Morning journal and courier., 1891-07-07
HACK DRIVERS EXPERIENCES

Twenty-One Years in the Employ of
 Barker & Ransom-Some of the
 Noted People He Has Met.
 Twenty years is large part of a mans life, and to remain in the employ of ono firm that length of time is considered very creditable for the employed.
 William Bassett has been engaged as hack driver in this city for twenty-two years, of which time he has been employed twenty-one years as driver for the Court street firm of Barker & Ransom. AS he has been temperate and a careful driver, gentlemanly and of good address, he has been intrusted with the best pairs of horses and carriages owned by the firm, which is to say that MT. Bassett has handled very fine horses.
 During that time he has noted many | changes in the beautiful City of Films. 1 The town has nearly doubled in popula- | ton and has had corresponding increase l in business prosperity
 "Billy," as he is generally known, has given up his former occupation and left | the city to engage in other business in an | adjacent state. A few days before he went away, in conversation with scribe, ! he referred to some of his experiences | and mentioned several incidents in con- nection with many noted personages which he had carried as passengers. Some of these people became somewhat acquainted with Billy and rode with him very often when they visited the city. Among those who have patronized his carriages are the following: The late Matthew Arnold of England, the scien- tific lecturer, and wife, who lectured here | at Proctor's few years ago. The late 1 Dean Stanley of Westminster Abbey, who, | it will be remembered, visited this city Q few years ago. Mary Anderson is I another. On one occasion when "Our Mary" was the guest of Miss Justine In | gersoll, Billy carried the party to the | suburbs of the city over several delight | full drives where they gathered wild flow. l CTS.
 Red Cloud, the Indian chief, occupied Billy's carriage several times when he was
 in this city the guest of Professor O. c.
 Marsh, who gave the party ride to Oyster
 Point, where they were treated to luscious
 oysters, which were great curiosities for
 the Indians. The red men ate them with
 a big relish. The fine view of the salt
 water interested Red Cloud very much. The late P. T. Barnum generally rode 1 W1Cn baSSeCG when ne came to NeW Haven
 Barnum became somewhat acquainted with
 Billy, and consequently often selected him for driver.
 l On one occasion when Mr. Barnum
 alighted from train at the Union depot
 he engaged Billy as usual. Another hack ! man, who was evidently trifle piqued
 shouted 'Say, don't you think I'm 6 pretty good looking fellowa" This speech ! was intended for the ears of MT. Barnum | who replied as he entered Basset's carriage
 ''Tve got such looking things as that ir
 my cages"
 Dom Pedro, the emperor of Brazil, who
 has since been dethroned and exiled, was l one of those on the list.
 Tom Thumb and wife were several
 times passengers with Billy. The three l generals, Sheridan, Sherman and Burn
 side, are also on his list.
 Henry Ward Beecher and Bob Ingerso
 have patronized Bassett's carriages Stan
 ley, the explorer, is another gentleman ot
 note who has rode with Billy Others on
 the list are Professor Huxley, the English
 scientist, Christine Nillson, Dickie and William H. Lingard ,Janausheck and many ! other renowned travellers.
 How many happy brides the hackmar has carried is more than he can tell. He has many times been showered with rice and has had similar experience with l slippers thrown after the married couples. | MT. Bassett thinks 5000 is a very low estimate of the number of funerals he has attended in this city during his long ex. perience as hack driver.