Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-07


cigar. and stared at me with arms
akimbo.
"How much ?" said ].
1.-TWO dollars"
zone dollar, said I, passing it out to
him.
"Oh. no." said the cabman with very
foxy look, "you don't string me on no
euch scheme as that. ! was born nght
here In this town. and knows the law
like a seuator Two dollars or nothn.
well" said then, ITS nothing
aud walked into the hotel The instant
I turned nv back he assailed me Win
the most foul abuse imaginable lie
walked all the way into the corridor and
continued calling me every name IN the
vocabulary of slang. smut, and tlasphe-
NV which tho metropolis en- boast uutl
he was pnt out Of the hotel and paid his
leoal FIRE bv the auihoTtles--w which, by
the way, was just fifty cents. The moi
dent il more or less trivial, but IT Was
decidedly unpleasant rs II went on.
welcome horae Of this character lacks
some OF the elements Of refined,
gentle, and cultvating Christian 10
nuences In other words II WAS e1-
tremely unpleasant, and that IS the word
that describes the entire cab service o.
New York city. old New Workers refuse
10 take cabs as a rule because the pave
nonts are so bad that their lives are
nearly Jolted out Of them IN the hrst
place, and, secondly, on account OF the
internally abusive and blackgnard
methods OF the hackmen. The service
which this particular backman rendered
me in such a brutal manner would have
been skilfuliy performed II London by
polite driver and Il perfectly appointed
hanson for thirty seven cents; IN france
by driver with the buayity and polish
Of Chesterfield, who would have ac-
ceptod 2O.cent fare with equsmmiiy
and a 4-cent tip with every outward man
Hesitation Of gratitude ; in Berlin by a
surly but contented person for 70 cents /;
in Havana YOU could have ridden IN an
open Victoria for 10 cents and IN any OF
the big cities Of Chicago, Vienna, 10
ronto. or Montreal tue fare wOuld have
been exactly 25 cents or its equivalent
The reason why New York has such eX-
ocrable crab service 10 because the po-
lice and the authorities generally SIDE
with the cabmen. i know that tins
viii be disputed more or less IN Official
circles. but the experience OF all New
Workers with whom ! have talked u So
similar in the matter that venture TO
say that the very last man in the world
that the citizens Of the town think OF
referring 10 in a cab dispute IL the ser
gesnt OF the nearest pOllce-statlOn. /
nave had two recent experiences with
rolice sergeante. On one occasion ]
Was returning late at night from din
nor. when } became aware Of row on
Fifth avenue between a hackman ami an
EnglishmRn. The voice If the latter
sounded familiar and | went up to him
10 see If could be Of service. lie was
ii London man Of the ultra English
type, with broad accent and more
or less Alteration. ! knew him. The
driver had evidently picked him ont
as q choice and captivating victim. lie
bad driven from Wallack Theatre to
the house Of lady whom he had taken
10 the play. The distance was less than
a mile and tho charge was s.. DE had
taken tie lady into her house, said good
night. walked down the block, and WAS
having It out with the Cnhman when !
came along After an extended squabble
the FnelI,hman aud / got INTO the cab
and were driven TO the nearest police
station. There tho facetious gergesnt, IN
the presence Of one or two Intensely adj
miring policemen. mimicked my English
acquaintance, puycd 10y the cabman, and
decided that tho legal fare was three
dollars In point of fact IT should have
been one dollar On the other occasion
[ had taken cab from q steamer ana the
driver had come 10 the conclusion that !
was either an immigrant or stranger to
the country and had the eilrontery to
charge me SIX dollars for short trip
As he WAS obdurate and ugly ! had re-
course 10 the police, but the treatment Of
the officials was considerably worse than
the ATTEMPTED robbery OF the hackman
SO convinced am J, indeed, by NY own
experience and the stories 1 have heard
Of the almost invariably discourteOus nc
ton of the police in controversies Of this
kind, that prefer 10 be swindled by the
hackman rather than lee subjected to po-
lice wit when disputes arse-and dis
putes are an integral part Of the cab
service Of New York city.
HOW DICK CROKER CAPTURED A WIFE AND
THE LEADERSHIP or TAMMANY HALL.
The local political situation in New
York city is Of national importance and
Richard Croker is one if not the most
important person in local politics as the
head Of Tammauy Hall and the successor
Of John Kelly. Therefore Mr. Croker IS
one of the greatest factors III the presl-
dental contest. and much depends upon
his action rs 10 which party will win IN
November Should he DO disposed to BE-
the least contrary the Democrats would
lose New York. For a man holding such
conspicuous position and who might
control the future OF his party, little IS
known of Croker outside OF his political
career even among the people interested
in politics in this city.
Yet his life Ii almost romantic. If a
mans career can be made 10y any one
Richard Cookers was made by his wife.
She is lady q a remarkably strong
character as we'll rs of lovely DISPOSE
ton. She was u Miss Margaret Frazier,
a member of well-to-do Irish family.
and il was after she had graduated with
honor at one OF the converts here that
she met Croker Beng girl of many
excellent traits of character and refined
tastes il was matter Of wonder 10 his
friends that she should take fancy 10 a
man Of Cookers stamp. Al this time he
MAS the rudest OF ward politicians and
ais ability as a pugihst made him sue
cossful in his calling, He confined him
self to a ward that was populated 10y the
toughest element of the clty. Politics
were different IN those days from what
they are now, aud every election meant
bloodshel. Even among these rOwdies
Richard Croker was a terror as we'll as
a leader lie was incapable Of fear and
there were no better rough-snd-tumble
fighters than he was, and this was at
time, too, when John Morrissey and
other men of his stamp were prominent
political leaders. Croker was always on
the side Of John Kelly, and so faithful
vas he to his chief that Kelly became
very fond of him.
Croker was the son Of wealthy Pro-