The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1873-10-17
ROBERT H. HICKMAN, 'BEAU'' HEcK-
MAN,


"a dispatch from Washington an.
nounces the demise ofthis once noted
character After dissipating com
potency he became an adventurer Of
the "Dazzle" order, modified by aspi-
rations. to be considered a kind of
Brummel. His history is given in a
Washington journal briefly thus;
Robert L. Hickman was born in
King William county, Va, according
to best data, over sixty years ago.
He was one Of family of six children,
three boys and three girls, two of the
latter having married Gen. Eaton, of
North Carolina. It is said that on
the death Of his father he was posses.
sor of about $500 IN cash. At that
time young man of good appearance,
tasteful in dress, extravaganza habits,
and fond of life, he made up his mind
to see a good time, and he saw it SO
well that within couple Of years he
was a bankrupt. The story further
goes that in bis distress he applied for
aid to his brother-in-law, and that gen
Itleman, disgusted- with the actions of
bis relative, sternly refused all aid,
but fiually concluded to give him a
check for $4,000, on condition
that he would leave and never return
to the house again. Beau accepted
the proposition, took the money, re-
turned to bis old haunts, and, casting
aside his valuable but bitter expert
ence, was soon again reduced 60 want;
a condition, it is said, which was has
tened by the elopement of a colored
mistress who took with her considera-
BILE ofhis funds. Then Beau concluded
that the world owed him a living.
Too proud to work, too honest to
steal, he adopted his vagabond, Bohe-
mian life, and, levying tax on all who
came in contact with him made it pay.
Among the anecdotes related of
him are the following, as to how he
rode free on railroad He took a
common card, stuck it in the band of
his high hat, and getting an inside seat,
stuck bis head outside of the window.
Along comes the conductor for his
tickets, and noticing the gentleman
seated apparently in deep study, he
tapped him on the shoulder Beau
started up suddenly, and off went his
hat. Then he became indignant, wan.
ted the train stopped whether or no
and insisted SO vehemently in his
rights that the poor conductor was
scared and rather than lose time he
agreed to pay for the hat and pass the
gentleman over, both of which he did.
The story soon got out, and Beax was
dead-head with that conductor as
long as he remained on the line.
His advice to strangers about going
into gambling houses was also good.
"You want tackle to 'faroYn he would
say: "well, now let me give you q
little advice, and | know all about it.
You 90 in, and if there are many play
ers and big ones, you get in and play
light, The dealer will be mad AS
when he sees il, but you need not
mind. He's bound to let you win and
60 for the big ones, Then, when you
get stake don't be too greedy, but
leave" Forthis good advice he would
always add: "You owe me about a
red chip" In asking for money he
would always call for chips, designa-
ted as follows. A white chip 81, a red
chip 50, and blue chip, $20-the sew
eral amounts being levied according to
his estimate ofthe ability of the giver
When he "struckp a man for blue, if
he didn't respond, Beau would not
consider it beneath his dignity to fall
even to the white, which he accepted
with thanks.-N Y. Times.