The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1896-08-31
ABOUT HARRY HILLS LIFE
History of New York's Famous
Sporting Character.
HIS PLACE WAS CELEBRATED
Yet AIRY Died In Penury-Was
nd-Heartcd, Liberal Boniface and
Was the Acme of Honesty and Fair
dealing With His CostOmers-Wa
an Englishman by Birth.

New York, Aug 3O.-The sudden death Of
Harry Hill brought TO close the earthly
career OF one OF the best known characters
rather the most widely known-in the
sporting life Of America. Those OF the pres
ent generation may not bring him quickly
20 mind, but meu OF a larger growth VIII
recall the time when life was not complete
without a visit to New York at least once
year and a journey to that metropolis
was not completely rounded without visit
TO the Five Points, where Harry Hill kept
his famous dance hail. That may suggest
a vision of dreadful wickedness, and yet it
was conducted by a man who then, and
until the day of his death. bore the reputa
ton Of conducting the 'squarest" sporting
resort that this country has ever known.
OF course. 1t was not exactly the kind
of place that a Sunday-scbool superin-
tendcnt should attend and direct the MEM
bers of his flock TO patroniZe. 1t was one OF
those effervescing spots where certain
conditions OF human nature found their
vent after midnight, and as they were
bound 10 explode, 1t was, perhaps, well
that the social ebullition was under the
direction of man with honest instincts, So
far as the custody OF other peoples prop
erty was concerned. That wis Hills repu-
tation, and that made him famous the
country over.
FAMOUS THE COUNTRY OVER.
He became one of the most familiar
figures IN the public life OF New York;
celebrated for his display of diamonds;
celebrated for his protection of foolish mid
night howlcrs; celebrated for his absolute
integrity in money matters; celebrated for
amaSsing nearly one million Of dollars by
catering to the smaller weaknesses of man
kind: celebrated for losing, through his
exceptional generosity, every penny tie had
amassed; celebrated for being a victim
tptheanimosity OF thepoiice, whose creature
he had refused to longer be.
The business which made him famous
was one to which he had devoted over
thirty years OF his life. He used to love
to tell of his coming to this country in a
sailing vessel in 1850 and landing at the
port of Flushing, L. /. In England he
had been n trackman and fre1uenter Of
the turf at EPSON, in which town he was
born. 1t was there that George NJ. Wool
sey, OF the old sugar manufacturing firm
OF Rowland, Aspinwall & WOolsey, became
acquainted with Hill, and engaged linn to
come to this country and take charge Of
his stable in Astoria. Then he ran livery
stable for a while close to the old Bulls
Head HoteloD Third avenue. New York sold
horses to the Third avenue street railway,
just starting, and drove the first car him.
self from the City Hall to Harlem over that
route. Trolleys Were not then dreamed OF.
SPORTING CAREER BEGUN
In 1854 he bought grocery store at the
corner OF Crosby and Houston streets, and
got grOccr's license TO sell liquors. That
was the beginning OF his sporting career.
He was very strong physically, and his
muscular powers gave him more than a
local fame. John Morrissey got acquainted
with him -Morrissey, prize fighter, gam
bier and Congressman and liked him So |
we'll that he backed him to the extent of |
So 500 side for wrestling match with |
Lieut.. Ainsw orth of New Britain. Aims |
worth at that time called himself champion |
OF the United States.
The match came off in Mozart Hail. New |
Y ork, April IA, 1868, and Harry Hill was |
victor. After that Morrissey was his firm |
friend. BY this time the grocery had ceased |
to exist. Hill had become possessor OF ad- |
Joining stores and had extended his place |
over them. He continued to do this as fast
as the leases ran out. He erected a stage |
in the main saloon and gave concerts and |
boxing bouts on it every night.
1t was Harry Hills boast that nobody |
was ever robbed IN his place. he was !
srcupulously honest and frequently relieved
a drunken man Of his roll and returned it
to him when the inebriate became sober. !
Thousands of dollars at a time were in
trusted to him for safekeeping, and he
always returned it. He said that on one
occasion a hilarious man gave him $751;, |
900 to care for, and received 1t Intact when
his spree was over.
There were many rough and tumble lights /
In HM's place, however, and several times |