Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-10-06
Paying Off a New York ua,

PaylnS Ou new York Hack Driver.
The Commercial Bulletin tells the following
good story s.Es...
A few years ago, we were just about leaving
New York for Boston, by one of the Fall River
boats, and was seated with few friends upon
the promenade deck Of the steamer, looking
down the pier, watching the last arrivals and
preparations for departure, when, Just as the
last bell was ringing, carriage dashed down
the wharf, the driver leaped from the box and
a nicely-dressed, gentlemanly- looking man,
rather under the medium size, leaped out
grasping leathern vslise in one hand, while
the other, encased in a yellow kid glove, ex-
tended q half dollar to the driver. Coachy,
however, Indignantly refused the coin, and de-
manded dollar for his services
=" A dollar :" said the passenger, "why you
have only driven me from the head of Court
landt street--it's not Eve minutes drive"
I" Can't help that, SIR replied the driver
seeing that time was precious. "We always
charges dollar when gentleman takes his
valise inside .rF. .o#Eff.. 49, :
s.Take the half dollar, or nothing" said the
passenger, hastily, his eyes sparkling with
anger as he observed that preparations were
making to take In the steamers gang planks
The driver made spring forward, and
| rudely seized hold of one of the handles of the
valise, saying, as he did so, Z" No yer DON'T
yer don't take that ere baggage away till yer
pays a dollar
The yellOw-k kidded palm that was out
stretched with the pro5ered half dollar closed
over it, and in a second the closed fist was de
lYered IN the hack drivers face with force
that dropped him like a shot The next in
slant he was on his feet with clenched fists and
eye of dire intent,-a strong, rough-Iookiuv
customer, much heavier than his plucky little
antagonist, who had set down his recovered
yaiise, jerked off the short cloak he wore, and
who, with his shining beaver hat and kid
plOVa5 q an tol
laugh at his facing such an adversary with
an idea OF anything except annihiation at the
first onset.
The knight Of the whip sprany forward and
aimed blow which would have tssettIed his
fare had it taken effect. A slight movement
OF the head to one side, quick horizontal ex-
tension OF the passengers arm, and down went
coaChey again, amid the shouts of the specta-
| tors on the promenade deck and the delighted
exclamation Of one that Z" that was a deyiiish
straight counter hiti'
But jaryey wasn't satisfed-up again-more
csutious-he still looked upon his little antag-
onist with contempt, and was determined To
| repay with interest the damage he sustained
Another rush, with the intention of getting in
smashing blow, was encountered in ouite n
| different style. The left foot was slipped aside,
slight dodge to the left, and the = ack kman's 5
fist went TAR past its destination, while the arm
OF his opponent came down directly across the
|
round, and bringing his back close ND to the
left thigh of the little man. There was mo-
mentary struggie-the next time up went the
drivers heels in the air, and down he came for
the third time, bang, upon the pier, thrown by
movement known among the fancy as a e'cross
buttock - .."~ r.- = ..,.a n :, - =
All this passed in less time than IL has taken
to tell 1t, and during its performance the ropes
of the steamer were cast off, and as the driver
fell, the gang planks were drawn in, prepare
tory to starting. The passenger noticed this;
so, seizing his cloak and yalise, he threw them
upon thd},oat, and with run and jump alighted
on board amid the outstretched arms of the
deck hands, to whom he handed the half dol
lar. which he had kept clinched in his hand
during the encounter, while, as we steamed
| away, his late adversary, with his face sadly
battered, was seen standing upon the pier
shaking his fist in impotent rage at the fast re-
eeding steamboat. So -sr -. - e.-i lt e..
"Were yos not afraid of so large q man ?''
asked gentleman, as the little game-cock
made his appearance on the promenade deck
among the passengers. r.s.,.-. -
80 no, sir,' he said, quietly cooking his new
hat little more jauntfly, and tightening his
gloves that had been somewhat disarranged-
mot at all; I've been to school, gentlemen -