The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1893-01-19
THE DESERT TRAMP.
Incidents of Nomad Life in the
Land of Thirst
Plenty OF Feed In spite OF the ArIdIty-
Instructed In Applying for Work
Got Beefsteak In Harsh
Fashion.

Although tramps a-plenty can be
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 a site for human hab-
itation. devoid of all human necessities
devoid, even, of water save at the
statiouS-and cursed with a climate all
but intolerable, a day never passes
without a tramp coming to the doors
of some of the houses and be ging
for food. Nor do they confine them
selves to begging. They browbcat and
terroriZc 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 a man-killer is unde
served. There are desperadoes on the
desert and they do the killing, as a
rule. The men who have wives and
kitchens are not desperadoes. They
are respectable citizens, willing TO eu-
dure great privations in the hope of
future competence. They are like re-
spectacle citizens elsewhere in their
slowness to take a bloody revenge for
a personal injury. The tramp knows
this very well, and acts or his know
ledge. In journey that included the
widest towns on the Mojave desert
the writer did not hear of a single
tramp who had been killed for his
temerity nor did he find more 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 nomSd
received at the hands of it's master.
Mr.. J. w. $ Perry, of Daggett, is
the superintendent of borate of
lime mine in the Calico mountains,
nine miles from there. II Office is in
his house there where he lives with his
WIN WA0s uAONS vi AtlC 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 lam
guage. But one day came tramp to
the kitchen door who was no; respect
full He walked right in withou, a
word. As luck had it Mr. Perry hap
pened to walk in at the dining-room
At the same instant
Saperintendents of desert mines are
accustomed to dealing with all kinds
of men and are particularly prompt in
action.
What do you want?" said Perry to
the tramp
Il came to see YOU about getting a
Job" replied the tramp, who was try
ing to make the best of a bad case.
And you though, the way to get
work was to come around 10 the kitch-
en- door and enter without knocking.
did your" The tramp made no reply,
and Mr.. Perry continued:
II will conduct you to the office door
and show YOU how 20 sc; in there in .
proper way"
AT that Perry turned the tramp
around. kicked him out the kitchen
door. kicked him around the house to
the office door and stood him up there
and said;
Now knock on the door"
The man knocked and Perry opened
it and entered.
Come in" he said. and the tramp
followed.
DO you want work or have You go;
rather more than you w2nteds" Perry
continued.
The man glanced up and then fed.
Perry Is . SiN-footer, who can kick like
desert mule.
IL was long time before Mrs. Perry
was troubled by tramps again; but, Of
course, there was no escaping them 81
together. Even the purchase Of won
derfully intelligent; and well-trsined
dog did not keep them SWAY alto
Eether. Mr.. Perry had TO drive to the
mine, nine miles away, several times
week. aud the wife was often left
aloUe for several hours at time. One
afternoon something at the mine de-
<Ained Perry 50 that he could not reach
home until after dark Mrs Perry un-
derStoOj the matter. and did not begin
10 prepare supper until after nightfalL
She was gong to broil steak that
night and having lighted the fire aud
lamp. was putting the buoiler on the
stove when = tramp Stzlkei in a; the
open kitchen door, having IN some way
escaped the dog The frightened look
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