People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1897-02-11
Drives of HnhneS.

4uS NUN lclduu IdlllOdu ldluo duu
the junction of the Santa Fe and Rock
Island roads near Slate creek are the
nightly scenes Of rUwdyism and
drunkenness. All the tramps that
travel south on the Rock Island and
west on the Santa Fe make these
places a sort Of an Interstate foyer,
where experiences are exchanged aud |
tips given on various things of inter
est to the "prOfesh, such as what is
called an "easy town. or "slow |
road" A "slOw road" means a rail
road that is easy to ride over, and an |
"easy town" designates the southern |
hamlets where the tale of woe of the |
perennial nomad finds ready lOdg-
ment in the hearts of the good house
wives and proves effective in opening
the cupboards to the lOng-felt-waDt-
ness Of the neversweats.
During the past few weeks these
buns have been making their head |
quarters at these places in large num-
bers, and sometimes the nights are
made hideeus with their noise.
Hardly a freight train arrives over
the Rock Island that several new
buns do not arrive in town, and
hardly train leaves that several Of
them do not strike out for a warmer
cline. A cold snap starts the hegira
TO the south and increases bOX-car
travel wonderfully. The ever-chang-
ing crowd has built up cOmmOdiOuS
quarters near Slate creek, where
every member of the fraternity gath
ers at night to escape the biting winds
and indulge in chimerical pastimes
usual with this sort of humanity.
They have cabin built of railroad
ties, over and around which is thrown
old quilts and pieces of canvas to keep
out the cold. During the day several
of the homeless pariahs will 60 out
into the suburbs and beg handouts.
At meal time, which usually occurs
after nightfaIl, for they are satisfied
with one meal day, they gather in
their imprOvised home and build a
fire, sit around it and sing songs, tell
yarns and relate their travels and
experiences. 1t is a matter of heroic
pride with them to be able to lay
claim to some thrilling experience
with the miniOnS of the law. A few
nights ago two of the toughest hoboeS
in the gang were relating their ad-
ventures with the st. Joe authorities
when a dispute arose and a bloody
fight enSued. One fellow was cut
across the breast with knife. and a
fellow lOOker-On who interfered with
the fight was knocked senseleSs. The
next morning the whole gang, fearing
arrest, left town, and fOl a day or so
peace reigned in the usual hauntS.
But new crowd has arrived nova
dirty, lousy, suspicious looking
CrOwd-haS taken charge Of the rem
devious. They keep away from town
most Of the time, Three of them
have been diminishing" for the grub,
while the Others-numbering nearly a
dOzen-spend the days basking in the
sunshine in hollOws out of reach Of
the wind.
No reports have reached the au-
thOrities Of depredatiOns committed
by any of this gang, and unless they
make themselves obnoxious to the
people living near their hOldout they
will not be molested. Sometimes a
crowd of the initerants strikes the
city, all of whom seem to be intent
on doing something wrong. In a
night several petty thefts are COM
mitted and reported to the authOri-
ties, and no time is lost in going the
rounds Of the freight yards and max
ing every idle lounger move on. This
seems to be the only remedy, and |
when the town is cleared of buns
there is "a general falling off in the
number of complaints to the officers
An honest man is sometimes found |
among this class of people, who would
work if given a chance, but not much
experience ION the road" is required |
to make confirmed tramp of him if
he is 10 the least inclined to sedentary
habits. The disease soon grows on
a weak individuality, and once &C
Quired is hard TO OvercOme.-Evening
Journal, Saturday.