Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1895-06-13
MANY TR4MpS ON THE ROAD.
They Have Headquarters at Perry
Vile, Md.

A Railroad Man Who Has Visited Their
Rendezvous Tells Something About
Their Temporary Habitatiom.
There are more tramps on the road
now than ! ever saw BEFORE" remarked
an Official OF the p, W. g. b. railroad to
reporter of The GAZETTE on Fri
day afternoon. 81 have been in the SER
vice of the company for good many
years and | never fully realized what
tramp life is until the present time.
Another thing | notice, too, is that the
number of negro tramps is increasing.
Only few years, ago such thing Was
hardly known, but now o good many
negroes aro seen on the road.
~ had occasion to stop off at Perry
vile few days ago, and there l saw
whole regiment of these idlers. When
] saw them they were preparing meal.
They were cooking fish over q fire
which had been made near the railroad
and most of the lazy fellows were sit
ting about on the ground awaiting sum.
mons to dinner. learned that Perry
vile is headquarters in certain sense
for the tramp fraternity which exists
between Philadelphia and Baltimore.
Near where the dinner was being
cooked there was cabin which had
been constructed of fence rails, portions
of old freight cars and sundry other
materials that could be found or stolen
| without much trouble.
"These tramps have become almost
| an unbearable nuisance to the farmers,
and in fact some of the tillers of the soil
are in constant dread of them. II can
! be said to their credit, however, that
\ they do not steal to any great extent
| But it is not because they are not in
clined that way. II is because stealing
is too much like work, to which most Of
them claim no relationship.
"They get their living mainly by beg
ging and fishing. At Perryville they
| obtain their fish at u small water. fall
where they can kill them with clubs
and catch them with their hands. They
don't go to much trouble for the fish.
"There are other points along the p,
w. & b. and Baltimore g. Ohio roads
where they can be found in large num-
bers almost ell the time in pleasant
weather, but the main body seems to
prefer TO stay close to the Susquehanna
river"
The subject was suggested by pass.
ing train on which were at least 30 ol
the "knights of the road" who were
trying to conceal themselves on the
train. The reporter asked the railroadel
II the tramps did much damage to thu
company's property.
"Well, they don't do much rea
damage" the gentleman replied, "bu
they are very annoying and 1t is thu
purpose Of the company 20 break VI
the nuisance or at least check it as mucl
as possible. These tramps stick close t,
b the railroad and build fires almost OF
5 the tracks, Sometimes they even built
\ fires under the freight cars, and the,
/ nave been known to start fire insid
of box car in winter time. Most O
( the wood, or a great deal of it, the
steal from the company, and sometime
damage the idle cars considerably i
+. getting the fuel"
4 Many of these fellows congregate 8
the west yard, and the trainmen thel
!. have TO exercise great deal of care
) keep from running them down. The
II, frequently board and get OIL trains theI
u to keep out of the clutches of the cit
e police.
e rramps do not come in the city
= any great numbers. for Wilmington Ii,
" reputation among them of being
IL good place to steer clear of.