Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-15
GUARDING STATION
AGAINST THE TRAMPS

~ HE precautions being taken to pro-
tect the approach to the Union
= station from tramps who might
congregate there seeking TO beat the Hep
burn law recalls the difficulties ex-
perienced by railroad companies in deal
ing with this ubiquitous class OF travellers.
The roads claim that they are making
unusual efforts to stamp out the gratu-
tous tourist. he of the roaming proclivi-
ties whose home is nowhere and his
heart everywhere. This nomad seeks the
railroad, scornng the laborious travel
along the pike with his own legs as mo-
tive power. Perhaps the Union station
officials may cock a sleepless eye and
nail the aspirant for blind baggage
transportation. This luxurious mode OF
travelling is never sought by the old vet
Grams among the knights of the road.
The blind baggage" is for the youngste
beating it home in a hurry or the tralh
robber waiting a favorable opportunity 10
hold UP the express messenger. The side
door Pullman has ever been the darling
child of the tramp. the gentleman WIN
the wander-lust running hot IN MS veins
or the individual who merely Graves the
joys of fitting from place to place and
slipping the pleasure of travel-gratls
The ''side-door Pullman Is none other
than our great and good friend the ordi-
II.
wheels is empty quite as often as loaded
and the hardened traveller can spot an
empty with the unerr!ng smell OF an In
dian. Into this friendly shelter he crawls
and is wrapped in Stygian darkness, for
be IL understood tn nomadS select tn
night for travel much as wild geese mi
CRATE during the hours of darkness and
feed in daylight. Once in the confines OF
one of these .'side-door Pullmans' the
nomadic wight Is comparatively free from
moestation.
Time was when tramps were likely to
be disturbed by the entry of conductors
and brakemen into their re uge nd un-
tremendously dumped out along the right
of way. In the days when brakemen had
to run over the tops of cars to put down
hand brakes the nomadic gentlemen lived
hard. In those days many were killed
. and others wee ever after discouraged
upon the completion of a trip.
When the air-brake law was passed a
shout of joy arose from thousands of
Threats parched with the dust of travel
A golden era dawned that up to the pres
ent has shown no sign of dininution in
the possibilities of modern irregular travel
ing. With the coming of the freight train
ecu pped throughout with air there came
a lack of necessity for brakemen. The
cars being controlled from the engine the
brakeman's occupation changed. From
being one who put on brakes he became
in reality a fagman and assistant con-
ductor. For the especial delectation of
chiefs of police in the cities the rail-
road officials state every now-and then
that they are pursuing the tramp with
relentless fury. This is ! always. of
course. through the railroads police
force. This curious department of rail-
roads is the especial joke of the nomad
A railroad detective has never yet sue.
ceeded in detecting anything. according
to the annals of nomadic life. and the
daily influx of smiling but much-begrimed
and seedy gentlemen into any American
city refutes the claims of railroad Of
ficials. Freight in these times must be
moved. When freight stops once it
starts 1t Is because of red signal. Most
roads have fast freights, which make
long runs we'll within the time of the
fastest passenger trains. Back in the ca
boose the conductor and brakeman are
smoking and telling funny stories beside
a warm stove. Perhaps they may be
asleep. If any one dreams that brake
men on an affair train of today are going
to leave a hot stove and walk around
over the train looking for tramps there is
the freight hugging the stove way back
In the rear of forty cars the nomad sits
In solemn grandeur in the corner of his
"side-door Pullman" pulling on an old
clay pipe or perhaps sleeping the trip
away.
Stealing a ride is punishable by law
in most states. The roorbacks who &C.
cupy space in legislative halls have
framed laws making 1t a misdemeanor.
fore stateds'' the gist of these laws seems
to be that they will save the public much
annoyance and the railroads money
Legislators seem to deal in the curious
logic that the fear. of the ''ride-stealer'''
being killed is their reason for passiYg
the law. The ponderous railroad mind,
with UNCONSCIOUS humor. has a sicken-
Ing fear that tramp will be killed and
many of these nomads are dangerous
characters. That the railroad officials
lie awake nights in order to prevent rides
-fsing stolen seems too ridiculous to be-
Az nomadtc gentleman who snaps his
has Nut one far Once in the car and
on Ms way me Is secure. 1t is only
Ehe4 the destination is reached that
Che f3s siqkening fear of being caught
fly COP or railroad detective as he
Is leaving his quarters. Now the rail-
road detective not being able to detect
anything else devotes his talents to the
capuJHs OF these outlawed travellers
into their clutches as he is detraining at
"a terminal point it is an excuse for being
II the detective can't make a good show
attention TO their business by such a
Thousands are carried weekly on the
railroads 1t is safe to say that few
train crews ever deign to notice any one
stealing" ride. They have eyes that
Sc Hul- tldi4TOdulHS Is nara work and
sthe big. husky fellows who move the
cemmerce of the country from place to
place have trouble enough. it would ap-
pear. without battling eternally with free
travefers.
Then. too, the freight crews are for the
most part big-hearted men. who deliber-
ately allow anybody to ride that de-
sires. Their business is concerned with
freight. and when tney find human beings
distributed in various box cars they
merely glance casually at the unfortu-
mates and pass on TO their duties
Those who travel without ticket or
pass to and from this city generally