The Autobiography of a Super Tramp 9

The Autobiography of a Super Tramp 9

"Listen," he said to us, who were again trespassers on the railroad,

at his pleasure and instigation: "There is a train already made up to

start in five minutes' time; get into this empty car, and by heavens,

no man shall interfere with you." Which we did, and when the train

started, the marshal was there, beside the car, wishing us a pleasant

good-bye. "Why," said Brum, when I commented in astonishment at all

this, "it is nothing unusual. One day," he began, "I was in a small

town in Ohio. Seeing a freight train leaving the station, I leaped

into an empty car, just as the train started. When safe inside, I

turned and stood in the open doorway, and looking out, saw the marshal

standing on the platform, looking after me, so I waved him a sarcastic

farewell. But the train, instead of increasing in speed, began to

slow, and coming to a standstill, began at once to back towards the

station. Before I could decide on my course of action, we were again

standing in front of the station, with my car facing the marshal, who

seemed to have waited, expecting this to happen. 'Hallo,' he cried,

'come out of that for you are under arrest.' I was lodged in jail, and

was next morning brought up for trial. The marshal gave evidence as to

seeing me jump the train, and I was charged with that offence. Having

no money, I was about to be sent to jail when the judge asked the

marshal to examine my hands which, although I had done no work for a

number of years, were still hard and horny. I said that I was a

seafaring man, and exhibited pictures of boats and anchors tattooed on

my arms, at the same time offering to show the _Polly Jane_ in full

sail across my breast. My strange calling, in that inland town more

than a thousand miles from the coast, appeared to greatly interest the

judge, who, after several friendly questions, discharged me with a

caution. Instead of at once taking advantage of my freedom, I sat

down, waiting the end of the court. Another prisoner was then brought

up, who had been seen loafing on the station platform all the previous

day. This prisoner pleaded guilty, and said that he had waited in vain

for hours for a freight train to carry him to his destination, he

having no money to pay his fare as a passenger. "Hold," cried the

marshal, "that is a lie, for I myself saw a train steaming out when

you were loafing indifferently on the platform." "Ten dollars, or

sixty days," said the judge. This will show you how one prisoner was

charged for stealing a ride on a freight train, and another prisoner

was charged for not doing so as the opportunity occurred, happening in

the same court, and under the same judge. Again," continued Brum, "I

know a prisoner, in an adjoining state, who was sentenced to ten years

for embezzlement. The money was never recovered, and he probably has

it safe until his time expires. This prisoner is receiving a salary of

ten dollars a week for keeping the prison books, is allowed to

converse with any one, and is entrusted to go the rounds of the

turnkey. He is the one man allowed to wear private clothes, and is

even allowed at night the liberty of a stroll in the open air, and

unattended, with the one stipulation that he returns before a certain

hour at night. And," continued Brum, "what with the money he has

concealed--held probably by a relative--and his weekly salary of ten

dollars as the bookkeeper of the prison, he will never need work more,

after his sentence is served. But, listen to me," continued Brum more

earnestly, "some of these queer laws are to a tramp's advantage. The

winter is already here, and promises to be a most severe one. Now, if

you would like to rest and grow fat during the coldest months, come

with me to Michigan. You can there enter jails without committing

offence of any kind, and take ten, fifteen, twenty or thirty days, all

at your own sweet discretion. No work to do, good food to be had, and

tobacco daily supplied. There is nothing else but begging before you,

for the coming winter," said Brum, warming to his subject, "but if you

like to enter with me those blessed havens of rest, where one can play

cards, smoke or read the time away, you will become strong and ready

for work when the spring of the year arrives."

 

This project did not seem to me to be very attractive. For one thing,

it was a long journey to that part of the country, and the weather

being cold, we were forced to travel at night and sleep in the day. I

was certainly not a very pleasant companion at this time, being

occupied so much with my own dreams, which ever took the one shape of

a small comfortable room with a cosy fire; books, papers, tobacco,

with reading and writing in turns. At any rate, we decided to follow

Brum's suggestion, and, instead of going to New York, we got off, and

took another road.

 

We had a rough time in beating our way to Michigan. We were marched

out of one town by the marshal, where we were waiting to catch a

train. This necessitated us either to walk three miles to catch a

train as it was on a grade, or to walk ten miles to the next watering

tank, where all freight trains stopped. We decided on doing the

former. To do this required an activity of which I hardly thought Brum

to be capable. The grade was long and before the train reached the

top, its speed would be slackened to about ten miles an hour, or less,

if it had heavy freight. It was necessary to lie low, and out of

sight, until the train appeared, and then run beside it, so as to leap

and catch the handle bar, the feet at the same time catching the iron

step; after doing which we could step on to the bumpers, or climb the

ladder to the top of the car. If either the hand or foot failed to do

its duty, it meant a fall, and a very serious accident or death. I was

the youngest and most active, and leapt the first part of the train.

As soon as I was safe I looked around the car, and had the pleasure of

seeing Australian Red succeed just three cars behind, and Brum

succeeding on the next car to him. When we reached the next stopping

place, we all got together on the same car, so as to be prepared for

any trouble with the train's crew. A brakesman passed over the top,

and shouted to us in a friendly manner; passed and re-passed several

times before the train reached its destination, but treated our

presence with the utmost indifference, which is often the case in that

part of America.

