Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-08-04
AsenloNs eeAu eaunMeL.
"Reminiscences Of Colonel Richard uick.
man, % Famous ChArActer


neminisceues. Of Colonel Richard lick.
man. o Famous chArActer
washington's most famous character,
n selected by popular vote, would be de
oided to be Colonel Hickman. known tho
country over a. Beau Hickman. the
Prince Of Bnmmers
Colonel Hickman was born IN Virginia
presumably. NJ he came from that state
to this city. arriving here In tho year
1891, about twenty-five years old. From
this date for about three years may be
included the beau's joyful period Of OK.
isience, when the world was seen only
through rose coloreJ glasses, aud life was
but q merry game 81 love and lasses
amours and petty "alfairgs.' Heswung
The old globe about as quickly as possible,
and was M gay and merry a high roller
as the city has ever seen.
In short while his name was ne well
known in Washington ne that u Beau
Brunincl In London. lie moved In ex.
elusive circles. had all tho polish and
gracos aud spent his patrimony with a
lavish hand AT the races he was a
valued tipsier and knew more about
horses and their merits than paddock
full.pf Jockeys He was frcquenter,
too. Of the theatcrs. and was aa much al
home behind ~ lsforc the scenes.
For the short three years Of aalucncc
and high ayingindulgedin by the beau no
was compelled 10 repay more than thirty
years Of what would have boon 10 any
other n most humiliating and wrctched
existence. From the society roveler he
was reduced 10 state Of pitiable perjury.
He never learned the state Of his finances
until he had none. aud then, II being too
late to retrieve his squandored fortunes,
II became necessary Tor him TO adapt
himself TO his altered fortunes IN the
most expcdient manner There was but
ono course left open 10 him, TO become u
dependent upon charity. To his digh
strung and sensitive nature this was an
achievement 20 difficult Of execution
that no at one time even admitted that
the sums he oxtoftcd by his cumming
methods could DO characterized as olicr'
ings Of charity.
Ills fall from his high estate was not
rs sudden IA hi. financial wrcckago. He
did not cease his swell existence whom
he found that all his resources had DO.
come exhausted, but kept on spending
the money that he had not ~ rcckiOasiy
~ ho had spent tho money that he had
formerly possessed. Where ho had DO.
fore literally bestowed gold and green.
backs no now distributed notes aud a.
o U.s." trusting 10 tho recalciTaut
Dame Fortune 10 visit him again ut som1
timo IA the hopoaden future. Ile ut
this time paironizod the most exclusive
hotels. kept up hissocial connections aud
was as great beau NJ ever. His rcputa-
tiou ~ such 7as tho only thing that pro-
vented his creditors from swauning In
upon him.
Beau liiclumans fcw years Of pros
pority left Due faint impress ON the pub
lie mind Il Is VA the prince Of bummos
that ho ~ best remembered. For years
tho principal hotels knew him but TO
fear him. aftorward they looked upon
him as sidoshow feature to be pointed
out 70 yisitors TO tho national capital ~
the famous Beau Hickman. Every now
visitor was legitimate prey and liable to
assessment. Bcaua home seemed TO DO
In tho lobhlOa Of the hotels lIc VIA
often seen at tho capitol and other pub.
lie hostelries.
Hero was always an opportunity TO
pick out his man, and as this meant
often meals aud bod TO him no naturally
devoted considerable portion Of his
time to selecting his victims. The assess.
menta muloted were seldom moro than a
quarter or half dollar. and these ex.
torled with such good grace that tho
victims felt truly II was more blessed to
give than 10 receive lilo also had a
regular list Of patrons, mainly congress.
men, on whom lao levied assessments NJ
regular periods, indianapolis Journal