The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-02-15
jim FIsK's OLD WAITER.
He Tells Tales of the Millionaire and
His Feasts on the Br stoL
Zion, fbe Ne1r VorL Would


His Feasts on the Br. stoL
From the NelO York World.
Down in the big restaurant in the sub-
terranesn regions Of a grand bazaar in Phila-
deIphia you will find flying around among
the tables particularly bright-faced and
active colored man, who is well known to
the frequenters of the place and is in great
demand among them, for he is one OF the
best walters In all the establishments. his
name is Benjamin Parker, and bis title to
celebrity lies not only in professional quick
ness and precision, but also in the fact that
he was one of Jim Fisk's favorite attend
ants, and was one of the very last persons
who spoke to Fisk before the fatal bullet
laid him low. Indeed, it is probable that
when he left Fisk in the Grand Central
hotel that day he must have all but brushed
past the man whom fate was steering
straight to Fisk as his slayer.
Parker is very proud of his connection
with Fisk and is always ready to talk
about it and about other noted and motor
ious people with whom his relations with
Jim" brought him in contact in his hum
bic capacity. 1t was on the Fall River
steamer Bristol that Parker first came
under Fisk's notice. He was assigned to
wait on the table which was always re-
served in the dining room for Fisk and his
cronies. Il was not an easy task for a
waiter, and many had been tried at it and
found wanting, for Mr. Gould's then side
partner was in the full glitter of his cham
pagne-and oysters glory and was diff
cult man to please.
But Parker hit the mark and the ediot
went forth that Parker and none but Par
ker was to stand at James Fisk's back dur
ing meel-times and answer the frequent
Jlngling OF his state room bell. Inasmuch as
Fisk put in an average of about three nights
in the week on the Bristol, Parker saw a
good deal of him, not only then but on
shore, for Fisk kept him pretty closely by
him at all times.
"Mr. Fisk always had the state room
No. l on the Bristol" Parker will tell you
as he deftly puts down the meat and apol-
llnaris around your plate, land he always
kept me sitting on a stool outside the door
when l was not waiting on him. | tell you
there was high old times in that room some
nights. l kept the champagne a-cooling on
ice outside as fast as they drank it up in
side, and pretty often that kept me hustlin'
Jim FISK, he never went or came back
alone on the boat. There was always lot
of people with him. zen. Butler came
very often, and SO did Boss Tweed.
"Boss Tweed and Gen. Butler both got
away with the champagne pretty lively.
have seen Jim and the boss both
about as full as they could carry, but
never saw the general very bad Jay
Gould used to be along very often, and he
used to have his glass of wine on the table,
but he never did any more than sip little.
He just sat quitely by, watchin' the rest
from out under his big eyebrows and lookin'
sort of sardonic like. Fisk, be was the life
Of the party. There was generally game
of poker goin' on, and have seen Gould
and Fisk and Boss Tweed aud Gen. Butler
all having hand at 10 together"
Parker remained but a short time on the
Bristol after Fisk's death. He went to
Howard street and Broadway, and then to
the Sturtevant house. Seven years ago ne
got place in the restaurant, where he has
been ever since and where he will show you
a massive gold watch which he won because
he got the most votes for being the most
popular waiter in the restaurant. A curious
fact about Parker is that he will probably
die a richer man than did his Quondam
patron, notwithstanding the latter's below
led splendor and apparent inexhaustible
supply OF money. Fisk, 1t will be remem-
bered. left little or nothing when all the
wild litter of his mad, headlong life was
cleared away, whereas Parker has systemat-
ically saved money all his life, snd now owns
houses and lots aud has cash laid away for
the day when it may rain.