Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1909-10-08
HOBO
General Nuisance All Over Agrl'
cultural Portion of State.
Pestiferous Tourists Are Forced e
Hike Through Corn and Grain
Fields to Escape Angry South
Dakota Citizens.

Sioux Falls, S. D.-Hobo hunting Is
becoming a favorite pastime and rec
reation for the residents of some OF
the towns of South Dakota.
At this time of the year thousands
of hobos, drawn to the state with the
great influx of honest harvest hands,
spread all over the agricultural por-
ton of the state and make themselves
a general nuisance to the people, espe-
cia1Iy of the smaller towns, where
there is little police protection.
The tourists of the road are I'M
usually bold and think nothing of vir-
tual1y taking possession of freight
trains entering the state and by sheer
+ force of numbers intimidating train
crews. 1t is nothing uncommon for
as many as 100 hobos to ride on a
single train coming into South Dakota.
| refusing to pay fare or to leave the
train until they reach their destipa
| ton.
They then take possession of shady
| hooks adjacent to the smaller towns
| und prove themselves a great annoy
| ance to housewives by their frequent
trips in search of handouts" Con.
venient chicken coops also are raided
by them at night. many residents OF
the outskirts of towns losing practical
ly all their chickens at the hands OF
| the tourists.
Patience sometimes ceases to be
virtue, and then the angry male resi-
dents of the towns set out on hobo
chase and clear the disturbers from
the district. At Aberdeen recently 15C
tramps were rounded up at one time
and driven from the town.
One of the most exciting chases Of
the season took place at Lestervflle,
small town in Yankton county. Forty
:. hobos gathered at that place and tht
- hon
s. until they had robbed several store
of small articles.
e TIC meet the situation the CONNER
n cial club was called in special session
N to consider the matter, and after mucl
q discussion as to arresting the stranger
@ and placing them upon diet OF brea
Is and water it finally was decided 7
e arm with heavy clubs all the legs
N voters of the precinct and start hun
q, for the undesirables and drive tner
70 / out of the community.
" AS soon as the word could b
passed around town the forces wer
is marshaIed together and a forwar
as movement commenced all along th
ag line. The tramps needed little or u
explanation of what was intende
Their scouts evidently had CAREFUL
w noted the unusual activity among tn
townspeople, and no sooner had III
of the hobo retreat than the TRAMP
emerged from their shady hooks ar
started on a dead run for cornfelC
IN surrounding the town.
be- So enthusiastic were the hunte
ext and so exciting the sport that ii
ort chase was continued far into the ST.
ed. rounding country, and corn and gra
act fields for miles around were careful
low traversed in the search for the hum;
ire quarry. BY nightfall there were
or hobos within miles of Lesteryil
During the hunt those who were u
ice fortunate enough to come with
has reach of the hunters were severe
en- beaten, and for many days will car
zee | the marks inflicted by the hea
I've | clubs in the hands of their pursuert
lize The man hunt was so SUGGEST
in that it has been decided by the me-
residents of Lesterville to repeat
urn twice week during the remainder
of the season, or until all tramps ha
en- learned to give their town wi
berth. Other towns which are affi1
and ed with the tramp nuisance m
only adopt similar stringent measures
rid the towns of the undesirables.