National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1873-09-02
BEAU HICKMAN DYING,
SKETCH OF AN EysSrFuL CAREER.


BEANS Tricks-Hsw He Beat People
ssa when he Beat-Tbe step FROM
Amuencc TO Bessary-sixty-ave Years
q an fii-spent Life.
Tho announcement was made In the Rrrupii-
CAN few days ago that "Beau Hickman" one
Of the longest and bestknown characters Of
this District, had been stricken with paralysis
and sent to Providence hospital. There he has
since remained, receiving the kind attentions Of
the good Sisters, and although life still remains
10 his body he Is unable to move or speak. and
his death ct any moment will not be surprise.
Probably no character" was so well known
through the country In days gone by as Beau"
aud although his glory had departed before the
rising generation knew OF him. some slight no.
tice Of his career will not he undressing.
Among the older citizens Of Washington there
seems TO be quite diversity OF opinion as TO his
advent here and the causes which led him to
adopt his peculiar and disgraceful mode Of gain
Ing q livelihood, but tho following personal
sketch Ia thought 10 DO correct, and shows that
he Ia very respectfully connected:
Ills name Is Robert l.. Hickman, and he was
horn In King william county, virginia, being
now, according to best accounts and data, over
sixty years Of age. lie was one OF afamily OF
six children, three boys and three girls, two Of
the latter having married General Eaton, Of
North Carolina. It's said that on the death Of
his father he was the possessor Of about 10000
10 cash. So
At that time Q young man Of good appearance,
tasty In dress, cxtravapent In habit, and fond Of
lite, he made IN his mind to sec good time, and
hs saw II so well that within couple years he
was q bankrupt. rue story further goes that In
hts distress he applied for aid to his brOtherin-
law, and that gsntcmsn, Disguised with the &C.
tons Of his relative, hernly refnsed all aid, but
finally concluded 70 give him q check for $4,000
on condition that he would leave and never re-
turn to his house again. Beau accepted the
proposition, took the mouey, returned 10 his old
haunts, and, casting aside his valuable but bit
ter experience, was soon again reduced TO want;
q condition, II II said, which was fastened by
the eloaement OF coiored 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 adoptrd his vagabond Bohemian life, aud,
levying q tax on all who came In contact with
him, made u pay. Al THIS time, well-dressed,
sporting q nne watch and cham, diamond pin,
OF good address, fond Of sstory, which he coufi
tell with rusto, he met IN the then annual WIS.,
itors to the capital 4 class OF wealthy gentlemen
who were wont to indulgc his beating for the
amusement he Afforded, and paid HIM Literally
fort. lie knew enough to adapt himself to the
different society with which, he Glanced TO be
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 drink.
ing man, and, unless In the company OF The prp
tame, not at all profnns: hut v hen yulpar stor,
was started by any one In the crowd he comic
-" and go eonsiJeruble better in tn,
a.. -. 80 he soon became well l. oun througb
out tho country. and In isl9 had becosne So noto
rtous that no stranger ever Thoughts Of coming B,
this city without asking TO see Win, and Willingly
fIon' About ills lime Inc hotel pro,,xieia.s Ia
can 10 consider him eonslIeraS,e pi 4 nn,san.e
and FOR seine wears he was mai ailaved ~ an 10
si,her prown,s or ,be Natlonsi. bnt no s,.ss
managed 10 see the guests OF NTH and Mac,
them an his ,ist lie 1ad rem,ypsh,n P,sv
both for facts and faces; Knew ali INC puSile me,
winter season. never failed 10 accost them Il,
name and tell them the nmnunt chs Syei ag.i,s.
