Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1908-10-10
TRAMPS and
TRAIN CREWS


How often during recent months
have there appeared in the daily |
press accounts Of battles between
trannps and train crews, similar in
nature to the fierce encounter that
occurred to an N P. train crew on
Sept. 25, at Medora, N. d. While
Conductor Seeley's train was at FTy-l
berg, fourteen miles west of Medora,
six tramps were ordered OFF the train.
The tramps, being armed refused to
obey and drew guns upon the train
crew. When passing Sully Spring,
five miles east of Medora. a telegram
was dropped to the operator for the
sheriff at Medora. When the train
arrived the tramps left it. but were
captured by sheriff Will and placed
in jail.
Only those who have ss.hit the
road, or who are as railroad po-
lice, engaged in preventing railway
yagrancy know the many secret and
tragic sides of the life Of the tramp
On the railroad. Yet some very, sig
nifcant facts have recently been pre-
scented in an article In the Atlantic
Monthly, which show that every year
some 5,009 trespassers are killed and
another 5000. trespassers seriously
injured on American railroads. Rail-
road officials estimate that from one
half TO three-fourths Of all trespass-
ters on American railways are tramps.
The writer states that If these mang-3
led bodies were lying side by side,
three feet apart, a brisk walker
would consume almost four hours be-
fore coming to the end even Of the
line OF the killed.
| Yet let us consider, particularly,
the train crews relation TO the
tramp. 1T Is true that on some roads
individual tramps are allowed by.
sympathetic trainmen to ride even to-
the end of the division ssfor con-
| sideration." But generally the re-
lation between crew and tramp is
hostile. We have heard it limited
that on the trunk lines that cam:
lpaign vigorously against trannps, the
Itacitly understood orders are that
1.-THE tramps must get Off, whether or
mo, and that there is to- be no stop;
lping of the train for their departure,
either. So the enmity is maintained.
It is foe against foe. 5s@s.
Officials, whether policemen or
trainmen, are always liable to lose
their lives in these encounters with
train tramps. The death of Police
man Kane at Middletown, N. Y, a
few days ago, who was thrown from
i the top of the train in his pursuit
of tranlps, Is but one occurance in
hundreds. George T. Slade, general
manager of the Northern Pacific
railroad, writes under date of July
10th, 1906, that the railroad is troub-
4 led more this year by Migrants than
ever before. The camps of tramps
are to be seen at bridges and water
Il tanks all along the main line, and
j Migrants are seen riding on the pas
sEsenger and freight trains in every
4 conceivable place where they can
catch on, and for a time undecided
i by the trainmen. In many cases
4 there are SO many Migrants on 81 a
train that 1t is hazardous for the
\ trainmen to attempt to put them
OFF And w. 81. Canniff, president
Of the New York, Chicago and st.
i Louis, reports. that on one occasion
lin June, 1908, 103 men were elected
from one of the company's trains in
u going a distance of 1872 miles. Al
most one tramp to a mile.
q 4 The seriousness of this wholesale
Il free riding on American railroads is
!. obvious. The remedy for it Is the
4 better enforcement of vagrancy laws
II relating to railroad trespass, or the
: passage of such laws as soon as pos.
y stble. The men who are the foes
!. OF the train crews are the same mer
swho come to cur back doors asking
!. for food or be gfrom US in the street
!. or indulge in petty thievery. Fol
the protection Of railroad employees
and for the general protection o.
!, Isociety, free rides for tramps or
trains ought to be stopped.
ma, iSSyIos, fysIl