The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1873-09-12
Death OF Beau Hickman.

A dispatch from Washington an
nounces the demise of this once noted
character. After dissipating compe-
tency he became an adventurer of the
"Dazzle" order, modified by aspirations
to be considered kind of Brummel.
His history is given in 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.
Ii is said that on the death of his father
he was the possessor OF about SIC, 900
in cash. AT that time young man of
good appearance, tasteful in dress, ex-
travagant in habits, and fond of life, he
made up his mind to see good time,
and he saw it so well that within n
couple of years he was bankrupt
The story further goes that in his dis
tress he applied for aid to his brother
in-law, and that gentleman, Disguised
with the actions of his relative, sternly
refused all aid, but finally concluded to
give him check for $40, 900, on condi-
tAOh thAb lC WOulu ltuNC anu HcNOI
return to his house again. Beau ac-
cepted the proposition, took the money,
returned to his old haunts, and, casting
aside his valuable but bitter experience,
was soon again reduced to want; a con-
dltion, it Is said, which was FASTENED by
the elopement of q colored mistress,
who took with her considerable of his
funds. Then Beau concluded that the
world owed him living. Too proud to
work, too honest to steal, he adopted his
vagabond Bohemian life, and, levying
a 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 a railroad: 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, noticing
the gentleman seated apparently in a
deep study, he tapped him on the
shoulder. Beau started up suddenly,
and off went his hat. Then he became
indignant, wanted the train stopped
whether or no, and insisted so vehe-
mently in his rights that the poor con-
ductor 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
Beau was a dead-head with that con-
ductor as long as he remained on the
line.
His advice to strangers about going
into gambling-houses was also good.
You want to tackle faro 2" he would
say "well, now let me give you little
advice, AID I know all about it, You
go in, and if there are MANY players,
and any big ones, you get in and play
light The dealer will be mad as -----
when he sees it, but you need not 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 red
chip In asking for money he would
always call for chips, designated as fol-
lows: A white chip, 81 red chip, So
and blue chip, $20-the several
amounts being levied according to his
estimate of the ability of the giver
When he "struck man for blue, if
he didn't respond, Beau would not con-
slider it beneath his dignity to fall even
to the white, which he then accepted
with thanks. -NeU York Times.