The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-03-23
BATTLE WITH TRAMPS
Police Capture Fourteen Men En-
Route to Join COXey's Army.
They Were Having a Hilarious Time in
Box Car and Fought Vicious
ly for While.

There was a battle yesterday afternoon
between a dozen or more tramps, who were
on their way to join crank Coxey, and
number of officers, aided by citizens,
on the Big Four tracks west of the river,
near Elevator \. About o'clock patrol
man Asche was in the vicinity of the West
side street-car stables when foreman Shaw,
OF the Il. & f. railroad yards, ran up to
him and stated that car in the yards was
full of tramps, who were drinking and hav-
ing a hilarious time. Patrolman Asche and
Mr. Shaw, assisted by several railroaders,
started for the car. Two of the tramps
saw the approach of the men and fed, at
the same time attempting to warn their
friends However, the officer and his COM
panions succeeded in reaching the car before
the others were able to escape. The car
door was shut and the tramps imprisoned.
large tramp of massive frame took upon
himself the leadership and asked patrolman
Asche what he meant by shutting them in
the car. "Well, you are under arrest, and
If you will make no fuss about it will
open the door and let you out" said the
patrolman, adding, at the same time, that
if any attempt at escape was made he would
use his revolver
"Oh that's it, is it? Well, not on your
life wiz we come out and let you pinch us.
"You will stay there until you make up
your minds to do it, said Asche.
His remarks were followed by a thunder
ing Noise which was soon explained, as the
car doors and sides could be seen bursting
open. The tramps were smashing open the
doors and sides with beer kegs. AS coon
as openings had been made sufficiently
large to allow the admission of a mans
head the leader of the trampS appeared
and shouted that he and his friends had no
t.,4 Ions Of xriYarr in hn N
though the entire police force was there to
intercept them.
volver and ordered them to desst in their
efforts. The order was received with
outlaws by the tramps, who worked with
opening. A sufficient opening was soon
effected and several squeezed through and
jumped to the ground. They were tmme-
men, who belabored them with clubs as
the men showed fight. These soon con-
patrol wagon, which had been telephoned
for, should arrive Immediately on the re-
turn of the men those in the car threw car
at the men on the outside. Finally the
leader shouted that he intended to shoot at
his besiegers and he appeared at an open
man intended to carry out his threat,
pulled out his revolver and fired point
blank at the car. One man was to
fall. but he Immediately rose to his feet,
which showed that his injury, If any, was
slight. Several tramps then jumped from
the and attempted to escape They
were caught by the men on the outside.
The tramps were after trouble and all were
soon engaged in a rough-and-tumble fight.
Mr.. Shaw knocked one man insensible
with a coupling pin, while his companions
were equally successful with their contest
ants. This was the situation when the pa
troll wagon appeared on the scene. When
the telephone message came in at the po-
lice station Captain Quigley gave the word
to the driver to urge the horses at their
utmost speed, stopping only long enough
to get number of patrolnen who were
in their districts. When the car was
reached Captain Quigley ordered the tramps
to leave the car. He was promptly obeyed.
A few of the trampS. on stepping from the
car, lay down on the ground, complain
ing that they were too i'll to walk to the
wagon A few blows from a mace suticed
TO drive all thoughts of sickness from their
minds. and they. made no further trouble
until on the road to the station house.
There were fourteen tramps in the car.
The three who succeeding I'm making their
escape were afterwards captured. While en-
route to the police station several of the
trampS grew sullen and threatening. but
no mercy was shown by the officers, who
ton the eleven were slated on the charge
of vagrancy.
About o'clock the three who had made
their escape from the car were captured
by patrolmen Warren, Asche and Milan
The majority of the tramps acknowledged
that 1t was their intention to join Coxay' s
army in its march to Washington as soon
as they were able to beat their way to
Ohio