Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1873-09-05
from the Washington City Repub
BEAU HICKMAN,
SKETCH OF AN EVENTFUl CAREER

SKETCH OF AN EVENTFUl CAREER
Finale OF a VagabOnG Life Som OF
BeaU,s TrickS-EEoIv lee Feat f.ccs-
pie and Whom zee ascus-'sisr step
from AffIuence to Ese=gary sixty
five Years Of an EH-spcnI life
The announcement was made IN the
Republican a few days ago that ''Beau
Hickman" one of the longest and best
known characters of this District, had
been stricken with para ysiS and sent
to Providence hospital. There he has
since remained, receiving the kind at
tentions of the good Sisters, and al
though life still remains in his body he
is unable to move or speak, and his
death at any moment will not be sur
prise. Probably no character was
so well known through the country in
days gone by as ''Beau'', and although
his glory had departed before the ris
ing generation knew of him, some
slight notice of his career will not be
embarrassing.
Among the older citizens of Wash
ington there seems to be quite a diver
sity of opinion as to his advent here
his peculiar mode of gaining Il liveli-
hood, but the following personal sketch
is thought to be correct, and shows
that he is very respectfully connected ::
His name is Robert L. Hickman, and
he was born in King William county,
Virginia, being now, according to best
accounts and data, over sixty years of
age. He was one of family of six
children, three boys and three girls,
| two of the latter having married Gen
eral Eaton, of North Carolina. It is
said that on the death of his fat her he
| was the possessor of about $40, 600 i'll
| cash.
At that time young man OF good
appearance. tasty in dress, eXtravagant
in habit, AID fond of life, he made mp
his mind to see Il good time, and he
saw it so we'll that within Il couple of
years he was 4 bankrupt. The story
| goes that in his distress he applied for
aid to his brother in-law. and that gen
| tleman, Disguised with the action of
| his relative, sternly refused all aid, but
finally concluded TO give him IL check
for $40, 900 on condition that he would
leave and never return 10 his house
again. Bean acceptedthe proposition,
took the money. returned TO his old
haunts, and casting aside his valuable
but bitter experience, was soon again
reduced to want ; 4 condition, it is
said, which was hastened by the elope-
ment of IL colorcd mistress, who took
with her considerable of his funds.
Then Beau concluded that the world
owed him a living. Too proud to
work, too honest to steal, he adopted
his vagabond, Bohemian life. and, ie-
vying n tax On all who came in contact
with him, made it pay. At this time,
well dressed, sporting a fine watch and
chain, diamond pin, of good address,
fond of a story, which he could tell
with a gusto, he met in the then an
nual visitors to the capital 4 class OF
wealthy gentlemen who were wont to
indulge his "beating" for the amnse-
ment he afforded, and paid him ibe-
rally for it. He knew enough to adapt
| himself to thedifferent Observation-Disclosures
| he Glanced to be thrown into contact.
and in his early days. not being much
of bore, he found the men ready and
willing to pay tribute. Even at this
time, with all his excuses, he was not
known as drinking man, and, unless
in the company of the profane, not at
| all profane but when 4 vulgar story
Il,
he could ''see it" and ego considerable
better" in the same line.
OF course he soon became we'll
known throughout the country. and in
| 1919 rad become so notorious that no
stranger ever thought of coming to
| this city without asking to see him.
and willingly paying the required
| amount for the introduction. About
this time the hotel proprietors began
to consider him considerable OF a
nuisance, and for some years he was
not allowed to enter either Browns or
the National, but he always managed
to see the guests OF both and place
them on his list. He had a renlarka-
bic memory, both of facts and faces :;
knew all the public men of that time.
and on their return during the, winter
season never failed to accOst them by
name and tell them the amount
charged against them.
What his revenues We're Of course
no one knew, but he lived in good
style, and III the summer he never
Jailed to VISIT one or two of the springs.
and never missed Il race in fact. he
considered himself on .f0it in horse
matters, and in later days he could tell
you of famous horses for the past
thirty years. He was excessively fond
OF relating to the stranger, Of late
days, "reminiscences of the great men
of the past, of all of whom he spoke
in the most familiar terms. With such
a reputation it is but natural that
there We're many original stories told
OF and about him, one of the best be-
ing how he beat railroad conductor
Beau had been to Baltimore to a
race, got broke, and concluded that
the railroad owed him ride home
Accordingly he took common card
stuck It in the band of his high hat,
and getting an inside seat, stuck his
head out OF the window. Along comes
the conductor for his tickets, and, no.
tlclng the gentleman seated apparently
IN a deep study, he tapped him on the
shoulder. Bean started mp Suddenly.
and off went his hat. Then he be-
came indignant, wanted the train
stopped whether or no, and insisted so
vehemently III 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 |
winch he did. The story soon got ont,
and Beau 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. |
"lou want to tackle 'Faro?'" he |
would say; 'well now let me give YOU
a little advice, and know all about if.
You go in, and if there are many play
ers, and any big ones, you get in and
play light. The dealer will be mad as
hell when he sees it. but you need net
mind. He's bound to let you win, and
go for the big ones. Then, when You
get stake, don't be too greedy, but
leave: For this good advice he
would always add, you owe me about
a red chip In asking for money
he would always call for chips, desie-
mated as follows: A white ciip, 81. q
red chip, S., and a blue chip, s2O--the
several sums being levied according
to his estimation of the ability of the
5lver. When he ''struck" a.man for a
blue chip, if he did not respond. Bean
would not consider it beneath his 1ir-