The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-21
A TASTE OF TRAMP LIFE
Princeton Students Try Beating
Their Way to Washington.
Determined to See the inauEu ration
Festivities-Stolc Rides on Freight
Cars-HeId Up by Real Hoboes-
Return to College in n Pullman.


Return to College in Pullman.
Eight Princeton students, whose ti4an
cial resources CHANGED to be at very
low ebb at the time Of the Inauguration.
determined. nevertheless, to beat their
way to Washington to see the spectacle.
They were influenced much by spirit
of adventure and desire to emulate eX-
perts in the art of beating ones way as
by wish to see the big national show.
At 10 o'clock on the morning of March
.. the eight students. each wearing a
sweater in lieu of a shirt and collar,
bought tickets for Princeton Junction,
there to await freight train. 1t was not
until afternoon that through freight
for Philadelphia passed the junction. Only
four succeeded in boarding the train.
They found an empty car and took pos
session.
Meet you in Phila.'' called out Bun
ny"-the nickname for one-from the
platform of the station to the lucky four
as they were whirled away. The first
hour in the empty was fun. the four
chatted and enjoyed the novelty of their
position TO its full capacity. but soon the
scenery became monotonous, and as one
of them-who may be called Barton-said,
the rough floor was not as soft the
cushioned seats Of a passenger coach"
The jarring and shaking of the car tired
the occupants and the cold stiffened their
limbs. 1t was an uneventful trip. and as
the train rumbled into the yards at Phil
adelphia at Z o'clock four discouraged
Princeton students emerged from the
empty Yard engines darted here and
there among the twinkling red, green, and
white lights. Bewildered by the maze of
Shining rails, the four wandered about
aimle ssly.
Hello, boys. got any whisky The
voice startled them. 1t came from the
cab of d drill engine"
yes"
The four climbed into the cab
You amt regulars be you?" asked
the fireman. looking with surprise upon
the well-dressed students as they stood
in the light from the open furnace door.
Barton told him the story OF their trip
and asked, finally:
Where can We get a train for Wash
ington?"
Way over the other side of the yard
It's long way said the engineer. so
the other four got left, Ell? Perhaps that's
them" He pointed to two figures lodging
in and out among the cars.
Couldn't mistake 'Bunnys shape,
said Barton, and, thanking the engineer
LOT his directions, ne SidTleu 10 1tdNt.
wait a minute, boys. said the engi-
neer as he wrote something on a dirty
card with stubby pencil. Give this TO
Conductor Bounce over on the other side
and he'll fix you all right
Barton glanced at the card. II read:
Treat these fellows square. John
Smidt. Y. o. W
The latter letters stood for a fraternal |
order of railroad men
There they are, said Barton, as the !
four started after their missing comrades. !
-H,g,-
ran away from them Barton whistled, /
the fleeing men halted and turned to meet |
their companions. There We're only two
where's Blink and Lyn?"
Punched for vagrancy by yard detec- /
tives. said Bunny Thought you I
We're detectives. We came down regular (
and dropped in here to find you, when the !
boys We're nabbed
The six started Tor the further side of
the yard. The way was over ash heaps
and piles of refuse. 1t was near midnight.
a little old tumble-down shanty appeared.
1t was built out of old scraps of tin and 1
odd pIanks. faint light glimmered 4
WHO are you?" asked a grun voice in |
answer TO 'Bunnys" knock.
Just on from Boston. Going TO Wash |
ington. Where can we get train? /
"Bunny' tried to pass of as regular
hobo.
AN go on: you're 'grafters.' " return
ed one man, who had come out of the |
shanty. There were eight or ten more in !
side.
Got any whiskey?1
- The students pulled out their TASKS and /
gave each regular a drink.
It's better to stand in with them,
whispered Barton. The students were 4
started in the right direction. Their way
took them 10 a long trestle or drawbridge /,
over the Schuy ihill River
They're following u.s." said Funny
glancing over his shoulder. Wed better |
.sY'u can't 20 on TN y'u've paid toll"
said queer-looking specimen who acted
spokesman. He wore one tan and one
black shoe and his ragged, dirty brown /
suit was covered with a long. light pad (
dock coat. aud grey Fedora hat cover /
ed his scraggly locks.
Haven't got a cent said Bunny" al |
though in fact the young men had some
small change in their pockets,
'Hu got to pay or yu can't go on re- |
turned the ringleader of the hoboes, |
threateningly.
The six students held a short confer |
enee. and. following "Bunnys' advice to !
Jolly them, they scraped up eighty !
cents, gave it to them and started on.
The hOboes demanded more and laid I
hands on the students.
Guns. boys, said Bunny" quietly and
six reviewers were drawn The revolvers
had been taken only as a precaution.
None Of the. six had any serious idea that
they would be needed.
Il guess wen go on" and the sons of
Nassau stepped on to the trestle unmo-
Tested.
They were startled minute later TO
hear peculiar whistle from the group |
they had Just felt An answer came from
the opposite end of the bridge. and four
more regulars stepped out Of the dark
hess there.
Going to be trouble I guess" COM
hented Barton. See that platform in the
middle of the bridge? That's where they
operate this thing. Wed better make
stand there.
The SIX carefully picked their way to
the platform and formed there, back to
back. The water whirled down below in
the darkness. 1t was a perilous place to
have a Jussle, and at midnight. The two
parties Of regulars met and approached
the students. but not too close, for they
remembered the pistols.
If you know what's good for you you'll
pony up" the spokesman threatened. A
parley ensued. The students did not want
20 use their revolvers. and SO tried to paci-
fy the hobOes. Not until they gave them
more money, however. did the attacking
party cease their threatening attitude.
"Nows our chance" whispered one OF
the six, and they hurried toward the far
Their end, but just the last man was
about to step onto solid ground his foot
caught, he fell and wrenched his ankle
The delay which this accident occa-
stoned permitted the hoboes to overtake
the students again, and another parley
followed. A final payment Of % cents
satisfied the blackmaiers and the Prince
tonians were free 10 look up Conductor
Bounce
IN fix you o. k said the conductor
when he read the card of the engineer
This train don't usually carry any emp
ties. but there happens to be one on
When the train was made up the six
students were slowed away In the only
empty In the train. They imagined
themselves free of the regulars
at the first stop. The brakeman was
pleasant and they gave him a drink 1t