The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1912-11-15
A NO. 1 DECLARES
HE is NOT DEAD
The Famous Tramp Denies Widely
Published Report, Which Was Cir
culated by an Enemy Chicago
White" That He Had Creased the
Rails.
(The State)

A No. 1, the Rambler, says he isn't
dead.
Sometime ago several newspapers
printed accounts of the death of the
famous tramp, but in letter in reply
to one written to him by The State
A No. 1denies the reports which he
says were originated by Chicago
White" hobo who dislikes him. A
A No. 1 denies the reports which he
American continent on the rods be-
meath box cars, day coaches and Pull
mans and anticipates slipping off some
time and "greasing the rails" as
many other tramps have done, but
he says it has not happened yet.
A No. 1 paid visit to Columbia on
December 81, 1910, and his "mon-
icker," A No. 1, flanked by two ar
rows and underscored by an arrow
giving the direction in which he is
travelling and the date, is still on the
walls in the local room of The State.
The famous hobo has left his mark
all over the country in his travels and
nearly every railroad man has seen
it, as he is especially fond of putting
it in graphite on water tanks, bridges
and culverts over the tracks.
Since his arrival on November 8,
in the little Pennsylvania town which
he makes his general headquarters,
A No. has been kept busy answer
ing the letters of inquiry from his
friends in regard to the story that
he had CREASED the rails" His last
. and northern Maine. Judging from his
"monicker" sent in the letter he is
headed south now.
A No. rs letter to The State fol-
lows:
"Your letter of inquiry dated No
vember 8 at hand and l cheerfully
take the trouble to correct the report
which has been spread across the
United States that the writer CREASED
the rails At least twice each year
this report is spread over the country
by the press and I must confess, al
though I rather enjoy reading how
the people are appreciating my hum
BILE efforts to reduce the tramp-evil
through my example and through my
writings on that subject. 1t keeps
me busy replying to thousands of let
ters sent by my friends to silence their
fears as to my well-being.
"How do these reports go abroad?
How and from whom do they ema-
nate?
Has His Enemies.
"You are perhaps aware that 1 send
every blessed 'Hobo-Kid' whom 1 en-
counter upon my journeys back to
their homes. For, whenever I find
a greasy, whiskey-bloated thieving
tramp taking other peoples sons
about with them teaching these rest
less, but perhaps otherwise harmless
youngsters the vagrancy the immor-
ality and the criminality of his own
pitiful life, l not only have the
scoundrel arrested, but see to it that
the wretch receives such a long term
of Imprisonment that it will be i'm
possible for him to meet the boy or
boys at some appointed meeting
place. also see that the boys
parents are notified and he is returned
home for the good of his own future
and the happiness of those who
brought him up and who work and
worry from dusk till dawn to furnish
him with his start in life.
"You are perhaps aware that l not
only practice what preach, but to
interest as many other well-meaning
people as possible 1 have written
books to teach my experiences to the
public, and these stories, three of
them, are doing untold damage to that
class of tramps, who too filthy and
lazy to beg meal, take boys about
to do not only this part of the begging
but make them beg money, steal sill
erware, watches, purses, etc. while in
their benefactors' houses.
kid Carrying Tramps."
"My second book Hobo Campfire
Tales has been the cause of hundreds
of these 'kid-carrying tramps almost
having their lives pounded out OF
them, as l describe it in the pittifully
disgusting life small runaway boy
was forced to lead by tramp.
"The reports that I have been
killed; that I have carved up Pull
man cars; that l have kidnapped
boys; that there are large rewards Of
fered for my apprehension, ETC., are
spread by this class of tramps, who
have now been forced through my ac-
tivity to either beg their own food