The sun., 1898-03-13

EI|l[E Of FOLLY WOODS
Life Of the Tramps Who Make
That Place Their Home.
TELL. Funny EXPERIENCES
Romantic History Connected With
Folly Woods And Its Inhabi-
tatits...Settlcd by
Thieves.
TELL Funny EXPERIENCES

tramps and highwaymen, is well-known
to ali the residents Of Wilmington.
1t is said, that years ago, Captain Kidd
had possession Of this woods; and built
canal from the Christiana Creek to his
caves, that he might.carry in his plunder
without detection. His treasures, II Is
supposed are buried in the woods; End
there are a number of holes in various
places, showing that fortune seekers
have been there
A lot OF thieves known as the "Balti-
more hold-up gang used the caves for
their rendezvous, until this part of the
county became to warm for me; they
moved to bay View woods, in Mary
land, and continued to carry on their
vfarous work, until year ago, when
the last member of the gang was placed
in prison.
4 recent trip to Folly Woods was ex-
pec,cd to dcvelope a gang Of highway
men, but the visits found seven tramps
seated about campfire, watching a pot
of clothes boiling
Dinner had not been served, and after
conversing with them for some time, they
said that us soon as the clothes were
boiled, they would cook dinner, and in
vited me to dine with them. In a short
time the clothes were taken from the pot
and after ringing, were hung on branches
of trees to dry.
Everything was now ready to prepare
dinner. The frying pan, was pice Of
tin, that was az black ON one side as it
was on the other. The coffee was boiled
in the same pot the clothes had been in
and the cups were tomato cans.
The pot was the only cooking utcnsil
that was washed, and that only hap
pened once week, when then the
clothes were boiled in it.
For dinner they had piece OF stewing
meat and some sc,apple, that han been
given to them by butchers. The coffee,
they begged from grocers and, not hav.
ing a mill, they put the coffee in a
tomato can. and a-hrd it with a piece
of iron.
They seemed to have plenty Of bread
that they ha;; heggcJ from Wilmington
residents,
-~ They make one trip daily TO the city
and as there are seven in the gang they
pick up enough to last all day.
The food was clean, but was not nicely
cooked. They say scrapple was made
for lazy women, who lie in bed SO late
in the morning, they have not time to
fry anything else. Two of the gang were
very intelligent, and seemed to be well
posted on all topics OF interests.
johnson. seemed to be the leader, but
told very little of his past life. He said
he had travelled all over this county, by
rail and it had not cost him one cent.
''Peddler Jack. is the advance agent
for the gang, and presents the neatest
appearance. When the gang is on the
road, Jack travels ahead to Il town, and
sells his wares, at the same time picking
up all information relative to the rpccp,
ton OF trampS upon his return to camT
he reports to the others. Ii there ha,
been crime Of any kind committed IN
the town recently, they do not 60 neal
it, as they may be arrested for that
crime
Jack, when asked why he went on the
road, "Weil,l will tell you. When | wa
25 years old, had q job on freight thai
ran between Philadelphia and Jrrsr,
CITY, making my home at the latt
place. One night, after returning from
my trip. went home and on going t.
my bureau, found the drawer open anG
my money gone tried every wa,
possible to fine it, but with no success
About a week after the robbery, N,
step-mothcr was sporting new bonnett
and knew the money that purchased il
did not come from my fathers pocket
for he had been ont Of work nearly tw,
months, and during that time | had
Supported the home. My fathcr told me
never had any money in my bureau
and if had any it belonged to him
This was more than could stand, and
made up my mind t" tramp, so tina,
there would be no possibility Of me hay
ing any more money. gave up my
position on the railroad, and started
away from home not caring where
went. Finally fell in with the gang
Am now with, and later Was appnintcc
adOansc agent
IL have tried to secure work in iacto
ries and almost every place, bm an
always refused. When Il man once goc.
TO tramping he has lost all his chances o
ever securing Il position that will benefit
him.
II cannot even secure a position a.
farm hand, for a farmer wants to know
something OF my past life, and ! am TN
able to make favorable impression fo
lam only a tramp. If IA man would onI,
think twice before acting once tler,
would not be so mrny tranlps.'
Pcddlcr Jack is highly educated and /
very Interesting converSationa!ist.
Happy Ned has fair education, prob
ably enough to SUIT him. lie is quite
song composer, having in the last teI
years composed twelve songs His las
song is entitled "A Bag Of kondlkt
Gold'
In composing his songs he does not d,
any writing He first puts together til,
chorus. then he starts on the first verse
and SO on. As lie would not speak o
himself was unable to secure complete
history OF his past life, but wrs however
able to pick up few years OF his Iii,
from the others
lie has been with the gang since it.
organization, and has Travelled all ovel
the country-by freight and passcnge,
tralns-wthout paying cent for fare.
He never received much education
and white qulle young his parents died
leaving him in the care OF all aunt
Ned's aunt would not allow him to 20 tc
school, as she thought he would become
too smart and take the money from her.
that his father had left for him.
Ned stayed with his amt until no w.s