The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-06-08
GARRY. THE oNR-ARMEp."
A Drink Mixer Who Is Also Curiosity
to Patrons.
From the NetO York Advertiser.


From the Netg York Advertiser
Behind the counter of the bar in Park
Row hotel stands veteran mixer Of drinks
who has. during the past two years. been
even a greater curiosity to the average
visitor TO liquid Refreshments resorts in
the downtown district than the
"only William" WHIP also holds out
little further up the street. The
name Of this grizzled veteran is Harry
Strockbine, or. as he is better known to
regular customers. Harry, the One Armed
Bartender" Two years ago he was the vic
tim of a painful accident, which neoessitated
the amputation OF his arm below the elbow.
He is the only one-armed bartender in New
York
As soon as the wound healed and Strock-
bine got out Of the hospital he went home
and laid in a stock Of bottles such as are
used in the ordinary bar, and began prac-
ticing the mixing OF imaginary drinks
with one hand. After a few days
he became proficient; IN fact, he
could, even in that short time, turn
out mixed drink almost as quickly as in
the olden days with two hands. He went
down to the hotel and applied for his old
position behind the bar. The proprietor
was only to glad to see him back. In few
hours the old man demonstrated that his
JuuRtneuU III REGARD 10 Inc proper duouub
of ingredients to be used in hzzes, coctails,
frappes, etc., was just as sound as it ever
was, and his dexterity was phenomenal.
In few days Strockbines coworkers be-
hind the bar forgot all about the fact that
their companion was crippled. There was
nothing in connection with their business to
remind them OF it, unless it was the steady
stream Of new customers who hocked In
and curiously watched the dextrous move
ments Of "the one-armed bartender
The stump of the left arm is anything
but a useless member. 1t serves as a grip
for corked bottles that have to be opened
The bottle is placed near the left chest, and
there firmly held as in a vice, and Harry's
| right arm does the rest.
Strockbine mixes a cocktail almost as
quickly as he draws a glass of beer from
the keg. He has arranged his ''station"
behind the bar very ingeniously. The syrup,
liquor and bitters bottles are all placed
| close together on the right-hand side OF the
center Of his station, 50 that they can be
| hurriedly taken up Que after the other The
mixing glass stands in front of him, and
| the proper ingredients quickly find a place
| in it. After the cocktail is poured into a
proper glass Strockbine takes a piece OF
| lemon peel, and with a quick movement OF
the thumb and forefnger squeezes the oil of
| the lemon rind on the surface OF the liquid
| to give it flavor.
A reporter suggested that he must have
| considerable trouble with mixed drinks
| when he had to use the shaker" NO"
| said the veteran, "those drinks seem TO be
| just as easy for me to make as any of the
Others" To prove his statement be pro-
| ceeded to make a water lemonade. The
| lemon juice, sugar, Ice and water were hur-
| riedly put into the glass. the shaker was as
| quickly hammered over the top of the glass,
| and in u moment shaker and glass were
| dancing before the reporters eyes in space.
| The bartender had got a firm grip of the
stem of the goblet, while two fingers held
the nickel shaker in place. After shaking
the mixture a few seconds, he placed the
| glass on the counter and removed the
shaker. A clean glass was put beside it,
| and the liquor was carefully strained into 1t.
| No 2-handed expert could have turned out
the order In quicker time or made a more
| palatable drink.
| Strockbine's dexterity is all the more re-
markable when the fact of his age is taken
into consideration. He is "a years old, but
| lark, and one has vet to hear him make q
gard as terrible affllction.
| ~ don't know what | would do with tn al
left arm now if had IT," said he, with q
smile. yesterday. The genial old man ha:
| been in the vicinity of PARK Row and Ann
street for the last forty years. He had
| earned his spurs as one of the most expert
fancy drink mixers in the district long be-
J fore the "Old William" and his rival,
| Fred, were ever heard Of by liquid re.
| freshment seekers.