The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-09-04
r-s's:c r.aS: az goau II.c.rTssnr1--a,se -s-ss.
nal Character E0ne.-Snme Fueid ents
of sifs Strange Career--Hfis Death at
Providence Hospital, and Intermcnt
i'm p0tfer'S Field.

k-EvSRhSStsS EMPSRettttts stthG knteTEk1cEHA
i'm P0tfer's Field. Z
from the Washington Star, 2d.l
Mr.. Robert l.. Hickman, Familiarity 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 was taken from his lodgings,
at the house OF Mr.. Il. J. Barrick (who for
mery kept the Franklin, now the Irving
House, corner of Eighth and d strcets,1 at
COS Maryland avenue, to the hospital, and
since that time rapidly failed until his death,
which was occasioncd by paralysis.
"rooR pEAur
The death Of SO eccentrca character, and one
who was so widely known ON account of the
peculiar manner in which he obtained q live
lihood, is worthy Of more than passing
notice, and hundreds 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
good-naturcdly responded to his dignified
appeals for contributions. on reading this
announcement will cxclaim. Poor Beau !"
for. truth to tell, If Beau left no warm friends
he leaves no enemies. OF
HIS EARLY HISTORY
but little can be gathered. 1t is generally
stated, however, that he came of a good fam
ilv. and that he was born in King William
county, Va. 1t is also said that he was one
of family of six children-three boys and
three girs-two of the latter having mar
ried General Eaton, of North Carolina. 1t
is further said that upon the death Of his
father Beau. who had always been gay
boy, took his share of the paternal inheri-
lance in cash, but exactly what his portion
amounted to no one seems able to tell. 1t
is thought. however, to have been about
$4,000, although many assert that it was
much more. Whatever it might have been,
Beau managed to dispose of most of it in
less than year; like the prodieal son, vast
ing his substance in rioutous living.
HIS EETIcENCE IN REGARD TO HIS FAMILY.
No one was ever known to find out from
Beau himself just how much money he
had Squandered or to elicit from him any
information as to the circumstances of his
leaving home. On this point he allowed
no one 10 question him. On one occasion,
during the rebellion, an old acquaintance
and patron of his said TO him with the
fricndieSt intentions, "Beau, why don't
you write down to your old home and
find out something about your family
The armies have rlvaged that part of the
country, and should think you would fee
anxious to know whether your old mother
is alive "Sir," said the offended Beau
drawing himself up, "plcase to mind your
own business and let mine alonc!" Sc
deeply did he resent this imaginary insult
that he never again spoke to the interro
gator. "IEe seemed to feel" said the lat
ter, relating the incident, " that / was &C
quainted with the circumstances of his leav'
ing home; but was not, and meant nothin.
but kindness"
HIS FIRST APPEARANCE IN WASHINGTON
was in 1888 or 1884, some forty years ago.
when he was 4 young man Of twenty-five OIL
three. Old residents who are familiar witt
| bis career in Washington assert that he was
| :. on the beat when he first came here, al
though for about q year he appeared to have
| considerable money. lie dressed elegantly
Sportcd Il gold watch and fob. carricda cane
wore Il falllllc>S beaver, and, in short, "waS
got up regardless" He announced himself
rs sporting man and an expert in deter
mining the speed of horses. He patronizct
the races, and on the ground was the OBJ
served OF all observers, on account of his
elegant attire and the positive manner il
which he talked horse:" An old sporting
man i'll this city, however, says he neveI
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
i'll return would give him five or ten dollars
HOW BEAU BEAT THE TAILoRS.
For ten or fifteen years after his arrival ir
Washington, Beau managed to keep himsel
| faultlcssIy attired. He wonld 90 to tailor
| and selecting materials of the most elegant
and costly pattern, would order suit
| When the bill was presented Beau would
express great regret ut his impecunioSlty
:" his friend President Jackson, who was !
ID good fellow. no matter what some
| folks might say, had borrowed thousand
| dollars Of him last night, and it was really
impossible just then. > &c. The tailor, over
awcd at the knowledge that his debtor
moved in presidential circles. was only toe
clad to wait. He generally did wait-in
vain, however, for Beau seemed to believe
implicitly in the Shakspearan adage, "Bast
| is the slave that pays" When he found his
| excuses exhausted, Beau would argue with
| his tailor, representing that ne would tel
| III his friends who made the suit, whct
| would be splendid thing for the tailor; ant
| it is related that several talurS fitted tht
Beau out at different times with the mos
| fashionable suits on the same condition
Beau was
BLAsE AT TWENTY-FIVE.
In his younger days he drank wine, but
| it is said, was seldom intoxicated. The
first hotel in Washington which he honoret
with his patronage was Browns, now tllt
Metropolitan. He boarded there for ;
number of weeks, and evaded the payment
| of his bills under various preteXts for some
time. Finally, after Marshall Brown haC
got a pretty good insight into the character
I of his guest, he said to him one day
Beau, you have honored Inc with YOU
company now for several weeks; suppose
YOU Just go across the way and patronizt
my friend the proprietor Of the Nationa
| Hotcl:'' "All right, Mr.. Brown" cheer
| fully responded Beau, and he proceeded t.
the National, where he ordered the bes
room in the house, and remained for u cou
| Dlc of months before his bill was presented
| It seems that some visitor mistook the Beat
! for General Hickman, of Kentucky, and thu
proprietor consequently thought, as Genera
Hickman had the reputation OF being very
wealthy, he would not be in hurry abou
presenting his bill, which, it is needless tt
say, was never paid.
HOW lie RAISED THE WIND.
Soon after he became pretty well acquaint
ed with Washington he became the guide Of
such visitors to the capital rs desired to pa
tronizc houses Of i'll fame and gambling.
houses. and in this way, it Is said, some
| times made from five to twenty-five dollars
| 4 day. When in mamblinr-houScs he never