Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-06-04

followed and he lost his eyoslght. He reformed
hia drinking habits whpn Il was too lato.
Whom he became blind, ho had rad 10 him
all the laws OF tho d,stc and all tho leading
works Of literature, and by cultiyaung his
memory, which was naturally good. ho came
to be regarded "a man Of education. Buck.
ley's appearance Is not that Of tho typical
boss, His features arc regular aud ronned.
und lc haa perfect command oi hia iNee He
lrosaoa iaultlcaaly aud his lilo Is unusually
clean. with such a character, be came to DO
regarded by his ronghor followers with IN.
tahso admiration. Even his want Of sight
gave him a sort Of supernatural power over
them, 40 that thoy were siways ready TO do
his bddinF Il " unnecessary 70 say here
that tho man was unscfnpulous aid diH-
honcat 10 tho last degree, and that he He'd
with iart Of his plunder from Han Francisco.
Otherwise he would now DO wearing a striped
drasn Ike MeKanc, whom ho resembles in
many respects.
Richard onoErh, or NEW YoRE.
TITS said that New York had ono honcsi
political boss and that was John Kelly. Mr.,
Croker, we are informed, is now no longer ut
tho head of Tammany Hall. rhonewsphpors
say he resigned the Chief saehomshipo Of Tam
many HALL but those who have inside light
on tho question believe ho was forced from
his position by power stronger than him
self Richard Croker VAS born III Ireland
something oyor MY years ago. liis father
was blacksmith. who came to this country
IN Is@G, and who in addition to horsoshoelug
did some practice az veterinary surgeon.
between hla twelfth and fifteenth years.
Richard Croker went 70 the public schools o.
New YORK. where hs was distinguished
neither for diligence nor ability. Ito was
expelled from school With an education that
could hardly DO called elementary. AZ no
time since then has be attempted to make up
for tho wasted opportunities d his youth.
Although occupying 80 prominent a position,
10 Is coarse, illtefale, aud an ontirely
ignorant man. In his early manhood he bo-
came attached 10 one Of the flre organizations
u New York city, where be distinguished
hlmfeli by his unusual strength and brutal
courage. Indeed. Mr.. Croker became prize
fighter, and there Are mon In Tammany Hall
now who can remember distinctly, for II ~
not many years ago. betting on or against
lin In his encounters with other tcughH and
brulsfrs. One baltic Croker fought with
Dicky Lynch. in ''Joncs Wood i" IN 1906 give
him decided reputation a. a pugiiiat. sub-
sequontly he knocked out Nat Green and
Denny Leary. both Of whom were noted light
cfs, But a greater ring than that In which prize
fighters struggle was oioning 10 this To-
iIArkable boss. He entered flAmmany Hall.
and. despite the fact that lie lad violated tho
laws noalh And aaaln by assaults and dfunknn
dobArchsa. no gradually rose 10 political
leadefship. In Isc9 he WIS elected Alder
ninn and although tho falafy way not great,
In 1870 he bccauIj his own landlord. On
November 4, 1874, Richard Croker was
charged With the murder o. John MckenrA /;
but, although there was no doubt q his hay-
INK killed the man DO succeeded through tho
influences Of Tammany Hall IN gsislng clear
Neriiaaa hers % follow step By step Tho rro-
xrpss Of this man from tho position u lar