Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1883-02-23
WHO Struck Billy Patterson"

The following is taken from Messrs.
Brockctt 4 Rocks Directory Of .4leraadria,
just published. While the book has been
going through the press several notices Of it
have appeared and since its publication we
have pcrused it carefully and can certify
TO the correctness of the narratives and
dates with which many are familiar some of
which we had made notes of at the time.
Er "no disc" omnes. The history of the city,
entwined as it is with that of the country. is
entertaining and instructive, aud contains
the names Of the "forefathers of the hamlet
and all matters of interest connected with
Alexandria. Its invaluable as work ofref-
crence, and being handsomely bound is also
IN ornament to the centre table But to
the extract:
DIR. Alban S. Payne, of Fauqnier, went
to Richmond to attend the Medical Nation
al Convention. 1t was in session several
days, and at its close, many Of its members
were invited and attended champagne
party, given by tho late Dr. Robert w.
HaNall. 1t was early in the morning of the
9th of May, before the party left the resi-
dence of the hospitablc Doctor. As several
of them were passing along near the SPOT
where the st. Clair Hotel now stands. on
their way to Capitol Hill there rushed no
from the basement Of Il restaurant bic
burly butcher, weighing 240 pounds, and
elegantly formed, named Billy Patterson"
He had been arrested on several occasions
for beating his wife, and on that very evening
had been indulsing himself in that pastime
= In Il L.
along the streets, perhaps he thought they
were police officers. Anyway, when he
reached the sidewalk he ''pawed the
earth" beloved like an enraged bull, and
dashed ut the group of medics, knocking
several of them down. Dir. Payne was
walking between Dr. Martin u. Scott who
had his right arm, and DR.. Blair Burwell,
who was his escort, on the left. There
were several persons III the rear. PAYNE
took in the situation instantly, and said to
Scott Martin, let go my arm, and let me
tackle the bovine" Breaking loose, Payne
sprung at Patterson struck him heavy
blow in the right eye with his left hand and
followed 1t up with powerful right hand
blow on the chin. The Doctor saws II
knocked him, l should think fifteen feet
and he fell like Il bullock" They then
passed on leaving Patterson nsensibe. It
was now nearly daylight. Payne went to
the City Hotel, kept by Buck Williamson,
and feeling uneasy, sent his bodr servant
on finding out the name of the man, to
Capitol Hill to see how he was getting on
I'm Il short time he returned and said swell.
Master Alb, he's brethin', and he's hit
mighty hard: but / reckon he'll live" The
Doctor was, however, apprehcnsive of
trouble from the authorities, retired to
his room and sent for Buck. to whom
he explained the affair and his APP
wehcnslons. Buck kept IL couple of
running horses. Payne told him that
he didn't want any trouble. and that he
had better saddle one of his horses. take
him around TO the rear of the hotel and
he would slip down to old Major Doswell's
in the country and wait until matters quiet
cd down. In the meantime the doctor had
learned that two policemen had put in ap-
pcalancc at the hotel and were making
anxious inquiries about the man who struck
Billy Patterson" ''Oh, the devir, said
Buck, Il can fix you ali right. So Buck
called two of his mulatto boys, the pertest
and handsomest in the house. and said to
them Here, boys, is dollar apiece: 60
down stairs ana ask the policemen who
struck Billy Patterson ?'' The boys obeyed
and, according to Bucks instructions, would
pass the officers every two three minutes
and ask them ''who struck Billy Patterson. y
The repeated questions created such laugh
among the guests that in short time the
officers retired in disgust. Then the boys,
moved by the spirit of fun, took to the
streets and accosted for hours every passer
by with the same inquiry. Finally, before
the Doctor left the city, it became a bvword
among the guests Of the hotel and among
the citizens of the town. Then the Rich
| mond papers took it up, and it went the
rounds Of the press and spread throughout
the United States and into foreign lands
Two or three years afterwards Doctor PAYNE
visited Richmond again and Patterson called
upon him. and they became great friends.
He had reformed in the meantime and had
become good citizen"