The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-07-31
Corral For Hoboes
Erected By Selves
From saturdays Dany.

From saturdays Dany.
To build their own jail was the
lot Of twelve weary whites" today.
Eight white men and four negroes
were marched from the county fall
to the city hall building early this
morning by Traffic OFFICER Z, v. Wat
tiers. with the assistance Of Patrick
Jordan, were given picks. shovels
and crowbars and then we're marched
out Front street to Madison avenue.
Here they were set at work fencing
in a portion OF Madison avenue that
is not used as a public highway.
Here is. an old stone quarry. The
bottom lies below the level OF Front
street on one side Is steep wall
of rock. The men were at once
ordered to dig post holes. A high
wire fence was planned to prevent
escape on the part OF hoboes. who
are sentenced 10 break stone In this
quarry in the future,
Sentence Of Five Days.
Each OF these men had sentence
of five days to serve on account OF
vasrancy. These twelve were In a
crowd OF nineteen, who were rounded
up by the police in the jungle late
yesterday. This action was taken In
accordance with an order that was
issued by the mayor. after he was
informed OF the assault and robbery
committed on Ed Randlg. This work
was attributed to hoboes, who have
for some time been infesting the
jungle along the river bank, notwith.
standing the repeated raids OF the
police, who have kept driving them
from the city, only to find them
swarmlng In again like flies around
a honey pot. when they are "shooedv
on from time to time.
Cant q man bury something 10
eat?" remarked one OF the negroes,
just before setting to work with his
pick. They did not give us enough
to eat at the Jail this morning" a
Their Bill OF Fare.
Il will tell you what we had" said
another of the prisoners. I'VE had
four slices Of bread without butter,
little syrup, spoonful OF egg-o-
see and cup Of coffee, each. That is
all. That is not enough to 60 to work
on" b. l.t
ave will see that you get enough
to work on. but now is not the time to
talk about that" said Mr.. Waters.
Most Of the hoboes had a little
change with them. Some bought
little tobacco during the march out
Front street. 30 r
The parade attracted a great deal
OF attention. Many of the spectators
along the street jeered and joshed at
the prisoners, but the latter were
always ready with an answer. Though
doeile and obedient. they seemed to
have opinions or their own and were
not afraid to express them.
Fine Lookins-NIt.
"A fine looking crowd OF American
citizens" remarked one OF two weII-
dressed young men on North Front
street.
You would look better yourselves IL
you had picks and shovels In your
hands, was a prompt retort.
Make them work, that's right.
said a man, standing in the doorway
OF a saloon.
You are drunk Better look out;
you VIII be pulled" shouted one of
the ''willies" in return.
All the hoboes told about the same
story in regard to work being scarce
in all parts OF the country. They said
wherever they went strangers would
turn them down. saying that they
had only enough work for their own
people and would have TO consider
them first. One fellow, however, said
he could easily get work on the
sheep ranches in the southwest. He
said he worked there all winter and
was sorry he did not stay.
Good Place to Come"
Not one OF the crowd had good
word to say about Mankato, though
one OF them remarked, when the
crowd was before Judge comstock
Yesterday afternoon that he had been
told that "this was good place to
come. this Mankato." Today, how.
ever, they were in rather 'igrouchy''
mood, and all who expressed them
selves on the subject at all declared
that they would never come here
again. Il was cook at the Saul
paugh once" said one OF the negroes.
and ! was paid SIS a week. Some
OF the cooks got as high as hun
dred and quarter a month. Now. /
come back. and they treat me like
dog. l won't come here again"
The officers are ready to let any
employers who wish to hire any OF
the hoboes come to the crowd
and take their pick. Two OF the men
who were sentenced by the court
yesterday this morning went to work
for the Hammett livery stable. and
thus escaped the penalty OF building
work-house for themselves and
any OF their Tx who may happen 10
venture into Mankato again. It was
understood that Decoria farmer
wanted man. He can come and
ufet hfn, frrtx, A. k..sAa. A.