The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1893-05-09
THE DESERT TRAMP.
Incidents Of Nomad LILO IN the
Land OF Thirst
Plenty Of reed III Spite % the Arldity--
Instructed In Applying for Work
Got Reefateak IL Harsh
Fashion.

Instructed In Applying for Work
Got Reefsteak IL Harsh
Fashion.
Although trapps a-plenty can be
found in all parts Of the United States,
the people of the desert mining camps
that, like Daggctt. California, are To-
Gated on railroads, believe that three
times as many can be found there IN
proportion to the population as Ia any
other part Of the country. WFetchcd as
this country Is as site for human hab-
itation, devoid Of I'LL human necessities
devoid, even, Of water save NJ the
stations and cursed with climate NIL
but intolerable, a day never passes
without a tramp coming 10 the doors
OF some OF the houses and begging
| for food Nor do they conflne tlfeni-
selves to begging. They browbcat and
terrorizc women found alone In their
homes and the Chinese cooks employed
| In restaurants and kitchens, very
much ns tramps do elsewhere, and this.
too. ia 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 n man-kiiler Is unde-
served. There are desperadoes on the
desert, and they do the killing, as q
rule. The men who have wives and
Kitchens are not desperadoes. They
are respectable citizens, willing To en-
| iure great priyationsin the hope 81 q
! fatnre competencc, They are like re
spectacle citizens elsewhere IN their
slownesa to take bloody revenge for
i personal injury. The tramp knows
| this very well, and acts on his know
ledge. In d journey that included tho
widest towns on the Mojave desert
the writer did not hear of single
tramp who had been killed for his
temerity nor did he flnd more than one
| house that was at all free from their
visits, and that house did not enjoy en-
| tire immunity. 1t WINS left compara-
lively free, however. because Of tho
| vigorous treatment which the nomad
received at The hands Of its master.
Mr.. j. w. s. Perry, 81 Daggctt. j.
the superintendent of borate OF
lime mine ID tho Calico mountains,
nine miles from there. II Office Is In
his house there. where he lives with his
wife, who, during most Of the year.
keeps no servant. When they first
came there the tramps swarined about
The house, Mrs. Perry Is q California
| girl, aud could not bear torefuse d man
who asked for food In respectful Ian.
guagc. But one day came tramp 70
| the kitchen door who was not respect
full. He walked right In without .
word. AS luck had il Mr.. Perry hap
pened to walk in at the dining-room
at the same instant
Superintendents 81 desert mines are
accustomed todealing with all kinds
Of men and are particularly prompt IN
/ action.
.'What do you want?' said Perry e
i the tramp.
II came to see yon about getting Z
Job. " replied the tramp. who was try
ing to make the best Of bad case.
..And you thought the way to gel
1 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 yon to the Office door
/ andshow you how to get In there Ia q
proper way
At that Perry turned the tramp
around, kicked him out the kitchen
door, kicked him around the house &c
the Office door and stood him up there
i and said:
Now knock on the door,
Tho man knocked and Perry opened
II and entered.
Come in. |" he said. and the tramr
followed.
4 do you want work Or have you goi
rather more than you wanted?A Perry
continued.
The man glanced up and tlien fed
Perry Is = six-footer, who can kick like
desert mule.
II was long time before Mrs. Perry
was troubled by tramps again; but, q
course, there was no escaping them AZ
together. Even the purchase Of 2 won
derfnliy intelligent and well-trainet
dog did not keep them away alto
i gether Mr.. Perry had 10 drive 70 thu
mine, nine miles away. several times I
Il week, and the wife was often lef
alone for several hours at e time. One
afternoon something at the mine dc
tanned Perry so that he could not reach
home until after dark. Mrs. Perry mn
derstood the matter, and did not begin
to prepare supper until after nightfall
n She was going to broil q steak thai
night. and, having lighted the fire ant
. lamp. was putting the broiler on ths
stove when tramp stalked In At the
open kitchen door, having in some way
escaped the dog. The frightened loof
! that came to Mrs Perry's face 1t oncs