National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-01-24
An Eventful and CheCkerod Career, Closin
at Last in the POorhOuse.
The DID, Old Story Of a Good Heart
and a Bright Mind,
Wrecked on the Sea Of Strong Drink and Tossed
Ashore on the Drankard's Reef
History of Talented Lonfor, Whose
Bones Lie i'm Potter's Field


passed in his chips several days ago in an
obscure ward of tho city almshouso Ho
died in the commissions of mania potu, from
the effects of continued dobauchery and ex-
ccssve drinking. His death bed was sur
rounded by only a few guards to prevent
violence, aud no prayer was offered by
gentle voices, although tho dying VIC
tim of strong drink had been reared
by father whose prominence as a clergy
man was at one timo universal in the
state of Maryland. Lindsay left his
homo at Frederick during the early years of
the war and followed tho union army. He
became an orderly for u prominent volunteer
officer and WAS wounded during one Of the
fierce charges at Gettysburg. After that no
was mounted messenger at GiGsborO point,
ID. c., and travelled at all hours of the night
with large amounts of money, and it is said
that he never lost dollar. After u rough
army experience he drifted to this city,
whore the allurements of gambling, de-
hatchery, and drink drew him into the
cbbing current with tributaries that flow to
the pOOrhouso and penal institutions.
Among the sporting and theatrical fra
ternity he soon became an oracle and it
can truthfuly be said that "Iim," as he
was Familiarity called, had seen the slang
side of lie through the Kaleidoscope of ex-
pcricnce. At repartce he had few equals, as
many of the boys" who have felt his
poignant thrusts Of wit and sarcasm, will
attest. He was also a perfect genius in
originating queer expressions, and was
the author of many of the slang
phrases and expressions that are now so popu.
lar among the city sports" Lindsay made
several ventures i'll the circus and theatrical
business and in consequence learned what it
was to measure turnpike roads with his ex-
tremitics and count railroad ties by tho
thousand.
lie was employed at the Old Canterbury the
alter to sell drinks, and soon sold double tho
quantity of the other boy walters, making
plenty of money. Not satisfied, he hired all
vi the boys in the place and paid them sal
aries. Their percentage, which amounted
every week to q handsome figure, was then,
of course, paid to him, which made his in
come princely in a small way.
Afterward he became an advertising agent
on the street cars, and invented innumerable
schemes for raising the wind" From that
he went into the 'snidc" soap business, That
is, to cut up bars of brown soap into small
pieces, put the pieces into wrappers, aud sell
them from a stand ON street corners. for
cleaning grease spots and stains from silks,
satins sc. 1t is related of bin in this con-
nection that on one occasion q lady,
who had spilled glass oil
wine on very valuable silk dress, APP
preached his stand and related the circum-
stance. Lindsay at once contracted to clean
it, The result was disastrous, for his lather
spoilt tho dress, and to avoid a lawsuit the
maker of the soap paid for the garment and
discharged Lindsay. After this he was EN-
ployed in Miller & Jones's billiard hall and
discharged many times, but always taken
lack on promises to reform. The last time
he was discharged Jim left Washington
and joined circus at Cincinnati. At Indian.
apolis the showmen got into a big fight and
Lindsay was badly battered up. He returned
at once to Washington, and upon entering
one of his old resorts, with one eye closed,
his nose broken, and his face scratched from
forehead to chin, turned to a crowd of his old
associates and remarked III his dry, witty
way:
Boys, I'm all broken up. look like the
wrath of God on the Phillistines. but If any
of you want to have real old-tashioned
fight Pll pay your way on TO indianapolis"
He worked for the pool men at race courses
with marked success. 1t appeared that every
body was acquainted with him, and great
crowds always gathered about his booth to
hear him git OF" his witty sayings. Lindsay
worked about town i'll tipping houses with
the usual result Liquor soon made slave
OF him, although his bright intellect shone
above the murky influences of drink until
the last. When the Oriental Pavilion show,
u scmi-amateur circus. was organized in this
city Lindsay was made boss canyasmau, aud
the only one. They left Washington on
bright Sunday morning, and reached
the first billed" town on Mon
day The canvas was put up after
much difficulty with the assistance of the
"Ialent'-clown, gymnasts, and acrobats.
That night the tent fell on the audience with
II loud crash and nearly smothered several
persons. After three exhibitions the show
busted" and Jim walked homo from West
Virginia. He was next employed at the I'm
perial hotel by Col. Pierce and slept nearly
every night on a bare billiard table.
One morning a hungry-looking man asked
Lindsay for some change with the remark in
IL sad tone, II have eaten nothing since
morning"
You are playing in big luck, partner" re.
piled Lindsay in his happy way. II haven't
tasted food for three days"
On another occasion an old woman came |
along L street, in front of Rum Row" beg
ging. She asked jim for arms. He replied,
MADAME, you had better tackle L street. |
the Row has been worked to death"
Lindsay was Waterman ut the Imperial
hotel without salary during the period that
it was unccupied. one morning he came out
and, walking to the gutter. looked up at the
hotel for some time. One of his friends who
was passing said, Jimmie, what are you
looking at"
Il am just thinking" was the reply; "here
] have ninety-three rooms aud nothing 10
cat"
On another occasion, while eating at Il
restaurant bar II friend approached and asked
him if lie WAS eating his breakfast or dinner.
Don't know" Jim replied. II have lost SO
many meals that | have totally lost track of
tho record"
While bartender at the Imperial he was an
noyed by number of people every day ask
ing for drinks of water, Many of them would
"work" the iree-lunch bar after drinking the
water, One morning jim bought quantity
Of dried apples and put them in free-lunch
bowl, aud when tho first regular water "cus-
toner" came in he reached as usual for the
bowl and got handful of the apples. Eat
them on top of your water and swell up, you
duier," said jim as the mau realized tho
and anblGd quickly out.
Aweli known saloon keeper once employed |
him to cover two billiard tables with green
CLOTH The job completed, the saloon keeper |
without Offering to pay him, said, 81 am a |
times Obliged" Without changing
his countenancc, Lindsay replied, "Oh, make |
it twelve hundred" and then slowly walked
out.
While playing faro I'M gambling house one
night and after losing every bot he finally
won, Upon reaching over to pick up the
money no discovered that another player had |
him and mailed" the bet. Both |
men claimed TO have won. Lindsay arose.
and, in tragic manner, said; "A man may for |
got his father or his mother, but he will never
forget where he placed his last money on his !
last bet This utterance availed nothing, as
the stranger kept the money.
On another occasion he was ruled out of a |
gambling saloon, in which lie had lost much |
money. Upon ringing the boil ono night he