The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1857-11-11
Hughey Mcmahon and the Dead
Constable.

Hughey was broth of a boy" well
known as one who, whenever there was
a '' scrimmage' or e wake" about, was
sure to be there and tako hand, invited
or not.
There were but three things in life
which Hughey considered it worth living
for--his dudeen, his poteGn, and an ILL
CANT fight. And in tho latter, it made no
difference what was the odds against him,
he'd 90 in to win.
1t seems that Hughey got the handling
of the ribbons of furniture car, the
owner of which, knowing that Hughey
didn't care any more about the yellow
fever than he cared for half pint of but
termilk, succeeded in securing his valua-
BILE services Ton shares) in carrying out
his contract with the Howard Association,
of taking the dead, at dollar head
from their hospital in the third district, to
the burying ground
About the period OF the " Black Day"
the 10th of August, when many poor
fellow was sent to his grave before life
was fairly extinct, Hughey had got four
g boxes in his car lone of which contain
ed the body of a constable, who died hol-
ding warrant against him), and drew
up at the gate of the st. Vincent de
Paul's Cemetery, with crack of his whip,
and another "wee sup"at the mineral
bottle of " mountain dew" that always
accompanied him. He jumped to the
ground. But | think it better that the
reader should take the story as Hughey
told it to me.
Well, now, you, see, Squire (Hughey
always insisted upon calling me the
Squire); just jumped down, and as all
the folks was in the back part OF the
burying ground, thinks to myself, iii
list take them ould sodgers out of me car
before | take another whastle at the bot
tie.
Faith an as was hauling the last one
out, | heard a knocking somewhere, and
| list looks behind me, to see who it was
that was raps ling on the fence in that
way; but nobody did see. | thin looks
up, and thin | looks down, first this way,
thin that way, but divil the person did l
see, but auld Bob in the shafths.
Well, thin goes to the box, and COM
mences pulling it out again, whin,what
should | hear hut the knockin' again.
Bedad, it made the bile rise, land | kitches
up me whip, an goes up I'M looks the
auld thate, Bob, right in the face an |
says, says |, will you be quiet, yeaze, ye
auld numbering turf eater, yeazo. An
wild that | gives him a whack wild the
butt of me whip handle, Thin | goes
an takes the coffin out, an it hardly
touches the ground, when crap, rap, RAJ"
it goes agane.
isprings back AN looks down, an shure
enough, it was inside the coffin the noise
came from,
"Whist," says I, "Who's there % says
And thin hears some one say, in a
mighty wake noice
"Ah, let me out !"
clay still; you're dead, says |, little
onasay.
"Just then | sees the sexton coming
up, but rap, rap, rap, AGAIN goes the
box
''Be asy now, you d'hirty, old schwind-
ling rogue" says ''Ihe bosses coming
and if he's man thrue to his business
he'll settle you"
81 thought I'd spake to the poor, gon'
crather-but where's the use Of swatC
words to haste without razen? Jist a
the moment, ould Jake comes up, an(
rap, rap, rap, goes the box agin.
"Be quiet, now, won't yez, ye old rip
Have We no manners?" says |. can
gives it kick with me heel.
"Good morning, Misther Jacob, say
|. 'Heres me surthivecats for these fou
corpses," says I. An I makes lon