The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-05-24
DESERTED VILLAGE IN NORTHERN
WISCONSIN IHvApED BY
THEM.
HAVEN FROM W!NTRY STORMS.
THEY HIBERNATE DURING THE
COLD MONTHLY AND SALLY
FORTH IN lsPRgNG.
CALL FOR FIRST ELECTION.
VIII Organize City Governments
May Become a Permanent
Commonwealth.

SUPERIOR, Wis. May 23.-Tramp-
Vile, Wis, cannot be found in the pos
tai guide, nor Is 1t shown on any rail-
road map, but it is there nevertheless,
with an average population Of not less
than 200 souls. Trampville is situated
in Douglass county, on a clearing cut
out of dense pine forest, where the
river Brule gives up its ripping waters
to Lake Superior. 1t is called Tramp
vile because 1t is the home of tramps
exclusively and has been for nearly
three years. Previous to that time it
was known as Clevedon, but that name
is seldom heard now, notwithstanding
that it was once a thriving little vii
lage with graded streets, broad side
walks and rows Of dwelling houses and
stores.
Clevedon was founded about fifteen
years ago by syndicate Of English
capitalists, whose scheme was to build
up a lake port town to rival Duluth
and Superior. The two head-of-the-lake
cities were commencing to boom about
that time, and the Englishmen men
toned became interested in their de-
velopment to large extent, but they
thought there should be one more lake
port city on the south shore of the
great unsalted," and accordingly de-
termined to establish one at the point
suggested by resident agent. They
purchased the required land, appropri
ated vast sums for the purpose Of i'm
provement, and there sprang up a
magic city in the pine woods which
seemed at one time to be the Lake
Superior city of destiny. Neat little
cottages, handsome store buildings,
boarding houses, hotel and a costly
woodworking mill equipped with ex-
pensive machinery for the manufacture
of various hard wood products were
constructed in a remarkably short
space of time. All of these buildings
were faced upon a broad and winding
main street, which was aturnpiked at
the expense Of the promoters.
The town was built, however, before a
tide of migration had been turned to-
ward it and it seemed provokingly diff
cult to induce people with more or less
capital to believe thai. In C1evedon they
would find their fortunes, but the zeal
Gus labors Of the promoters were at
last crowned with success, and had it
not been for an unfortunate disagree
nlent between the promoters, Weary
Wiggles and his associates might never
have acquired title to the handsome
little burg by right of possession. Pros
pective residents came in droves for
a while, and 1t was claimed for Cleve-
don at one time that she had a popu-
lation of LOCO people. But these people,
though at first Impressed with the loca-
ton and prospects for future greatness,
nj n e..
months that the bubble was no more;
that the great resources Of the town
had failed Of development. They left
the place as they had come-in droVes--
and Clevedon, the magic city, dropped
into the lethargy of a deserted village.
Several attemps were made to revive
Clevedon, but without avail. But the
turnpiked street is still there and the
buildings are occupied, but the tenants
have no calling, except to be merry,
and the Englishmen make no attempt
to collect from the invaders.
IN POSSESSION THREE YEARS.
AS before stated, Weary Wiggles dis
covered Trampville about three years
ago. He took possession Of it In the
name of his tribe and the growth of
the village from that time on has been
healthy, though perhaps not very clean.
During last winter the tie walkers
entered Trampville in small bands, and
by Christmas time there were said to
be 300 residents in the place, all with
out visible means of support, but all
comfortably situated in quarters of
their own selection with plenty Of wood
to burn. just how all these people
saved themselves from starvation is a
secret that can only be told by the
tramp himself, but it is a well-known
fact that they did live there 300 strong.
last winter, and no cases Of starvation
have thus far been reported to the
authorities. Some say they lived upon
fish taken out of Lake Superior ana
the deer that abound in that reS.on.
Others say they robbed the root houses
of the numerous settlers. and it is
probable that both theories are correct,
but the settlers made no general COM
plant and the game warEeI2 made no
arrests, though there were reports In
general circulation that deer We're be-
ing slaughtered wholesale all winter.
During the first two years of Its ex-
istence Tranpvflle was simply a half
way resting place for the wayfarers.
They went and came in pairs and
dozens, but seldom remained in the
town over a day or two, but last winter
many Of them made Trampviile their
rendezvous for weeks and even months.
1t was an exceptionally hard winter for
craVel1nS because the WedCheI WoS &c
we're and the handouts were scarce, but
they could always find cheerful well
come in their own town and it was con-
venient of access, while the prospects
for grub" were just as good as on the
road, all of which conditions had the
effect Of swelling the population of the
place. Since the weather became mild
there has been an exodus from the
town, and now it is claimed It is de-
serted save for the presence of few
struggling Travellers but the old
established residents will have made
the rounds in another month and then
the tide will turn again toward Tramp
vile.
HOTEL THE RENDEZVOUS.
The big frame building once occupied
as a hotel now furnishes the principal
roosting place Of hesfnhabitants of the
town. It's lobby, containing a great
old-fashioned fire place, serves the pur-