The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-03-11
IS REFUSED LODGING.
Because He Had No Money and No
Friends to Stand Good.
NEXT DAY He HAD THOUSANDS.
Walked From tAlexandria and Went
without Foot; for Twenty-Four
Hours-Pcople Wouldn't Be-
lieye He Was Hungry
Because He Wore
silk Has.

lleyS nc ~ i1S tIIuusTy
Because He Wore
silk Hat.
From a very hungry stranger, with
his coat and clothing In pawn-shop,
Dr. James Dixon, who is now in Isich-g
mond, became heir to about $780, a.
week ago he came to Richmond without
a cent In his pocket, and was refused
lodging at boarding house because he
had nothing, and no friends here who
would stand good for days board He
was half starved, having eaten tive cents
worth Of doughnuts in thirty-stx hours.
On yesterday he deposited about four
thousand dollars in Richmond banks.
after leaving some ten thousand dollars
in several banks in Baltimore.
It is a-pretty romance with the girl lei {
out. DR.. Dixon is an Engishman with
a fondness for roaming around the coun-l
try He has crossed and recrossed the
ocean, and is to-day the hero OF many
adventures. But none are SO striking In
contrast as the hungry walk from Alex
a1l.1ria to Richmond with the longing
for meal and a bed for the night and
the realization few days later that
he was the possessor of s14500 In cool
cash and the heir to nearly $4,000 be-
sides.
WAS SFTIPWRECKED.
DR.. Dixon is about fifty years old. He
f-1eft his home, In the North Of England.
in 1868, and came to America to make
his fortune England was too small
for me-" he said last night; Il wanted
| a bigger country
| After remaining In New York about
two years. during which time he en-
gagged in commercial life, he took pas.
sage for Europe, and for q whiie ne was
commercial reporter on the levanti
| Times, leading newspaper published
| In Constantinople, the capital OF the
| Sultan's Domains. He had not remained
there long before his tess spirit got
the better of him, and he took passage
on tramp steamer for America. but
the vessel was foundered on great
reef at the mouth of Malta 5Harbor. and
soon it was seen she would be COM
plete wreck. DIR. Dixon, with several
others on board, were rescued by 3
| British man-of-war, and shortly after
wards he was again on his voyage 10
America He remained a while In New
York, and then went to San Francisco,
where he engaged in business while.
| and later returned to New York. where
he lived for some time. He did work
in commercial lines, on newspapers and
various other fields.
| CAME TO RICHMOND.
Recently he started for iRichHiond with
what he considered a frst-rate adVer-
tisns scheme. and incidentally stopped
over in Baltimore and Washington. His
business in those two cities was not iu-
crative. and he found himself out of
money in Washington, where he paWned
a ring and his overcoat- He spent what
money he had and was soon in desperate
need of funds and food. There was only
! one thing left to do-beg for omethtns to
eat DR.. Dickson Started from Alexan-
dria a few days ago with the Idea OF
getting to Richmond as best he could
He walked every foot Of the distance ex-
cent about thirty miles, which he rode
on a caboose. In Fredericksburg ne
begged for something to eat, but couldn't t
set anybody to give him any. He wore
nice Dunlop silk hat that shone like
the trimmings OF big locomotive s1ust S'
turned out of the Richmond works, be-
sides a nice Ascot tie. a speckled vest,
and creases in his trousers
WOULDN'T BELIEVE HIM HUNGRY.
| When he asked for some thing to eat
people looked him over. and after SIZING
up his good clothes inferred that he was
| not aItoget ther right and refused. Why.
l u
| for food said DR.. Dixon. people
glanced at my silk hat and eyed me sus-
pciously The Episcopal minister TO
( whom was referred wouldn't beneve I
needed anything, and declared he had on
the day before that given q lot Of CLONES
| and food to a woman who turned out 20
! be about as well off in this worlds goods
MS he himself was You have no idea
what I, tough time of it i had. When
got to Richmond and walked up the
street was half starved. From Wednes-
day morning to Friday morning mad
eaten nothing but 5 cents worth OF
| cakes I bonght. I had cent in Fred
erfcksburs. and man Yet. me nave :
more. with these bought the cakes
SHOWED GREAT NERVE.
Dr.sD:xon, without a cent in his pocket
and with a painfully empty stomach,
showed more nerve than have seer
a;splayed for many a day. He walked
into a business mans office and offered
to show ilfim an advertising plan by
which he claimed money could be made.
4.I haven't time to see you now said
the business man come back later.
..AM right. replied Dr.. Dixon. bund-
ling up his papers and esasrams IN z :,
manner. of the coolest independence and
fsstarting out.
| HIS action aroused the curiosity Of the
business man, who called him back. and
after looking over the scheme, a bargain
on commission was struck. DR. Dixon
started out and did pretty well. He made
contracts, but collected nothing In adj
vance. He grew hungry. and he didn's
have any y:Wheresto sleep that night Two
tran,ps, seeing my shiny silk hat and
speckled vest, said he, .'begged me tor
| money to buy = meal. and a bed. and
lswhen 1 told them ] was In the same
they looked out OF the corner OF;
ISthetrse eyes and bllrted ont s.: Come on
the perch. You lobster..' tried to get
"a night. s lodging at "a cheap boarding
house. hut they wouldn't trust me. Ttls
lssilk hat aroused suspicious =
INHERITED a FORTUNE g
DR.. Dixon borrowed asdolIar ard a
quarter In advance from the business
man. and worked on VA his advertising
scheme untte d few days ago when he:
IreceIYed q letter from tho Z law arMs04
(Continued on With 80