The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-04-12

was the station man trying to scare u.s."
The explanation was accepted, and
the men went their way. Later in the
night the same men fired a dozen shots,
but did no harm.
On the Blind Baggage.
When the Santa Fe passenger train
slowed up for the junction, there was a
a very tall tramp riding on the
'sbIind baggage" As the train came
to a stop the brakeman ran up
to the ssblind" to drive off any tramps
that might be there. On the other side
tramp did not know this and when he
saw the bluecoat ne made dive off the
other side. His coat spread out like a
parachute, and the tramp instead of
striking the ground as he expected,
rolled heels over head to the bottom of
the ditch. He said not word, but meek
ly walked off brushing his clothes. Later
this tramp told the reporter he was a
printer from Denver on his way to
Wichita. He was feet inches tall.
"You don't need stool when you stick
type, do your" asked Dagg. The tramp
said something about getting SO he
couldn't stick anything but long primer"
and the two FASTENED away. There were
about dozen tramps lOafing around
waiting for the 1 o'clock freight to come
along.
Right here,'' said Capron indicating a
boxcar on sidetrack, Il had the mar
rowest escape of my life few weeks
ago. | was looking into the boxcars and
the hoboes didn't seem to mind It. When
l tackled that car there l lit match and
one OF the men inside there
threw a big coupling pin at me.
1t just barely hit my ear.
If it had struck my head it would have
killed me. | blew my whistle and Steele
came up We got a lantern and arrested
the cuss, but Judge Ensminger let him
60 if he would ''get out of town"
The freight cars are full of "hoboes"
these nights The ordinary box car is
much warmer than the ordinary person
would imagine. As long as they lay
there quietly however the police do not
modest them The few cars that the
JOURNAL reporter looked into seemed to
be swarming with tramps.
At the Tramp Shack.
When the s.shack" was reached the
policemen who have made the same trip
many times before had some trouble in
locating IL, so difficult of access is it.
When it was entered, however, it was
found to be deserted The fire had been
allowed to go out and the officers deci-
ded that the hoboes had taken the early
train out. There were no less than
dozen quart alcohol bottles strewed
about the place and a great many pa pers
in which the kind hearted housewives
have generally wrapped up a square
meal.
at is remarkable" the sergeant said,
show the tramps find this place. Tramps
who have never been in this place be-
fore come here without any trouble.
They leave the tracks at just the right
place and follow the paths as though
they had known them all their lives. L
think the tramps nave a map of the To-
cality that they show to the others that
are able TO give the cOuntersign-"
The remainder of the "round up" was
uneventful. Tramps were accosted but
told their story about being on their way
from Denver to the east. They are
nearly all s'from Denver" They agreed
to get out of town on the first freight
One hobo said he had bet quart of al
cohol he could beat Coxey into Washing
ton.
There were no less than a dozen
tramps applied for place to sleep at the
police headquarters last night, and they
were stretched out on the floor like
'dead soldiers" Those who go to the
police headquarters are usually the
better class of tramps; the other class,
those who infest the railroad yards and
"shacks" are sometimes dangerous.