The Washington critic., 1886-07-13
EXHILARATING EXPERIENCES
Tales Told by Washington Hack
Driver,

Washington to Critic reporter as
the latter was riding down Pennsyl.
vania avenue with him last night, "and
in my twenty four years of service in
hack driving in this city | reckon /
have had my share of experience.
came here in the fall of 'G2, when
times were flush, when the place was
crowded with army officers. We hack
drivers rolled in clover, for those army
chaps were great hands to ride, and
they paid well for it. too. had nice
hack, two good horses, and did well
and soon built up trade among the
officers, for / run IA quiet hack"
"What kind is that?" asked the
guleless reporter.
"Well, IN tell you, said Billy as he
raised his whip and dexterously picked
horsehy off the flank of the near
roam. "When took an officer and his
friend out anywhere | was deaf, dumb
and blind. heard nothing, saw
nothing and remembered nothing.
That was often n very desirable trait
for hack. driver to possess, and the
officers appreciated 1t. knew all the
officers and was onto their little games
and helped them out In many u dare
devil escapade. If one of my Gus
toners became too full while making
the rounds | would take him to his
quarters and have his orderly put him
TO bed. Frequently when several were
out having time they would leave
the biggest part Of their money with
me, SO as not TO be robbed Of ii in the
dives.
WAR REMINIscEScE.
"One night took captain of an Illinois
regiment, who was here on leave, and young
lady, the daug ghter Of a prominent visitor, to
Ford's opera-IIouse, and afterwards to a
restaurant on the Avenue. They stayed in
the restaurant about an hour and half,
and saw them knocking out the cham
pagne in great style. When they came out
she looked rather dazed, and he was pretty
tight. Before he stepped into the hack he
directed me to drive to his rooms.
| said nothing, but slammed the door and
mounted my box. turned those horses
| right around and drove at quick pace
for the young lady's home, and
stopped several doors below. When the
| captain saw where we were he became
| furious and ordered me to 90 back, but
| told him l would see him id first. He
| thCh NhbbCu W hbpW Muub III tut NOTlu W
| do with the lady, as she was too much un-
der the influence of the champagne to be
seen by the family. I'll fix it, said Il;
you just wait inside the hack So
went down the area steps and rang the
bell, and when the servant answered
| called for Miss LIS maid. The maid
was little Frenchwoman, and when she
| came down she took in the situation at a
| glance. She went back and got the other
servants out Of the way, then she took her
mistress in the house and put her safely to
bed, and none Of the family any the wiser.
The next day that Captain came around,
trying to pump me and find out how much
knew. But pretended that l did not
suspect a thing. He gave me $40 and al
| ways used my hack afterwards. Well, you
see, in just such ways as those became
known as 'trusty quiet and my business
prospered.
SOME NOTED PATRONS.
"Some noted men have ridden in my
hack. One night in '62 / took General
Mcclellan and Secretary Of War Stanton up
to General Halleck's house. General Nc
Clellan gave me IS for the trip, and the
gars j ever smoked. General Winfield
Scott Hancock rode with me one timo a
whole forenoon with party OF ladies. He
gave me $40 for the drive, General Sam
uel Garland, who was killed at South
Mountain, once gave me SO for taking him
five squares. When the District militia
companies were mustered into the service
one OF them went on duty at the other end
of the Long Bridge, and one beautiful
moonlight night ! drove four gddy young
girls over there to SET some Of the officers
The officers managed to get leave some
how or other, and the whole eight people
came back with me. drove them to Han
cocks old place, on Pennsylvania avenue
and they got dozen Of champagne and
then went out on Twelfth street. to one ol
the girls residences, and had a big time.
charged 'em $50 tor the nights work.
knew Wilkes Booth well; he called mt
John Falstaff' and never passed my stant
but he gave me a cigar. Two days before
he shot Lincoln ! drove him out on Ii stree
to make a call He did not seem to be il
good humor, and when l tried to jok,
with him he said, GO to the devil, vii
you
"secretary Seward rode with me three o.
four times He always paid what asked
and said nothing. When Belknap wa
Secretary he rode with me once from tn
Capitol to his home and gave me so cent
III ore than my fare was.
SOME JOLLY SENATORS.
"Governor Shepherd was good Gus
toner OF mine; he called me Tom AM
frequently would not pay me for severa
times, and would then give me bill whicl
would amount to more than the fares. TIL
late Senator Ben Hill of Georgia was an
other good customer Of mine. He use
to smoke mighty fine cigars, and alway
gave me one to smoke while | waited TO
him somewhere. During Grants tw
terms l built up good trade with Con
gressmen did 1t on the same plan as
had pleased the Army officers, that Is, b.
| haipr hind laaf In In,
There was n fellow named Haley kept
place on the Avenue, near Willard's, ,wher
| have taken many a load of Jolly Sena
tors and brought them away iollier STILL
took party of three there one night In 70
and one Of them was Member of tn
Cabinet. They got into fuss and had
regular fst-hght. They said the Cabine
Member cheated at cards.
AN INFLUENTIAL WOMAN.
SIN 1872 there came a woman to thl
place, who was lobbyist, | reckon; any
how that's what heard. She was a daisy
she rented fine house on X street au
used to have her friends there every night
They would have time OF 1t, and | hay
carried gray haired Senator from the Yves
away from that house at / o'clock in tn
morning so tight he couldn't speak. On
night carried this woman up to the Capt
tol, where committee-room feed was on
There were about ten in the party, half o
them ladies, ana they carried on till way /
the morning, and naval officer, who is /
this town today, we.t home with her in m
, hack.
"During the Hayes-Tilden trouble / di
a big business. The late Judge Dayl,
Davis used to ride with me as did sewers
members of the famous IS to = electors
board.
IN ARTuUR's ADMINISTRATION
did well, was doing regular work fo
three gentlemen then, none of whom al
here now. One was chief Of bureau, on