Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-02

shoes and his gilt E. CAMPBELL ALLISON
tering high hat, he has accomplished mira
cles of small swindling
One of the first of Allison's metropolitan
exploits was on the occasion of a grand din
ner given at Demonico's a few years ago
Allison was strolling up Broadway. He was
hungry; he was penniless. He had heard
about the prospective repast brilliant
idea struck him.
Without moments hesitation he entered
Delmonico's Taking pad from his pocket,
he addressed pompous looking gentleman
with the remark: BEG pardon, sir, but could
you tell me the names of some of the most
prominent gentlemen present, and your own,
too, if you please! Our artist will be here
later in the evening, and will probably make
sketch of you for Harper's Weekly" OF
course the pompous citizen was delighted,
end Immediately took the ingenious beat
under his wing and gave him all the informa-
ton he could. When dinner was announced,
Allison sailed into the dining room on the
arm OF his friend, and proceeded to eat every
thing he could lay his hands on. He had a
glorious time, drank the health of his POM
pous friend and others, and became in
toxicated. He was fired from the scene, but
he had his meal. Allison was married to the
and his wife once rented furnished fat in
New York, and although he had little money
managed TO get along comfortably. Mrs.
Allison thought her husbands actions very
peculiar, and on one occasion was led to
say: Mr. Allison does such funny things
This morning there was nothing in the
house for breakfast, and he had no money in
his pocket, but that didn't make any differ
ence. he took the clock off the mantelpiece
did 1t up In piece of paper and went out
with IL. He came back with half dozen
eggs, rolls, coffee, milk and a pint bottle of
whisky. He told me he had taken the clock
to get it mended"
He was finally turned out of the fat. but
there was very little left of any value. After
leaving the fiat Allison's wife left him, and
he has been alone ever since. For a while he
had a room in the Lafayette place baths, and
greatly enjoyed the Russian and Turkish
baths as a recuperative after inebriety. He
forgot TO pay his little bill at this establish
ment and was once more cast out into the
cold world. Soon after he bobbed up in LON
don as the proprietor of a weekly paper called
The Courier of London. He devoted the
whole paper to puffs of saloons, restaurants.
theatres, tailors and other like places. with
each of which he speedily opened line of
credit. London becoming little too hot for
him, he returned TO America and regaled his
friends with accounts of his adventures
''Oh, yes,n he remarked, II met the Prince
of Wales at the Savage club
''Well, what did he say to you, and you to
himT"
'Oh, he didn't say anything very particu-
lar except, How are you, old man; I'm glad
to meet you,' and 1 replied in my smooth,
elegant way, 1 hope your grace is well.'n
After his return from Europe he Joined
the Press club, and added the name of that
institution to his beautifully engraved card
With the aid of this he succeeded in getting
into theaters and other places of amusement.
and hanging up" bartenders, BARRIERS, hat
ters and other credulous people. Allison was
the prince of petty thievery, and his disap-
pearance is deeply felt in the metropolis