Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-09-02
THE LAST OF BEAU HICKMAN.
Nv oREGEy.sL CHTR.scrER COVE.
Some Incidents Of his Strange Ca.
reer-He is Attacked with Paraiy.
sts-Hfs Death at Providence
Hospital. and Int rnaenf In
POtfer's Field.

Potter's Field.
Mr.. Robert l.. Hickman, familiaTly known as
"Beau" Hickman, died at Providence Hospital
at about O'Clock this morning, after an illness
of about two weeks. On Saturday last he vas
taken from his lodgings at the house of Mr.. E.
j. Barrick (who formerly kept the Franklin,
now the Irving House, corner of sth and ID
streets,) at 6o5 Maryland avenue, to the hospi-
tai, and since that time rapidly failed until his
death, which was occasioned By paralysis.
"POOR BRAUi'
The death of so eccentric a character. and one
VINO was so widely known on account of the De-
culiar manner in which he obtained livelihood,
Is worthy OF more than passing notice, and
hu ndreds of persons residing in different parts
OF the Union, who made the acquaintance of
the deceased while on visits TO the capital, and
who have doubtless often od-nsturedly re-
tons, on reading this announcement will ex-
claim, "Poor Beaui" for, truth to tell, If Beau
left no warm friends he leaves no enemies. or
HIS EARLY HISTORY
but little can be gathered. 1t is generally stated,
however, that he came of good family, and
that he was born in King William county, Va.
children-three boys and three girls-two of the
latte having married Gen. Eaton, of N. q. 1t
is further SAID that upon the death of his father
Beau, who had always been gay boy, took his
share of the paternal inheritance in cash, but
exactly what his portion amounted to no one
seems able TO tell. 1t is thought, however, to
hhNC bcCu dDOut SlU,UbU, dlInOugn manY assert
that It was much more. Whatever it might
have been, Beau managed to dispose OF most of
II in less than year; like the prodi gal son. vast
ing his substance in riotous living.
HIS RETICENCE IN REGARD TO HIS FAMILY.
No one was ever known to find out from Beau
himself just how much money he had squan-
dered, or to elicit from him any information as
to the circumstances of his leaving home. On
this point he allowed no one to question him.
On one occasion during the rebellion an old
acquaintance and patron of his said to him with
the friendliest intentions, "Beau, why don't
you write down to your old home and find out
something about your family. The armies have
ravaged that part of the country, and should
think thin you would feel anxious to know whether
Tended Beau, drawing himself mp, "please to
mind your own business and let mine alone!" So
deeply did he resent this imaginary insult that
he never again spoke to the interrogation. " He
seemed to feel /" said the latter, relating the in
cident, "that l was acquainted with the cir
cumstances Of his leaving home; but was not,
and meant nothing but Kindness"
HIS FIRST APPEARANCE IN WASHINGTON
was In 1888 or 1884, some forty years ago, when
ne WAS young man Of twenty-five or three.
In washington assert that he was con the beat"
when he first came here, although for about a
year he appeared to have considerable money.
he dressed elegantly, sported a gold watch and
fob, carried cane, wore a faultless beaver,
and, in short, .'was got up regardless" He
announced himself as a sporting man and an
expert in determining the speed of horses. He
patronized the races, and on the ground was
the observed of all observers, on account of his
elegant attire and the positive manner in which
he talked HORSE An old sporting man in
this city, however, says he never knew Beau to
bet cent in his life, although he was willing to
impart in advance the name of the winning nag
to any person who in return would give him five
or ten dollars.
HOW BEAU BEAT THE TAILoRs.
FOR ten or fifteen years after his arrival in
Washington, Beau. managed to keep himself
faultlessly attired. He would go to tailor,
and selecting materials of the most elegant and
costly pattern, would order a suit. When the
bill was presented Beau would express great re-
greet at his impecuniOsity; ''his friend, Presi-
dent jackson, who was a ID good fellow, no
matter what some folks might say, had borrow
ed thousand dollars of him last night, and it
was really impossible just them" sc. The
tailor, oyerawed at the knowledge that his
debtor moved IN Presidential circles was only
too glad to wait He generally did wait-in
phcitly in the Shakspearian adage, "Base is the
slave that pays" When he found his excuses
exhausted, Beau would argue with his tailor,
representing that he would tell all his friends
who made the suit, which would be a splendid
thing for the tailor; and it is related that sew
eral taors fitted the Beau out at different times
with the most fashionable suits on the same
BLAsE AT TWENTY-FIVE.
In his younger days he drank wine,
The first hotel in Washington which he honored
with his patronage was Browns, now the Metro
politan. He boarded there for a number of
weeks, and evaded the payment of his bills
under various pretexts for some time. Finally,
after Marshall Brown had got a pretty good
insight into the character of his guest he said
to him one day: "Beau, you have honored me
with your company now for several weeks; sup
pose you just go across the way and patronize
my friend, the proprietor Of the National
Hotel?' CAN right, Mr.: Brown" cheerfully
responded Beau, and he proceeded to the
National, where he ordered the best room in the
house, and remained for a couple of months
before his bill was presented. 1t seems that
6 Wis mist 0nE tha ia. IfoIr
man, of Kentucky, and the proprietor conse-
quently thought, as Gen. III. had the reputation
of being very wealthy, he would not be in a
hurry about presenting his bill, which, IL Is
needless to say, was never paid.
How HE RAISED THE WIND.
Soon after he became pretty well acquainted
visitors to the capital as desired to patronize
houses Of ill-fame and gambling houses and in
this way, 1t is said, sometimes made from five to
houses he never played, but sometimes some
one would give him a chip" which he would
at once get the banker to cash. He was early
demanded red, white or blue chip, manned
after the checks used in the game of faro,) &C.
cording to the character of his story, or the
apparent financial status of his listener. An old
sporting man says of Beau: -" He always
despisec liar. i have often seen him tell
stories - person and end up, as usual, by ask
ing for chips, and sometimes the person would
say he had no money. Subsequently, however,
he would take out ten or twenty-five cents and
offer it to Beau, but do you think Beau would
take it? Not he! He would decline it with
offended dignity, just because he had lied to
him." Many of his stories were amusing, and
frequently contained references to President
j Jackson, Clay, Benton, Webster, and others
who had honored him with chips during their
Congressional career. Possessed of some edu-
cation, and a good conversationalIst, always Of
an equable temper, and never inclined to be
pugnac;ous and talk fight,
HE WAS TOLERATED BY STATESMEN
in his time, who would laugh at his jokes and
introduce him to their friends from the states,
frequently as "Gen. Hickman" and then retire
TO watch the bleeding process. The gentlemen
with Beau's little peculiarities
would listen with the most respectful attention
to the generals" stories. At the conclusion of
a yarn Beau would say, ssI think, SIR that story
is worth quarter, }" whereupon the gentleman
addressed would laugh, and remark, .Certaln-
ly il Is" but not exactly comprehending Beau's
drift would offer HIM no money. "WelI, then,
If il is" Beau would say, "please pass over the
quarter" To say that the gentleman was
astonished would convey but half the truth He
would look at the general" quizically for a
moment and finally discovering that he was in
dead earnest would burst into a laugh, in which
his friends would heartily join, and cash up,
while Beau would go in search of another
victim.
BEAU OFFERS TO PAY BILL LIKE MAN.