New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-08-03
THE TALE OF A BAD GOAT.
He CIIEWED TOBACCO AND DRANK BEER
SOME "REMINISCENCES OF HIS LIFE IN THE
BowERY-How HE WAS ONCE ARRESTED
AND TAKEN TO A POLICE STATION

AND TAKEN TO 4 POLICE STATION.
Twenty years ago there were goats in other parts
Of New-York than the rocks Of Harlem. whittier they
have been driven 10y the onward and northward
march OF the home builders. There was one goat III
particular that seemed be infatuated with the hustle
of life downtown and which. among other distinctions
was known sS New York's southernmost goat-that is.
he lived further downtown than any other animal OF
his species on Manhattan Island.
The Bowery sports Of a score Of years ago who
sl live Cand they are not many now remember
Bellows Billy" well and afcctionately. Billy was
an Angorl goat owned nv Eilly' Bellows. who kept
n livery stable inst OF the BOwcry, near Chatham
square and the goats appropriately formed
by reversing the OF hi Bellows raised
" Billy from kid and the hid developed into a
full-Acdged goat the affection between the man and
The animal grow steadily until they loved each other
dcvocdly. "Eilly" Ghe goat) fond of his free
dom OF life on the Bowery amid the glare ana the
flicker Of the glslights at night and tile SOUNDS oil
rcvelry. He slept IN 1e Stable during the day, ana
awokc at night feeling badly. Just Ike the other
sports for be it known, " Billl Ithe goat)
was one Of the bovs- lie had learned bad habits.
The first Of these was the habit NJ chewing tobacco
II lc was literally supplied with the weed AT TIE
stable Billy" would proceed to the howery ana WISH
the liquor hops and cigar stores unll he met some
ono who knew his falling and through pity wonld pro
vide him with a quid
u
uurcd a taste for strong drink. for he was tempted
with beer at MANY Of the places at which he called
II was not long before everybody on the Bo"ey rom
Chatham square Fourth It. knew d" Bellows Hlly
well enough 10 be at least speaking terms Will MN
Every night billy would march through the Bo"Ty
stopping at dozens Of liquor hops both going ara
coming - Billy imbibcd beer freely during TINS
promenade, he often walked uustcldiy on the nome
ward trip. which always was made late AT nlSht' ana
sometimes far into the morning hours. lie never
walked on the west side Of the Iow"ry. nor entered
, nonor shop save on the side Of the thorough
fare.
In IeGo or 20 when John Morr--cy and Thomas
o'Nc had their gambling house at Fourth st. and the
Howcry Billy~ became acquainted with %" gamblers
and used 10 visit the establishment every night lie
seemed to think that the well-drcsscd men he met
there werc better company than inc ic-
quenters Of the cheap liquor shops on the
street II soon became apparent too.
that ne understood the natur Of the diversion TO which
tho e>tabIi ,hmcnt was devoted When a PLAYER lei'
a faro table broke Bly, II * asserted, would emit
, ~Lnaaa," in which the coutempurou> expression
,,,. only too apparent. lie would have nothing to
do with losers. bat always conred the wlnherN again
shaving hl, likeness ~ the other sport,.
Morri>~cy and O'Ncll hind 70 the goat ana
gave him rum and tobacco whenever he wanted them.
one night a crowd 81 drunken gamblers visited the
place when Billy there. some one piNioatl thi'
a practical Joke bc played on the goat some one csc
cot a tin funnel and a bottle u Jamaica rum Inc
g,at wa, firmly held while the rum was poured Gown
I'M, throat through the funnel Bily Nalth !" ~
irc thrn riyht avay but the gambler would not
oncu me door he became hilarious, % inc
ry o -. tried To- dance his hind l"-> and @tdnd %"
l Iod md do other lilly thing all of which seemed
funny the perpetrators, Ih'n ne va Dd h "
%, Iii, antics ga the street attracted crowd pue
r., tLe midst OF the performance Billy became over
come by tie liquor and fell on the SidG%alh oea "a
dr,uk A policeman borrowed wh@'barTp" ana
- Tho Goat To the station house, but when ulo
nvner came for him h. released -,
1-t.. ,,fy fhe
soncvhat dilapiacd hut still able tO hoh ms own.
Annr driukin, his usual quantity 81 beer ana iees
hot,-e hut could be persuaded 10 enter. uahu
a, the curb hc greeted every one VII" crIreI or IIt
- rl.cc With a coutcmptnous " ba 4 a. Nhcn ne
80 ',Iout four wears old Bily" reformed 70 some
extent and tried make himself useful III IN" a.,
H. iot tbe horzes 10 the watering trough ana ala
ntber srnple things. Bellows blIll dlcd dt d
line old age Bowcrv sport to tue last