them, 's'' 's''n'
what his revenues were, Of cours. no on
knew, buI he lived in good sfyle' and IN nv nv
summer he never failed 10 ylsit one or Two a
the springs. and never missed n raceNln fact h
IN later ,isys he conII tell Won ~ y,man. n sn
for ihs mast thirty wear. IIc wss cxna1''rse
fond OF feiatins To- Inc Stranger %, is,o ~
remnIscences ~ The grs., n,., q, ~ ~ a' y, "a,
nli al snom he snotc IL tse mes, " 'a anG Pas.,
With such a repniation IN IL hpf na,n,a ~ H.,
there were mspy original stop,es ,o,S u, a an
about MIN. one n, Inc resi- hc,nH nny Ia ~ 49, ~
railroad Conductor. WING H'" "e oea'
Beau hal b, en- In p,ltI,nora ia . INCA -,
broke. and concluded mai ihe rs,so,a asSai y,
ride home. Accordingly he roox a Gamma M,
III. III lVh hat
rettiue an inside seet stnrs ma May ,n, ~ ~
window. Along comes the conductor ' t N, N n
tickets, and, noticing the gep,iemsn ssaiea a
shoulder. Bean started nm spsda,, mi a Un y
went ma hat. T'hen be became insivnsn, wa wsn,
the train storped whether or no and in.istah
yebementiy In hIA rights that ths moor cnnSnc,
was scarej' and rather than lose Inns he a,s
IN ma for Ihe hal ami nsss ma .cn,is,n., s ~.
both 81 which he did. The story soon got o,
and Beau was dead.head with that con1nc,
49, $50 SN'''eS'
Ills advice 10 strnngers abont ooIpg In
gambling bouses was also roo.l. .YSn want
tackle sFarof'n he would say: "wei now
me rive YOU litte ADVICE and I Know Al n sna
IL. You 10 in. and N there are many n,s.e
snd any btg ones, Won get In and NAV Iiyhrt n
dealer will be mad AS hell when he sees II. i
and no for the bir ones. Then. when Won ue,
stake, don't he too greedy. 6ut leave For n
good advice he would always add, "You owe
about q fred chip" In asking for money
would always call for chins' Issiaoa,ed ~ .,
lows: A white chin. 81. n red chin a. and 4 hi
chin. sYo-the several amounts hs,ng levied
corlnp to his estimate OF Inc ablIity of he oil
When he "struck" man for bine. n he lii
respond Bean would moi consider Id heneath h
dignity 10 fall even 10 the white. which ne IN,
aacentei Win tbsnIs ""'''' ""i'A "e '"'
A story h tolI on him that dpr,ny Navor w,
ter Lenox's term OF of,ice some man was hrons
before MIN FOR some oiTence ami he WAC acs1,
panied by bean, who attempted 10 spneaT
lawyer, This rather riled Mr. H., and hs n on
Informed the w0uId-be barrlsier tnat n ne dIdI
inake himself scarce he would aend MIN 70 ', Il
workhouse "a yarrant. Rean silnnea away
once and never smoke To Mr Ienor mill ,
tarm Of once hal exnlred. then ,neetina n,
one iay with cop,pany Of Gentlemen he var
NO. ren,lpded MIN Of me Occurrences ami al
ssYou amt MAYOR now: I think Won hal hell
settie our little acconnt-itis getting tnn I,rs,
The gentlemen gave Mr. L. inc laugh anI m
cordance with Ihe custom he maid IN. 80
AbOQt ls.6 or laT naau beuun N 10 anwn hi
His nAtty clothes looked seedy, his hat battere
his shirt soiled, and his feet series OF kn0
rom oor ms, mnvn enused Nun 70 WAX lame.
Wouid even tase as low as ten "" eep p'' WS ~
asked to drink, as he often was, his inyariab
reply was, No, thank You; III take ten cents
smoke: during me war ne had conslderah
luck with army Officers, aud got considerat
money, Dut MS personal appearance dbl not II
prove. Atthe close OF the war ne again dege
Grated, ana any uhy could he seen hobblll
about the hotels with his scanned and wHnkl
race, awry necktle, tobacco-staincd shirt-frOI
worn clothes and bent form, totally unlike Il
Beau OF thirty years ago.
lie had somewhere IN the city room, whic
WAS taken care OF by an old negroes, and the
he slept, aud ate at one OF the restaurants. Pc
sons who knew him are divided In opinion as
nus having saved any money; some saying thu
ne had saved tlo,O0O or $4,000, and others
claring that he had not cent; but Il Is certa
that when taken 70 the hospital ne had bat littl
On the occasion OF the carnival he create
lined the Avenue, by appearing mounted on
sorry.looking stead, and dashlng at break-net
speed, In Gilpin style, up and down amid u
6hOutH and laulitS of the DeODlp.