The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-11-16
HACKMEN,s sUPERsTITIoNs.
Philadelphia Night-Hawks Who Believe
Firmly in Luck.
Philadelphia Times

Philadelphia NiGht-Hawks Who Believe
Firmly in Luck.
Philadelphia Times.
After sailors and gamblers. the all night
haek-driveas are the most superstitious people 1
know" said an old detective last night. Like
the men who follow the water, they cannot be
talked cut OF their queer ideas, and they have
certain customs which they follow out as re-
hgiously as the most methodieal man in town
lives his daily life." The ''night-hNwk" as he is
called, is not, as a rule, of savory reputation.
He has generally had some acquaintance with
the police, and does not move in the society of
the Jehu who drives for a first-class livery
stable.
Very early yesterday morning two thin horses
hoboled down Chestnut street, drawing a hack.
Just before the horses got to Eighth street a
white cat ran across the street and disappeared
behind the iron grating. The 'night-hawk" saw
the cat and jerked his half starved horses nearly
off their feet as he brought them to a standstill.
Then with an old whip he lashed them as he
turned them round and ran them up Chestnut
street at a gallop. The driver looked over his
shoulder like a veritable Tam OShanter watch
ing for the witches. When he got to Ninth street
he turned north and kept up the run until Mar
ket street was reached.
A cat crossing in front of a "night hawks"
"outit" is considered bad enough luck to dwarf
the nights business, but a white cat means utter
Generalization for the night. Some "hawks"
immediately begin to drink, in order that they
MAY 1OIR6b buS dDpdrlUlO0 OF Jle white cat, ana
when a night hawk" is visited with the delirium
tremens he does not see snakes, like the ordinary
sufferer, but hundreds Of white cats crowd be-
fore his vision.
A driver Of an allnight hack never puts his
left foot on the wheel first on getting upon the
box; he thinks it bad luck, and nothing can in
duce him to open the door of his cab or carriage
with his left hand. If a shoe becomes loose on
one of his horses feet that's a bad omen, and
causes the driver to believe that some bad luck
q ~ @fA.n - 1s-@ IL A.. 49, - -ls,,-r
brightly, and a big cloud suddenly hides it from
view, and causes darkness to settle on the streets,
the hawk" grows suspicious. He is a great
coward, as a rule-more afraid, though, of a
shadow than he is of the substance. If the pas
senger happens to be a drunken man with a
torn umbrella, that is considered good luck, and
a sign that rain will be plentiful and make bust
ness good.
Night hawks do not like to hear of fires. The
presence of a fire engine on Chestnut street
causes them to think of calamity. Some of
them won't eat during the night, for fear it will
change their luck, but they never refuse a drink.
The lighted stump of a cigar, picked up after it
has been thrown away by a we'll dressed man and
quickly smoked, is thought to bring good luck.
All the Jehus who are only seen on the streets
at night are great policy players. If they are
lucky, they may make a fve-dollar bill, but by
the time the horses scant feed is bought and
the policy slips are paid for, there is not much
left, and the rag-tag hackmen of the wee small
hour comes back under cover of darkness the
next night just as poor as ever.
The majority of them will gladly carry an
actor or an actress free, believing that the pro-
fession are harbingers of good fortune. II a
gas-lamp is blown out on q stormy night, the
Jehu will stop, get off his box and take the
trouble to ignite the escaping gas, believing that
it is not good policy to pass in the darkness.
<ley have a great dread of car horses without
bells, and never like to see Il colored mar with a
white hat on. Some of them believe that they
have to turn their horses a certain number of
times in a night before they will catch a Gus
toner, and a great many of them believe that if
they are not lucky at policy they will be unlueky
on the street that night.