Wednesday morning. They
came in by rail as far as the smelling
works, and there got ready for the
begging and tramping of the day. They
got water from the spring above, shaved,
then cooked their breakfast, and went
on their way. They were all of the
newt o-the-road class. The trainmen say
that in the case of a large party, some
one commonly acts as the barber for the
gang, and sometimes he is a very good
workman.
Monday there was party of fourteen
ready at Fish Point to take the train
outward. They found the trainmen on
the lookout for them, and the prospect
for finding an empty car very poor. "Why
don't you put on some empty cars for
us?" asked the leader of the party, and
one of the trainmen replied, "We would
if we could afford to-. The gang went
back into the darkness to await for
another train, and better luck. The
empty cars at the point give a tempo
rary home to many of the tramps these
cold nights. A few nights ago a con-
ductor found four tramps curled up in a
freight car. He simply closed the door,
and the tramps were congratulating
themselves that they were all right for
once, when their Car was sidetracked,
and they were left in Portland. Oddly
enough it is said that one of the most
successful Of all the men who steal rides
on the railroads going out of Portland, is
man with one leg. He is an expert in
getting on and off, and will ride in safety
where no other tramp ventures to go. II
saw him here one day this week." said
trainman. II kept watch for him but
he slipped me, and when we got to Cor
ham, Mr.. Tramp was there laughing at