The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-23

the Second precinct. When he was pa
trolman. Mr.. Murray Travelled the beat
along the river front on the west SIDE, ,and
during the i've years he was on duty
there he rescued 1S persons from drown
ing, not infrequently being compelled to
plunge into the water. all clad as he was,
TO carry out his humane work. In another
direction he was equally successfuI, Tor
Lieutenant Murray was the nrst Provi-
dence officer to track the tramp to his lair
and obtain complete information OF the
signs employees by these lazy wanderers.
IT was in 1878 that the people in the south
part OF the city, on both the east and west
sides OF the river, were somewhat perturb-
ed Dy signs and marks made with chalk
which appeared on fences, curbstones,
sidewalks, etc, near their dwellings.
These mysterious characters proved q
regular bugbear and finally the police
were urged to make an investigation to
find out how they were made, their pur-
pose and significance. Lieutenant Muir
ray, then day officer in the Fifth dis
trict. was assigned 10 the task and soon
had the mystery OF the marks solved.
While on the watch one day the lieuten-
ant saw a tramp leave house and as he
passed he made a mark on the curbing
with a piece of blue chalk fitted into the
end of a cane which he carried. Visiting
the house the lieutenant learned what
treatment hau been accorded the wayfarer
and from this was able TO make pretty
good conjecture as TO the meaning of the
character on the curbstone. he followed
the man for several days and finally suc-
ceeded by interviewing the people in the
house after the tramp had departed and
examining the marks made by him, in
getting at the Specification and meaning
OF ali the marks.
One OF these characters was in the form
OF a square and il denoted that the per-
sons in front OF whose house 1t appeared
were kindly disposed and could be de-
pended upon to furnish square meal.
An so" or circle gave the information
to all followers that the pioneer tramp
had been driven away empty handed,
threatened with the police. and that IL
would be well to give the place wide
berth. cross explained that the people
of the house were religiously inclined, and
that IL any of the tramp fraternity wanted
assistance there they must adopt the air
OF sanctity, though the odor be missing.
A straight line, like a dash or q minus
mark gave the information that only the
proclaiming OF strong temperance prin-
ciples, and firm and unalterable belief
in total abstinence would obtain free
meal at that establishment. A character
resembling an al" showed that some
shed, washhouse or some similar place
which could be used for lodging pur-
poses. "A. mark like the letter Nv" indi-
Gated the direction taken by the tramp
who made it, but the plongs and not the
point gave the direction.
Having completed his investigation of
the marks, during which Lieutenant MUIR
ray learned that five tramps who visited
the city daily had a rendezvous at Gran
sion, he determined to join them and
obtain what additional information he
could. IL wasn't an easy matter to gain
their confidence but be succeeded even
tually and for several days remained
among them, living the life OF a verita- 1
BILE Wandering Willie. save as to the
wandering part. During this sojourn he
ascertained that the explanation OF the
mystery OF the marks he had arrived at
was the correct one, and he learned many
other curious and interesting things about
the fraternity which have since proven OF
great value to the enteprrising investiga-
tor.
Last evening some young men who are
members OF the State militia were discus
sing various matters and things con-
nected with the service and the brigade,
when one of them remarked: "By the
way, l wonder how IL Is that a lieuten-
ant general outrsnks a major general
when a major outranks q lieutenant?"
That was puzzler which none of the
party seemed able to answer satisfactory |
iy, although many guesses and surmises |
were INDUCED in. Later the Gossiper for |
tbe-purpose Of getting some light on the |
subject, looked II up and In doing so
found.that the origin cf a number of |
military titles 10 the subject of dispute,
and among these are the various grades
of general. According to the authority
generally accepted the "brigadier" is a
Spanish title which was originally bor-
rowed from the Moors aud applied to any
officer who commanded a detachment OF
troops composed of different arms of
the service, such as ipfsntry and ar
tillery or artillery, ana cavalry or all
three together. BY the French the
significance of the title rs well as
the detachment was enlarged and the
word general" added. According to
the same authority, the title OF lieutenant
general was given to an officer who COM
mands in the place OF q general. Thus,
hor in A ha haf 80