 

What a difference it made in our feeling, this changing of seasons! It

seemed but a few days ago the birds were singing, the orchards were

heavy and mellow with fruit, and we could sleep in the open air all

night. It was now necessary to light great fires, when the front parts

of our bodies burned whilst a cold chill crept up and down the spine;

and the first fall of snow, which was likely to occur at any time,

would soon make it difficult to enjoy even this small comfort.

 

At last we reached a small town in Michigan which, Brum informed us,

was the county town; and which, said he, chuckling with delight, had

an exceedingly pleasant jail.

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER VIII

 

A PRISONER HIS OWN JUDGE

 

 

"Now," said Brum, as the freight train steamed into the town and came

to a standstill, "we must see the marshal." With this end in view we

walked towards the passenger depot, which, Brum informed us, was

visited by the marshal several times a day, so that he might the

better accost such tramps as were going through that town. We arrived

at that place and stamped up and down the platform, to circulate our

blood, for it was now snowing heavily, and the wind blowing in small

gusts that discovered us, shelter wherever we would.

 

How the snow falls in the north! Flake on flake falling incessantly,

until the small dingles are almost on a level with the uplands. It

throws itself on the leaves of Autumn, and holds them down in security

from the strongest winds. It piles great banks against people's doors,

and mothers and daughters are made prisoners to their own hearths,

until fathers and sons set to and cut a path to the open thoroughfare.

Special snow trains are at work clearing the track to make the way

easier for passenger trains and freight trains that run on passenger

lines, being loaded with cattle or other perishable goods; whilst

other freight is often delayed for days, and sometimes weeks.

 

We had been here some fifteen minutes, when we saw the marshal coming

down the road leading to the station, the bright star of his authority

being seen distinctly on his breast. "Now," said Brum, "let me be the

spokesman, and I will arrange for a month's comfort." By this time the

marshal stood before us. "Boys," he began, "cold weather for

travelling, eh?" "We don't feel the cold," was Brum's reply. "You will

though," said the marshal, "this is but the beginning, and there is a

long and severe winter before you, without a break. You would

certainly be better off in jail. Sixty days in our jail, which is

considered one of the best, if not the best, in Michigan, would do you

no harm, I assure you." "As for that," said Brum, "we might take

thirty days each, providing of course, that you made it worth while.

What about tobacco and a drink or two of whiskey?" "That'll be all

right," said the marshal, "here's half a dollar for a drink, and the

sheriff will supply your tobacco." "No, no," objected Brum, "give us a

dollar and three cakes of tobacco, and we will take thirty days, and

remember, not a day over." The marshal produced the three cakes of

tobacco, seeming to be well prepared for these demands, and giving us

a paper dollar, requested us to go to Donovan's saloon, which we

would find in the main street, where he would see us later in the day;

"when of course," he added, winking, "you will be supposed to be just

a bit merry."

 

"What is the meaning of all this?" I asked Brum, as we went our way to

Mr. Donovan's saloon. "It simply means this," he said, "that the

marshal gets a dollar each for every arrest he makes--in our case

three dollars; the judge receives three or four dollars for every

conviction, and the sheriff of the jail is paid a dollar a day for

boarding each prisoner under his charge; we benefit by a good rest,

warmth, good food and plenty of sleep, and the innocent citizens have

to pay for it all."

 

We had not much difficulty in finding Donovan's saloon, which we

entered, and called for whiskey. It so happened that two strangers

were there, who had made a considerable stake in the backwoods, and

had come to this town to squander their earnings. We therefore came

into many a free drink, through the liberality of these men. About an

hour and a half had elapsed when we discovered ourselves to be alone

in the bar, and without means of procuring more liquor. "We had better

be going," said Brum, and we passed into the street. Brum saw the

marshal coming up the road and began singing in a lusty voice, to the

astonishment of some of the storekeepers. Australian Red, being the

worse for drink, and forgetting that we had only to feign this part,

began to roar like a bull, merry in earnest. On this the marshal

quickly crossed the street and in the hearing of several citizens,

shouted in an authoritative voice:--"I arrest you for being drunk and

disorderly," and we followed him like lambs. We were then led to the

sheriff's house, adjoining the jail. That gentleman, being in,

received us with open arms saying--"Welcome, boys, you want thirty

days, and thirty you shall have, no more or less; and you will be none

the worse for it, I promise you, at the end of the month." He then

made a few casual items in a large book, roughly descriptive of our

weight, height, and personal appearance, and then led the way through

two or three corridors, until we were confronted by a large iron door.

This he opened with an iron key, and we were ushered into a large

room, where were assembled between thirty or forty prisoners. Some

were reading, some were pacing to and fro, and several batches of them

were playing cards. What a reception we had, bringing in a fresh

supply of information from the outside. "Have you seen Detroit Fatty?"

asked one. "Or the Saginaw Kid?" asked another. "Or Chicago Slim?"

asked another. Brum, who seemed to know these wonderful persons, answered according to his knowledge.