Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-07
THE UMBRELLA HOSPITAL WENT, TOO.
The old Man Mas Grosesane Cha
rscter, and Everybody liked
Him--His Life an Interesting


"oid Scissors" is gone The proprietor
OF the Royal Umbrella Hospital, together
with the hospital, the sway.baok horse
and the dog. has decamped, ana his
whereabouts are not now known to Rich
mond people.
Scissors" whose real namc Is Edward
CRAWFORD. is most grotesquc cH"r'cter
and no will be missed by many @ RicA'
mond's citizens 10 whom he Furnished
amusement from time TO time as ne
moved through the streets mounted beside
MS dog on the top of his umbrella nos
pital. blowing musical blasts on his
trumpet. chewing tobacco, and driving
his sway-back horse ali at the same
time. lie enjoyed himself, too, and rair
or shine. II mattered not to him so Ions
as business was GOOD. and ne and his
horse and dog got plenty to eat and drink
The old man. though exceedingly honey
I'm appearance. had an interesting face. he
came here about three years ago. driving
into the city or top of the Royal Umbrella
HospitaI. and IL was but short time
before he became wen known from one
end Of the city to the other and had
driven from our midst all other scissors
grinders and umbrella members.
HE WAS A GREAT ROoTER
cola Scissors" came directly from
Wheeling. w. Va. but had lived Tor a
long time in Baltimore. where ne was
known as the mascot Of the orioles, the
National League Baseball club IN bal-
timore He took an active interest IN inc
richmond team Immediately upon MS
arrival here and. so far as is known
never missed a game. lie soon Decaihe :,
nopular with the roote,s, VINO atlehleu
the contests at West-End PARK, ana MS
trumpet solos during the games were Tea
lures of the exhibitions
The old man rented a room In q mouse
owned by Mr.. II. IL. Elicit, al no. 90
north Fifth street, ana, iuiiilshi.S =
with a hed and stove. slept and ate mere
s,,ri,g bis residence IN this city He
,ent HE horse at Cosby's stable. on north
FIfth street. and made his headqudr-
ters when not on top the hospltai, AT
mis- stable. He appeared 10 be making
money here, and paid promptly Ior every
thing until a short while ago. no one
bowever. doubted but that the OLD man
would DO the right thing by them. ana
ne was held in the highest esteem by an
with whom he had come i'm contact
HE LEFT SUDDENLY.
On the afternoon Of October 29th he
drove out OF Cosby's stable on top the
bospital. with his dog seated beside nam
and said he was going over on Church
TIiu. put would return about O'CLOCK
He has not been seen by Mr.. Cosby from
that dav TO this. and that gentleman says
h. has no doubt that he has gone, never
10 return. He left his bed and stove IN
his room. on Fifth street
HIS LIES HISTORY.
some months ago Scissors was inter-
viewed by reporter, and 10 hin ne stld
mat his name was Captain Edward Cray
ford. and that he came by his military
title leglumately in the Crimean war.
He was born in Chesterfield. Derbyshire,
England. on July II, 1921, and, therefore.
lacks hut one year of having lived out
his allotted time on this earth. He is
nevertheless. hale and Hearty, or was
when last seen. He came to America
about forty years ago. and settled down
with his wife in New Jersey There he
remained until twelve years ago, she
died. when he fitted up the Royal um-
btella Hospital. ana. with his horse and
dog. equally as grotesque In appearance
as himself became an itinerant, and has
wandered over the country ever since.
Mr.. Cosby said last night that he would
ike 10 see his old patron again. Il don't
care a rap for the money he owes me,
said the liveryman 1.-THE horse really
didn't eat much, but I liked the old fell
low. and 1 would Ike TO hear him talk
some more"