The Washington times., 1894-10-23
PLAGUE OF TRAMPS.
Washington Infested by Horde of Hobos
Who Grow BoIder as the Weather
Rccomcs Colder.


Becomes Colder.
For the past week Washington has been ac-
tually overrun by tramps and other desperate
characters, who find it convenient to go about
in the disguise OF the "hobo" roadster. 1t is
said this matter was brought to the attention
of Chief of Police Moore yesterday and that
he will call conference of his lieutenants to-
day for the purpose of taking stalwart action
in the premises.
Supt. Dunn, of the Municipal Lodging
House. who is recognized as an expert IN
matters affecting the tramp element in
formed q TIMES reporter that he had never
before seen so many genuine, dyed-in-the-
wool tramps in Washington thus early in the
season. Many Of them are crime-hardened
and would not stop at anything to get money
and whisky. Mr. Dunns register shows that
from fifty to seventy-five men lodge at the
Twelfth street refuge every night. and that
but few Of them are worthy cases, the great
majority being men who have resigned them
selves TO the lives of vagabonds.
A Times reporter was present in the large
lodging-room in the Central Union Mission
building last night when the "hobo" army
filed up the winding stairways to retire from
the world for the night The moteIy process
sion comprised many grim phases OF 1.-THE
fifteen years. who had learned TO swear like
troopers, to chew tobacco like North Caro-
lima deacon, and perhaps to steal or even dc
worse. Old men with whitened locks and
bowed forms slowly assembled the stairs to
the hobo bed-chamber." Young men with
sin-hardened faces, were there and in fact
every type of the tramp fraternity known to
the law. The procession was long one. COM
prising seventy-one men and boys.
Once upstalrs the large hall In which they
sleep presented a strangely weird picture. In
the dim gaslight the many forms fitted about
as they prepared to occupy the coyerless cots
for the night. Some hummed comic songs
others talked OF their exploits during the
day. while few-very few-went down on
their knees in prayer. There were some
worthy but unfortunate men among the num-
Der, but not enough to leayen the great ma
iority of worldly creatures about them. Dur
ing the day, these tramps, who find shelter
during the night in the mission building OF
at the Municipal l. odging House, roam over
the city In quest OF food. clothing and money
and they resort to all manner of SHARP
schemes to ''make q ripple as they term Sc
curing either OF the articles mentioned.
Many cases have been reported to the police
by parties who were approached, insulted
and almost ''held up" by vagrant roamers al
different times during the past week. 1t is be-
lieved that the Coxey movement served as
magnet TO draw many of the tramps to Wash
ington, and if is feared that In their despera-
tion, as cold weather approaches, they may
be impelled to commit crime in some of its
worst forms. Hence it is that good citizens
are urging the police department to taks stal,
wart steps to head off any OF these disagree
able probabilities.
case is reported from South Washington
where a lady was "held up" In the Smith
senian grounds and compelled TO give three
hard-loOking tramps some money before they
would let her proceed. Some of the robberie;
being committed nightly are also being
charged up to the "hobo" army which is now
engaged in foraging through the pretty
streets of Washington