Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1904-07-08
TRAMPS ARE MARCHING
WAYS OF THE HOBO NoM~Ds
DURING THE SUMMER.

This is moving time for tramps as
well as for respectable householders,
and the Usual exodus from New York
has begun. Naturally, the great at
traction this year is st. Louis, where
the wayfarers look for harvest from
the Exposition crowds. Fully 5000
"hobos," "yeggmen," and gypsies will
go from this city alone, the great ma
jority beating their way on freight
trains. For the st. Louis trip, New
Brunswick, N j. is the first stopping
place. From there on the Jumps" will
be long or short, according to the trav-
elers' fancy. Some think nothing of a
Jump" of 200 or 800 miles; others
camp every so or rs miles.
The army has it's advance guards and
details somewhat on military lines.
The "cat" goes first; he looks around
feels his way" as the fraternity puts
it-and selects a site for camp for
his particular gang. The cat is cho-
sen for his innocent appearance. He
Is followed by the gay cat" who looks
over the eats" work and makes such
changes as he deems desirable. The
gay cats" special duty is to see that
the camp is so located as to be conven-
lent to food supplies, and, if the camp
be of ''yeggmen," that opportunities
for plumber are convenient.
After these preliminaries are settled
the 'hobos" or 'yeggmen" follow.
These two classes are entirely distinct,
the former embracing the ordinary
wanderers, while the ''yeggs" are
thieves by occupation. Not that the
"hobos" will not steal, for they will
take almost anything that looks easy,
will rob a drunken man or sleeper,
and will even rob each other; but
their main effort is to satisfy their
craving for wandering life without
work, while the 'yegg" belongs to
distinctly criminal class. The hobo"
and the 'yegg" are violently antago-
nistic, and frequently clash; then the
newspapers print a brief account of
the finding of tramp's body along
cases he has been thrown from NOV
ing freight car, or done up" with
coupling pin near some camp or reg
istering place. This enmity is due to
the habit the ''yeggs" cultivate of
following hobo" gang, counting on
laying on the latter's shoulders the
blame for thefts committed by them
selves.
With both gangs go the "Proosh-
lans," as they are called-boys, usually,
who have been stolen, and are actu-
ally slaves. If held by a 'yeggman"
the "Prooshian" is used to "stall";
he steals small articles for his master,
or if large job, such as robbing a
house, is in hand, he is put in at a
window and unlocks a door to let the
gang in. This method is usually fol-
lowed only in the case of a house that
is temporarily vacant The "hobos'
utilize their "Prooshians" for begging
purposes, and they usually prove sue
cessful in persuading women to make
liberal gifts of food.
Both classes of tramps have thor
ough methods for keeping track of
members, not only that pals" may
find each other readily, but to post
their fellows on the chances in new
town. Their secret marks on houses
and fences, denoting the liberality Or
stinginess of the jewellers, have often
been described. These form only part,
however, of the sign language. At
every camp" registering is done as
faithfully as though the tramps were
guests at some fine hotel
NO books are used, of course, the
record being made on wood The big
water tanks along railroad lines are
usually covered with rudely cut initials
and signs, and board fences are to be
seen similarly decorated. The record
is brief. Suppose a hobo" known as
Peoria Jim" strikes New Brunswick,
bound for New York; he cuts into the
wood with his clask knife the brief
legend Peoria Jim, BE-, Oct 20" The
"B. E." stands for bound east and
any of his friends readily understand
that Jim is to be found in New York,
probably on the Bowery, if in the late
fall or winter. This date make it
possible to tell if Jim was recent Wis
itor. This registration is of especial
value in the fall for then ones pals
can be located with considerable GER
tainty.
Every "hobo" or "yegg'' has his dis
tinctive title, usually based either on
his home city, on some physical defor-
nifty or characteristic, or on some feat
performed while on the road. This nom
de plume is called by them ''nomak-
err
Strangers are added to the ranks of
the tramps constantly They usually
are attracted to the life by sheer laz-
mess or family troubles, and begin
their wandering career under the tute-
lage of an old-timer. Both the ''yeggs''
and the ''hobos" regularly initiate
these recruits, having different forms
of initiation, varying with circum-
stances and the surroundings of the
gang. Sometimes new brother is
made to "bum the town" for two or
three days, begging and stealing food
supplies, while the gang stay in camp,
lazily enjoying themselves. Naturally
the recruit does the best to prove his
worth.
About 500 gypsies also winter in this
city, mostly on the East side in the
neighborhood of the Astoria ferry at
Ninety -ninth street, and on the West
side, between Twenty-seventh and For
tieth streets. They are getting out in
the country, too, at this time, gather
ing new stocks of horses to trade and
sell, and telling fortunes. They. like
the tramps, welcome the coming OF
warm weather, for life in the city is
irksome In the case of the "hobos, .
the change is necessary, for dissipa-
ton and precarious living in the win
ter place them in pretty poor physic-
al condition, and their lives would be
materially shortened were it not for
their life in the open air.-New York
POST