The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-01-03
ALL WENT TO JAIL
HOSTS OF TRAxPS SEEK SHELTER
IN THE CITY BUILDING.
Driven There by the Biting wintry Blasts
From the North Last Night-fhe Police
Clerk Does Not Remember Of Ever Hav-
Ing SO Many Homeless Wanderers In
His Charge-Row They Come and are
Disposed of-They are Poor In Pocket
But are Very Rich In the Philosophy Of
Contentment.

The severity OF the weather last night
caused a marked change in the popular
ity OF the city jail. The night clerk had
TO lay down MS book. Tigers Fang. the
| Blood-Drinker: or, The Avengilg Angel
of Crazy Devil Gulch a hundred times
just at the exciting places TO wait upon
some weary wanderer who had been
blown into his presence by the cold
blasts from the north.
How are you?" each newcomer would
ask of the clerk.
II am al right" the clerk would say:
''how are your
~ little chilly outside. isn't it," the
| visitor would suggest.
rs it?" the clerk would say mechan-
ically.
Can / get a place 10 sleep tonight"
the poor, folorn wanderer would ask.
There was only one reply. The clerk
would simply take up his big bunch OF
brass keys and proceed down stairs with
the poor devil meekly following at his
heels There the great iron door would
be thrown open. The shivering visitor
would walk in sideways and go hunting
about for some soft spot on top of the
iron cage to sleep just as a turkey would
go around looking for is roosiing place
when the sun goes down.
a reporter for the Eagle was present
last night when one poor fellow was
fairly tossed into the station and he fol-
lowed him all the way down TO his sleep
ing pace a peep into the main corridor
OF the jail was a revelation. There were
men there of all colors, sizes and eondi-
tons of trampdom. Some Of them were
first degree tramps-entered apprentices,
as * were-while others were past mas
tiers in the profession. There was a spe-
cies of jollity about the place that flavor
ed of philosophy. They all felt as il ii
might be worse with them, and they
were glad TO have shelter enough even
though il was under the roof OF a strong
ircn Jail They not only laughed heart
lily, but they sang with gee while Old
Horeas whistled a mournful tune
through the big arch near the jail Some
of them went so far as to even take a
partner and waltz over the cement floor
10 the music of a whistler. The social
democracy of tramps is truly wonderful.
There as none among them who claims
10 be better than another. and IL there
is, he is laughed al. They become init
mate on short acquaintance and the score
ar more OF them who were in the jail
last night acted as if they had been old
friends for years instead OF the chance
acqua ntances Of one night, and that, TOO
in a jail.
The night clerk said that he had more
of them under his charge last night than
he had ever had on any one previous
night. Some Of them came in voluntar-
lily while others were brought in by the
police. because the police deem it more
safe to give them hospitality. without a
fine. in the city jail. than TO have them
in the railroad yards, where. perhaps, in
their pans 10 keep warm. they might
set fire TO the cars and cause a confia-
grafton. This morning they viii be turn
ed cut and if it remains cold they Will
be hack again tonight with changed
names pleading for shelter. The stand
ing order is that they must leave town
when they are turned out, and that is
the reason they take new names when
they return again. Usually the clerk
knows that they are trying TO fool him.
but he does not pretend TO notice il when
the earber is bad and he knows the
opportunities OF getting out OF town are
not many.