Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-05-08
He Once Was a Tramp.

+ Very few Waterville people know
that one of our best known citizens
was only a tramp 80 years ago. We Will
not reveal his identity because he is a
prominent citizen, a coroner a ia
nous fisherman. a. dealer in real estate,
man of wealth and the people call
familiarly Uncle Bill" Twas 80
years ago, as he tells the Journal that
he got into Strengthened circumstances
and became a tramp. He was young
then, Of course, for he is not so very old
now, and he had been working in Chico
pee, Mass He had saved his money
and when the season that he was en-
ployed for closed he had a respectable
sum to look around for work with.
Well, like all young fellows with more
money than experience. he wanted to
double his pile and so he began to put
his cash into schemes where he eX
pected to reap fortunes for small in
vestment. in other words get a good
deal of something for very small
amount of nothing. He was accom-
panied on his journey by two friends
and shopmates and they pooled issues
in trying to bull the tiger market
This story although new is also very
old for the young men found them
selves one beautiful day, when all ma
ture seemed to smile on everybody else.
all busted" dead broke, without a
cent and a couple of hundred miles
from friends. In this dilemma the party
took to the road and after a tiresome
journey the first day they arrived at
Springfield, Mass. OF course they were
hungry, but they had not a cent.
Uncle Bill will not say that he con-
ceived the scheme but anyway the
party, all of whom We're well dressed,
walked into a leading hotel registered,
took dinner, retired in good order and
have not yet returned to settle. Now
genuine hobo will not ask for the
privilege of riding free in a passenger
coach, he is usually content to ride on
the buffers of a freight car or the
truck frame of passenger train, but
our trampS considered nothing too
good for them, SO, when they reached
the railroad they entered the smoking
car, of a train that was going east, took
seats and made themselves very much
at home, thank you.
In the due course of time the train
came around The critical moment had
arrived and the following conversation
ensued. Uncle Bill speaking for the
party.
Tickets please"
Haven't any"
How far do you intend to go this
way?"
Just as far as you will let u.s.
Haven't you any money!"
Not a cent
This is pretty state of affairs"
That's what we think"
How do you fellows happen to be in
this condition.
Then Uncle Bill recited their tale of
woe. the conductor becoming interested.
Finally the latter said:
We'll. l will see you fellows again, -
and passed on.
But he didn't. Uncle Bill says he
never went near them, but upon the ar
rival of the train at Worcester where
conductors changed the tramps saw
their conductor talking with the cor
ductor who was to take the train To
Boston, the first pointing in the direc-
ton of their car Says Uncle Bill, Il
knew they were talking about u.s.
Again the train moved on, the conduc-
tor came around looking for the paste
boards but the tramps' finances had not
increased any since leaving Spring
field and the tickets were not forth
coming. The conductor looked serious;
then the plaintive story was retold, and