The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-08-23
TRAMPs ENJOYING LIFE.
A Band of ThiPVInR Nomads Encamped In
Productive Place.

Band of ThieNinR Nomads Encamped In
Productive Place.
There are over fifty tramps in rendezvous
about half mile from slabtown, in the Roar
ing Creek Valley, who are living on the best
to be had in that neighborhood, and they
seem to be enjoying themselves. They have
nearly all the comforts Of home there and
are right in the centre Of good producing
neighborhood, where they have little trouble
in getting food. The only thing they
lack is "cawfay." That they say, is very
difficult to get rs their neighbors persist in
keeping it out of the cellar and they lock the
upper part of their houses.
When a reporter called at the camp the
other afternoon there were dozen or more
shady trees, and close by them were the dying
embers of fire in a rudely constructed fire
place, and the remains of three or four fat
pullets innumc1able roasting ears and pota-
toes Their monday meal had just been
ended and they were enjoying sleep which
their medical adviser told them was a splen-
did aid to digestion. None of them seemed
to be troubled with dyspepsia or kindred dis
cases. but they were taking no chances
They all awakened when the reporter en-.
tered The camp, and with remarkable unanim-
ity they inquired:
"Say, cap, hev ye got any terbaccerW and
learning that "cap' had none, they fell back
into a doze again, unmindful that a stranger
was in camp, and with the reckless abandon
of men who do not need to lie awake to guard
their valuables. One big fellow who could
not look toward the creek without shuddering
at the thought that it was largely composed of
water, was drawn into conversation. He said
he was Colorado Pete"
I'm rot tramp" was his superAuous
opening explanation; pm on de bum temp
prilly. De slup in silver turn NE out of work
an Pm forced into dis I've tried to get
sumthin to do but can't, Y see I've been
used ter worliin' about the silver mines, an
can't get a tap to do at me trade. l can't
work very well at anything else an I've got
ter wait till Congress passes de free coinage
law. It's not true dat we've been robbin
people about here. Course we've bin forag.
III u lllllbs 1 IL hullllA hdlt bub hth VIZ Ahuol
live, an how'll we live unless we get sumthin
to eat2 It's rediclus to think so. We call
r dis place Camp Wait, part in honor of my
friend Guverner Waite and part because we're
waitn' t'see wot Congress will do. Say can't
you duffup nuff stuff to get us cawEty2 ]
tink if could jess get one crp Of good black
cawfay it I'D put my stuInmick in first class
shape. Deres nuthin like cawiay when
yous travln' less 'tis a snfter Of booze
now'n then"
Tell you wot,' said a worn and weary one
who was resting his head at the roots of the
tree that shaded Gov. Waite's gen lema1
, fren', dis f'nanshu stringgency is jus ruinniI
the country. Would you b'lieve it, out
dere's tousands of homes men, like me, trowr
idle by it. My bizness is ruined an I'm le
3 widout fren' in de worl'. W'Ot biznes wal
l in? Wy, was a coin collector, but dere Sc
rare now dat dere isn't decent livin in i
q for any one. Ware was my place of biznes
t Wy, at de East ST. Louie err of de big bridge
De toll dere's nickle, an it was de bes stan
t in de country. No good now. Say pare
could'n you give me nickle? think kir
get som cawfay near here"
e They all had stories to tell, but the ma
, iority of them assured the visitor that they
were honest wOrkingmen with good trades
who were thrown idle by the general bust
G ness depression. As a matter of fact that tn,
! dullness of trade never bothered most of then
half so much as the discovery of an empty
e cellar uuproductive spring house or a chicken
I less hencOop.