Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-03-25
RUSSELL. & WESTON

a gray suit with a light top overcoat
The overcoat stays with him in summer
as well as in winter. The kings word is
law in the camp and he is said to be an
excellent beggar and absolutely harm
less. His only known shorteeming is his
tendency to become unsteady in his head,
thus causing him to walk with an I'M
certain step.
Although a few of the men Will talk
most of them are rather reticent, es-
peeially regards their past. Accord
ing to rumor the camp boasts of several
alleged college graduates" and certain
it is that a good number of them can use
good English in place of the regular hobo
parlance Some have been good me-
chanics in their day and it is related
that a Waterbury man, who made good
wages as an expert toolmaker, gave mp
his work to become a member of the
colony, the free and easy life of the
tramp appealing more strongly to him
than did regular work. The tramps
seem to get enough food, despite the fact
that they respect the heneoops and
homes of the nearby residents. In the
winter months some will be found as
shovelers of snow. Others are good rus
w iui anu easily dlSpOS6
of their workmanship In the holiday
season green wreaths areNsold in the city
of Waterbury by some of the men,
They are In many cases loyal to one
another. Several years ago some Water
bury detectives We're very anxious to
locate one Red Kelly and they sus-
pected that he might be found in the
East Mountain camp retreat. After
searching for hours the place was To-
Gated, but not a soul was discovered, al
though the embers of the camp fireplace
showed that someone had been there but
| a short time previous to the visit of the
Brass City men. The scouts had scented
trouble and a desertion of the camp for
several days seemed to be advisable
Although the tramp colony of East
Mountain is the largest and best known
| in the vicinity of Thomaston, there arr
| others on the route between Hartford
and Waterbury that are noteworthy
| The woods near what is known as "'rhe
/ summit" a mile or two west of the
1 Terryville station, has furnished many
! weary traveller with a place to rest
hus body and enjoy whatever refresh
| ment he has been able to gather on his
| way. Here a stream of water was ham
dy. and after batnng he eoula watch
part of the water speed onward and
| eventually find itself a part of the Hous-
atomic River, while the other part
triekled eastward and entering the Pc
quabuck River, finally became part of
the Connecticut River.
| If the hobo travelled still eastward his
next stopping place might be one of the
largest camps near to the East Mountain
camp within radius of 10 miles There
at Gus Gutter, about one mile from Bris-
tol center. he could find most excel
lent spot for rest and refreshment. The
crystal brook there furnished water
| both for drinking and bathing purposes
The sun finds it's way into Crystal Glea
at most all hours of the day and there
is plenty of loose kindling wood The
place has been under the ban of the
Bristol police department for the past
fews years, though. still further east
ward the woods near the Plainvilie
Camp station and those in the vicinity
of Elmwood have attracted many "A mem
/ Der of the Grand Order of the Sons of
Rehabilitation Courant