The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-02-17
An ODD CHARACTER.
Death of South CaroIinian Who
Had necOme a Fixture at WASH

" - couAh taroAtnlun W no
Had DecOme "A Fixture mt WASH
inEtOn.
Washington Dispatch in New York Sun.
The most picturesque and remarkable
OF the great army Of eccentric men in
Washington since the days Of Beau HEX
man died last night. He was the oldest
OF all the street characters of the capital
city, and every citizen and public official.
and thousands Of strangers. will miss his
grotesque face and figure hereafter when
they promenade Pennsylvania avenue
Francis Key Dunlop was a member Of an
aristoeraae and once wealthy George
town family. He was reared in refine.
ment, graduated at Princeton. and devoted
himself to literary pursuits and the study
Of the law. He was regarded as a man Of
much promise. and was very popular in
his early manhood. Overstudy or some
similar cause unbalanced his mind. and
since then he has been for many years an
object of amusement to the street crowds
and of pity to his relatives and friends.
Mr.. Dunlop's. eccentricity after his affiic-
ton took the form OF extravaganza in
dress and personal appearance and he ar
rayed himself so Enthusiastically for a street
promenade that he invariably created a
sensation, and even the habitues of the
streets and public places who had seen
him daily for many years could never
foreeo the temptation to take another
look at him. They did so furtively, how
ever, for whenever he felt himself the tar
get OF pair of eyes he would suddenly
turn and scowl at their owner as If he
were about to chastise him. He was harm
less, however. and never so far as known
injured a hair of any mans head.
Mr. Dunlop's costume in summer con-
sisted of skin-tight trousers, with big
bell-shaped flaps at the feet and with the
cloth cut entirely away from the back of
the foot in orcier TO display shoes with
Unfortunately high heels almost pointed at
the bottom. The coat, which was invari-
ably sack, was very loose, and with
boards in the shoulders upon each of
which basket of marketing could be
carried. A low-cut vest, showing a ruff
fed shirt front, with cuffs TO the finger
tips, ample taring cravat of a bright red
or blue, a Byronic collar large enough
for Grover Cleveland, and the queerest
little straw hat, with vari-colored band
and many sizes too small for the wearer.
perched on the side of the big head, COM
pleted his toilet. in winter an under
sized Derby hat took the place of the straw
one, and an overcoat with broad collar
and cuff hid all of the costume except the
shoes and hat from public view.
The most striking feature of Mr.. Dun
lop's appearance, however, was the ar
arrangement Of his hair. 1t was made jet
black with dye, was closely cropped and
brushed against the bushy black eye
bTows. as fiercely dyed as the hair. To
accentuate the blackness Of his hair Mr..
Dunlop always kept his neck painted
black, producing the effect of a continu-
Gus growth of hair. He had rudy COM
piexion, and a little, scrubby, black mus
tache, and wore glasses that were con-
stantly dropping from his nose, to his ap-
parent great annoyance.
This human oddly seemed to derive
great satisfaction from gazing i'm the shop
windows and he would stand for a long
time before some picture or article of jew
elry apparently oblivious to the fast gath
them and then move off rapidly as though
discovered in a disreputable act. Street
cars were Mr.. Dunlops especial abomina-
ton, and he would never cross the street
if one were nearer than a block away.
Even then he would run at full speed and
excitedly gaze about him as if pursued
by fiends. He always walked close to the
buildings, and was never seen talking to
any one. Mr.. Dunlop resorted TO many
articles to conceal the marks of time,
and his age remained a mystery until
death. Guesses on this point ranged all
the way from 80 to 80, but Mr.. Dunlop
was in fact in his 6Sth year when he died.