The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-02-19

'NNA' A'iNJ ASNSi dSh yOhi aAeeiAANt N--A' where you come from and how much do you know about your place.
 We had only been working in New York few days when we got the tip that we were going to be run in.' How the tip is passed I don't know but 1t is always right and the hobos act on 1t in minute, So we started over the New Haven road, working all the towns. Chicago Phil was with me and his sore leg and my letter and court-plaster got us along all right un- til we reached Hartford. Here the po- lice arrested Phil and ordered me to get out. l was only anxious to get home. Phils leg looked so bad that the policeman let him off and he caught me on the outskirts of the town. He took me to a deserted house and gave me two drinks. Then he told me We had better part company and wanted to know if I didn't want an l arm like his leg, as I could get along much better. The drinks affected me | and all know is that he got box marked lye.' He then wet a cloth and | covered it with lye and rubbed it on my arm. Next he bound my arm all up except an edge to show. I got ride to Meriden and got money enough there to ride to Springfield. My arm was in such condition now that I went to minister and he sent me home The doctor says that if it had gone an- other day I should have had my arm leamDutated."
 From points given by this boy, the police are aware that at least four gangs were driven out of New York, headed for Boston. By permission of Superintendent Eldridge, and through the courtesy of Officers Nixon and Pat terson, chance was given last Satur- day and far, far into Sunday to see how much in earnest the police are to break up the hobo gangs now in Bos- ton. Officers Nixon and Patterson were specially detailed a month ago to | the beggars and fake nuisances. In, that time they have convicted over one hundred and sixty. Now the streets | are comparatively clear of them, but even the slightest relaxation brings out a swarm as though from the very ground itself. The work done by the officers means one continuous tramp over every city street that the day and night will permit of Their route is changed by them according to circum- stances and events Broadly, the Back Bay is gone over with ever watchful eyes for the peddling hobo, who is gen. I erally dangerous sneak thief. Down | town the officers can be found when the stores close scurrying with the crowd and eyeing every one. Just af- ter dusk a round of the freight yards is made and a watch is kept for incom- ing tramps. Then the stations are carefully run through. Next come the saloons where hobos are likely to drop in. They are visited and every lounger is made a mental note of.
 Now it is time to cover the principal streets for beggars and the fake musi- clans. From the union station through Merrimac, Washington, North, Hano- yer and the squares the search is con- tinued to Fremont street and the Com mon. Then Washington street, Harri- son avenue, Beach and Kneeland, and approaches to the theaters and rail roads generally are gone over. Throughout search of fourteen hours, from 12 to ? a. m. Sunday, but three beggars were found. One man was caught in the act on Hanover street, another on Washington street and the last on Kneeland street. A month ago one hundred could have been counted in six hours. The shrill- voiced song sheet seller was nowhere to be found, and the man with the case of q hand organ, the works of which had long since dropped into innocuous desuetude had either gone or got an- other vocation. But there was other work to be done now that the theater- goers had got to their cars without be- ing solicited for money and then prob- ably insulted. The saloons were shut ting up and the suspicious characters were to be spotted and their places of abode located. Of course, but one or two are followed up night, but the list is valuable and long as the weeks roll around. There is another trip to one of the yards and some empty freight cars are inspected. On the way a house that is suspected to hold some of the city's unwelcome guests is watched for a time. Then, and then only the tired officers think of home satisfied that their part Of the duty of solving the hobo question has been done.