The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-29
There is a Sudden Visitation of
Them.
BOlder and More Numerous
Than For Many Years.
From 200 to 800 of Them in the
Vicinity of Topeka-Holding
Up Railroad Trains.

stores, homes and railroad depots, and
has even gone so far as to practically
capture railroad trains. He has caused
more annoyance during the past two
months in Kansas than at any time for
several years.
Hardly a day OF night now goes by
without damage to railroad property
in the state by tramps. Depots are
broken open on all lines and at all
points in the state, and depredationS in
the particular have become so numer-
Gus that division superintendent of
several lines have issued orders to sta
ton agents to leave nothing worth
stealing in the depots at night. At
larger points switchmen have been in
structed to keep a close watch on rail-
road property during the hours of the
night.
On several occasions bands of tramps
numbering from Is to 40 have boarded
freight trains and rode for miles secure
from moleStatiOn on account of their
numbers. Two instances of this kind
was the capture of a Santa Fe freight
train by a band of tramps at Larned,
and later the boarding of the Santa Fe
freight train near Ottawa by a small
army of the Weary WillieS numbering
over 40. All of the other roads of the
state have had similar experiences dur
ing the past two months.
On number of occasions of recent
note tramps have presented a warlike
front when approached by conductors
or brakemen and have battled with the
lEdluH1Sn. AL SpearN1llG not long ago
two Santa Fe trainmen were seriously
injured in such an affair. Boldness
seems to be the chief characteristic of
the tramps in Kansas at the present
time.
Some railroad officials say that there
is a greater number of tramps in the
state at present than for several years.
Others are of the opinion that the num-
Der of tramps has not increased, but
that they are becoming holder and
man1festing their presence to a more
noticeable degree. All railroad Off
Gals say that it is impossible to esti-
mate the number in Kansas.
1t seems fact from the examination
of tramps made here, that thousands
OF these men had employment two
three years ago, but that they have
been unable to get steady work since
owing to the hard times. AS a result
they have degenerated into hard citi-
zens, and believing that the world is
against them" have turned their hands
against the world.
TRAMPS NEAR Topeka
lowering about the outskirts of To-
peka, and camped along the railroad
lines leading from the city there are
between 200 and 300 tramps. They are
living off the country around them and
occasionally come into the city to beg
food or money, and if need be to de-
mand it.
Detectives Capron and Kesson both
say that there are hundreds of these
travelling VagabondS within short
distance of the city. The Topeka po-
strenuous effort to drive the men away.
They have succeeded to a certain ex-
tent in getting them out of the cor
porate limits of the city, but they
simply go beyond the line and camp in
the woods. The number is rapidly in
creasing and the police are at a loss to
know what to with them.
West of the city and in the woods
between the Rock Island railroad and
the Kansas river most of the tramps
are camped. They have places mark
nh
railroad ties indicating the city limits
When pursued by officers they run over
this line and disappear in the woods
knowing that they are safe from city
authorities.
Along the Santa Fe both east and
vest and within a mile of the city
numbers. North of the city on the
Rock Island and the st. Joseph
branch of the Santa Fe and the Union
PACING, there are more tramps.
These men have lately come back
from the wheat fields of the western
part of the state. Some of them I'M
doubtedly would work if opportunity
was given them. A large proportion Of
them, however, are men who are given
to inebriety and Incidence. They beg
and steal food and when they get mon
ey they buy alcohol to drink.
In the western part of the state great
trouble has been experienced with the
large droves of tramps who have stolen,
begged, stopped trains and inundated
people.
The police are sent out after the
tramps several times every day Often
they find gang of from 20 to 80 to-
gether around a fire where they are
cooking a meal. At sight of the Off
GERS they take to the woods at great
speed Probably the largest number of
tramps around outside the city is in the
stretch of woods north of the Topeka
insane asylum grounds This locality
| is favOrite camping ground for the
fraternity.
They used to have a shack where
dozens of them stayed.
Chief Steele says that he has issued
orders to all of his tnen to drive all
the tramps away from the city. When
a tramp is caught in the city limits he
! is to be searched and then ordered out
of the city on the first train. This serves
| to make them somewhat timid about
! coming into the limits of Topeka.
Residents north, northwest, east and
south of the city-in localities near
railroad HneS-have made frequent
| complaints lately about tramps beg
| ging at their houses.
| Ralph H. FaxOn, city editor of the
| Newton Republican, was in the city to-
| day and he was asked about the tramp
| situation at Newton, where so much
trouble was experienced and where the
| number of men out of work had con-
| gregated in alarming numbers
He said it was only by constant ag-
| itatiOn that the men were driven from
| the city, but that very little force was
used in clearing the town.
| Mr.. FaXOn said:
| 1.-The way we dealt with the tramps
and buns in Newton was a strict one
| When it first was ascertained that the
| trampS were swarming in the town, the
| Republican first urged that the city
marshal and his assistants be tireless in
| their efforts to dislodge the pests. Next,
| we urged that the people of the city
| absolutely refuse to give food to any of
| the men. 1t was thought that if people
| gave them food, they would insist upon
| staying about the city.