The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-08-18
A EARNED BA aTENDER.
New Yorker Says He is the Only
One OF Els Kind.
From the Ne,o York Recorder

From the Net1 York Recorder.
There are plenty Of men who can shoot a
rife with one hand and hit the bulls eye;
there are not a few men, too, who can
throw Beard monte with one hand, but
when you see man mixing up a brandy
smash or a Martini cocktail with one hand
you can make uD your mind that he's an
artist. New York can boast Of such man,
and New York is probably the only city in
the country that can.
The man who performs this unusual and
interesting feat is one who was too plucky
to let misfortune leave him, like "Othello,"
with 'his occupation gone" His name is
Harry Strockbine, and as he celebrated his
64th birthday last Thursday, and knew how
to construct "fizzn long before the war. he
is one of the oldeso bartenders in active
service on Manhattan Island. Over forty
years ago he began squeezing lemon peel
into amber fluids, and, with the exception Of
the time be spent in the hospital he has been
pursuing that avocation ever since.
The accident that converted him into the
only Harmed bartender In America was a
sad one, ard happened two years ago. He
was drawing the cork from a soda bottle
when piece Of the rusty wire punctured his
thumb. 1t was comparatively a painless
wound, and he thought nothing Of it until
his hand began to swell and finally his arm.
Then he consulted a physician, bat it was
too late. Blood poisoning Of the most viru-
lent type had set in, aud they told him at
the hospital that the amputation of his arm
at the elbow was the only thing that would
save his life.
The operation of amputation was success
fully performed, and he regained his phys
ical strength. Then the question presented
itself: My life has been saved; how l am
to work to sustain lifeW He had never been
Ia any other business than that of bar
tender, and at 90 years of age it was
difficult question to answer. Bat he was
not discouraged.
AS be tells it himself: II used 10 sit ar ound
thinking bow l was going to live, occasion
ally glancing down at that poor stump Of an
arm, when one day happened TO wonder
why couldn't learn to mix drinks with one
hand. The thought came to me by hearing
little boy tell about a dime museum freak
who had no arms at all, who drew pictures
with his toes 50 got few empty bottles
and glass or two and began prscticinG. 1t
came hard at first, hut after three or four
days got the hang OF the thing ana in
duced some of my friends to try few Of
my one-armed cocktails. They became
hilarious 50 gradually and almost impercept-
IDLY that looked upon my experiment as
eminently successful So went back to my
old employer and asked him TO take me
back. He smiled plying kind of smile,
and said that he was sorry, but he really
couldn't, you know.
"'Let me make you a mash,' said.
HE good-naturedly complied, and did
my best.
"He drank it and seemed kindly disposed
toward me Ia less than five minutes.
80, to make long story short, went
to work for him, and have been here ever
since.s
1t is almost impossible to describe how
Mr.. Strockbine makes mixed drink, yet il
is very interesting to see him at work. 1t
would seem as il the thumb and little fin
ger of his only hand-the right-took the
place of the left hand, while the three
other fingers constituted themselves into a
right hand. Very frequently the stump of
the left arm is brought into active service.
The glass for mixing is placed between the
stump and tho body. and with the right
hand he let's the tiny amber stream fall into
the waiting receptacle. When it CONES 70
shake he can. with his right hand,
firmly as any bartender in New York, and
with as good effect. And IN the matter Of
frappes he is equally proficient.
Upon nay honor, don't know what I'd
do with that left arm IL l had it," he said.
"You see, have my syrups, cordials and
all here to my right side beneath the bar,
and believe left aptn would be an ul-
mitiRated nuisance"
There lie another thing about Harry which
causes general remark, and that is his Won
derful resemblance to tho "Mnu of Blood
and Iron"-Prince Bismarck. He has the
sam g strong face, firm jaws, gray mus
tache, bald head and shaggy eyebrows Of
the ex-chancellor.