Battle with Tramps

North Olean History - Battle with Tramps

BATTLE WITH DESPERATE TRAMPS
AT NORTH OLEAN
Since the coming of the railroads there were always a history of tramps entering the neighborhoods. Such was the case of North Olean that was also called 'The Erie Depot' back in the early days. They came mostly looking for handouts of food and sometimes they gathered to cause trouble after imbibing on the bottle. They were out of their home territory and since no one knew them, they were bold when they grouped in numbers. The following stories are related to give you an idea of how it was.

The city of Olean was thrown into an unusual state of excitement on the first of June 1881. The reason was that there was a bloody conflict between a gang of desperate tramps and the citizens at the Erie Depot. There were a large number of shots fired, and one of the desperadoes was critically wounded.

It seemed that for a long time there had been a crowd of 'tourists' staying in North Olean. Although they were without any visible means of support, they still managed to exist and get drunk semi-occasionally. The residents of this end of town said that a portion of this gang had been here on or off for a year or so and that in the past few weeks they had become insolent to anyone they came in contact with. In fact they had asserted that they 'ruled the roost,' and no one dared to touch them. They evidently gained an existence by depredations about Olean and the vicinity. It was thought that these were the culprits who had burglarized several homes in Olean in the past six months. They were well armed and possessed a full set of burglar tools.

About seven of the most desperate of the gang obtained a keg of beer and proceeded to party on the invigorating beverage. After getting drunk and into a fighting mood they went around to the Buffalo Junction Depot, where they terrorized the employees and became very obnoxious. When station agent Rapp ordered them away, one of them deliberately fired a revolver at Rapp. The shot just missed his head and lodged in the side of the depot where it tore a hole big enough for a cannon ball. They then started down toward the Erie Depot, where train 38 (way freight) was standing and proceeded to take possession of an empty box car standing in front of the Erie Depot. They got inside and partly closed the door. When conductor Fred Hallis discovered them, he attempted to eject them. When he was near the car they pushed the car door over upon him and jumped out. While Hallis was crawling out from under the door, one of the tramps deliberately aimed and fired at him, but luckily he missed his target.

By this time a number of railroad employees and others had been informed of the melee and they quickly pursued the desperadoes, who had ran back toward the caboose, which was standing near the crossing. The tramps were all armed with revolvers. One of them had two pistols, and threatened to kill anyone who came near. As they came near the caboose they fired at least a dozen shots into it, and seemed to be utterly unafraid of anything or any one.

The crowd of pursuers by this time had been greatly increased by reinforcements from the acid works, refinery, and elsewhere, many of them bearing muskets, shotguns, pistols or any other weapons they could find. The tramps in the meantime decided to retreat, and had started up the Buffalo track, being hotly pursued by the crowd, which was pretty well armed. They called the tramps to halt, but they continued to retreat as fast as their legs could carry them. Several shots were fired at them, and when they were near the pump station, they left the track. It was then that one of the shots of the pursuers hit a tramp and brought him down. As a result, one tramp threw up his hands and surrendered, but the remainder of the thugs continued on regardless of the consequences. Two more were soon captured, and the four prisoners, including the wounded man, were brought to the city by officers King and Wiley, who had been telephoned to come to the rescue.

The wounded man was carried to the office of Drs. Eddy and Mudge and the others were taken to the lockup. A medical examination of the wounded man showed that the ball had passed through the right shoulder, piercing the upper lobe of the lung, inflicting a very severe wound. The ball, which had broken into several pieces, was removed. He was removed to All's boarding house on North Street. He said that his name was Michael Traynor and that he lived in New York, where he had a wife and child. He was about twenty-five years old and a hard looking character. His face was pox-marked, and thoroughly weather beaten, a general characteristic of tramps. One of the three confined in the lockup was a burly, broad-shouldered beast, with crime depicted upon his grim face. He was very quarrelsome and threatened the officers and all others who aided him, saying that he would have his revenge upon them, if it took fifty years. The other two were move docile, though none presented any prepossessing characteristics

An armed patrol of volunteers kept a watchful eye about the Erie Depot during the night for fear that some of the tramps might return and attempt to get revenge by destroying property or committing other acts of violence.

