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. HARRISON KNOWN HERE. Mention was made In this paper a few days ago of the passing of Rich ard Harrison, a gypsy, and a mem ber of the famous Harrison family of nomads. His burial was at Oak Hill cemetery, Evansville, Monday after noon. Harrison was known here. He had been a wanderer all aisufe and had visited almost every state in the union. His last visit to Washington was about six years ago and is re called by many local residents. Har rilson was in brother-in-law of the fa mous gypsy queen who was buried in Evansville several years ago. At that time gypsies congregated from all over the United States to attend the last sad rites. The death of Harrison recasted in cidenty of gypsy Hfe around Wash ington in former years. “Gypsies do not stop near this city In numbers as they used to,” said an aged resident. “I can remember thir ty years ago, when lorge caravans used to pitch their camp at the eden of the city, or even Inside the city limits. There were often 100 or more gypsies in the camp. This way true as late as fifteen years ago, I be iieve. A favorite place for them to camp was at the end of Walnut stress In the groves that lay beyond the east end of the street at that time. As time went on the gypsy camps re ceded. Few gypsy camps of any aize are seen on the outskirts of the city these days. The police are stricter. In their regulations and if Gypsy caravans ‘ramped today Inside the city lmits ‘they probably would have to pay a license. The old gypsy camp was not unlike a circus. Crowds of citizens went out to visit It, and after they had been shown over the camp, with all its strange features, they usually give their guide a coin for his troub le. It was a likeable museum of curiosities. But the museum did a big horse trading business on the side. The suspicion with which cypsis were regarded a half century ago is wearing off as the years go by,” said one man. “Even the children do not run from them, and expect to be grabbed up, put in a bag and carried off to the gypsy camp, never to see their parents again. Neither are the gypsies looked upon any more as bands of professional traveling thieves. And when one member of 4 tribes caught in a larceny he is dealt with individually and the whole tribes not branded as thieves.” Unlike the rovers of lower order, called hoboes, the gypsies are sel dom applicants for charity. If one member of a family is In hard luck, the others stick by him, and aid him until he is on his feet again. Here again the tradition has changed and instead of being regarded as profes sional beggers, they are regarded by American charity experts as persons who do not ask for charity. Harrison was accompanied by a large tribe of his followers on his last visit here. The camp was lo cated in the Wilson grave east of the city and was visited by hundreds. The service at his grave was the English Episcopal. The Harrison family is of British origin. They have been Episcopalians for genera tions. Harrison was buried beside the gypsy queen.
Newspaper Details
Washington Gazette
Washington, Indiana, US
Sat, Feb 05, 1910
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
USA 24 Jan 2026
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