TRAMPS TERRORIZE
THE AMERICAN HOUSE---1882 A telephonic dispatch summoned John Wiley, of the Olean police force to North Olean. Arriving there John investigated and found that three tramps had been swaggering around, making threats and committing other minor offenses. These tramps were found in the American House bar room, and Officer Wiley quickly walked up to them and announced that the streetcar would be along in a few moments and then they could go uptown. At this, one of them said that he would not go uptown for anyone, and commenced an attack, which his companions also joined in. Wiley called on the bystanders for assistance, which was reluctantly rendered and for fifteen minutes a hand-to-hand struggle took place. Finding that he was being overwhelmed Wiley drew out his 'mace' and knocked down one of the thugs five times running, the chap jumping up and Wiley resumed his demonstrations each time, until the club was broken, and leaving the other two, Wiley jumped on his neck and held him to the floor. At this time another of the roughs made a pass at Wiley, who caught him by the coat and hurled him across his companion, while the third tramp stood in the corner with a drawn revolver, waiting for an opportune moment to fire a shot at Wiley. How the ruckus finally came to an end isn't known, but Wiley finally brought them uptown and lodged them in the 'cooler.'

In an interview with Officer Wiley 'after the battle,' he said that this was the worst crowd that he ever got into, but that he was determined to bring them in even if it cost him his life. John Wiley is a 'sandy' fellow and the man has got to be a big one that does not come when he gets a hold of him.

Later Officer Wiley, United States Marshall Level of Buffalo, Detective Coleville, and a few others, including a Herald representative visited the 'cooler' and watched the searching of the culprits. Two of them appeared to be asleep when their cell was opened. On the floor lay a broken jack knife of medium size and a quantity of shavings, and the ragged edge of the door casing showed that they had been at work trying to get out. One of them resisted while being searched and was promptly choked into submission by Wiley, while Level, who was holding the lamp, handed it to Billy Connell and blocked the front in case of an out break. A razor, knife and several small articles were found in the search of the cell. In the search of the third prisoner the officers found a small pouch of jewelry and other small articles, all of which were confiscated. The prisoners were all well built, surly and insulting and had a general air of 'tough as they make them.' They were a hard gang and it was hoped that they would get the maximum sentence that was allowed by the law.

BURGLARY IN THE SIXTH WARD Somewhere in the neighborhood of 11 'clock on a Thursday night in May of 1884, a family named Booth living over the grocery store of A. B. Schofield at the Erie Depot was awakened by the noise of breaking glass. It being no uncommon thing to hear this sound from a saloon nearby, no particular attention was paid to it. The sound of voices on the corner below followed, and this was not particularly heeded as men frequently stood there late in the night talking. It was only when Barney Ward, who had a night tour at the Acme Oil Works came along on his way to call someone to go duty, that it was discovered that a daring burglary was committed. At the approach of Ward the intruders fled, well laden with goods from the store.

It was found that the burglars, who are described as rough looking fellows were probable tramps, either two or three in number, and boldly smashed in the front window through which one on the inside handed out such articles as came handiest. The till was opened and its contents, some two or three dollars in amount, abstracted. An attempt was made to break into a small safe in the room without success. A large quantity of cigars, tobacco, and canned fruit were taken. A number of cans were recovered on the other side of the street. A lot of knives, probably worth in all $25 was also carried away.

Night policeman Schaffer was summoned by telephone but arrived too late to do anything before morning. It is not thought likely that any arrests will be made. This has been the usual order of things in these 'Sixth Ward' affairs.

Note: North Olean was known by several names throughout its history, first Olean Station, then Rogerville, Erie Depot, the Sixth Ward, and in 1888 the Olean Board of Trade re-christened the Erie Depot calling it North Olean.

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