The Savannah morning news., 1901-04-19
THE JOKER JoKED.
How Brian Hughes Was Held Up in
Madison Square Garden.
From the Now York Pres.

From the New York Press.
The ablest of Jokers was seen in Broad
way Monday night wearing a golf cap.
Incidentally he inquired the hour. The
cowboys had lifted his watch in the Gar
den and shot his silk hat full of holes.
Mr.. Hughes had worked week to play
one of his practical jokes on some bust
ness friends. Through Dexter w. Fell
lows he arranged for ride in the Dead
wood coach, and the chief of the cow
boys promised to see that the passengers
were properly held up. Maj. Burke, hear
ing that the party had designs on his
dignity and purse, left town Monday
morning. In the evening Hughes enter
tanned his prospective victims at dinner
in his club, after which he chaperoned
them in box T.
He fairly sizzled and sparkled with ami
nation. In case of accident" he whis-
pered to Fellows, I'm get you to take
care OF my money. OF course, l won't
be in the hold-up, but it's just as we'll
10 be on the safe side" His roll con-
tanned $1,000. few struggling bills he
kept in his pocket. He was in evening
clothes, looking very much like Henry
Clews. Some one in the know went to
NliN iSehNCi VI tic iOdI Ok CIfJSi JOc ldllA,
and, pointing out Hughes said soemnly,
That's the man for you to look after.
You needn't worry much about the eth
ers. Go through him. Take everything
he's got Get his money his watch, his
diamonds, his hat-everything. Make him
dance! Joe looked, worried as he sur
veyed Brian G. Who'll stand for all
this?" he asked. 1.-THE chap may get
mad" "I'll stand for it," said the con-
spirator Shoot holes through his hat
and break his watch"
The Deadwood coach was driven up 10
the Madison avenue end of the arena and
Hughes, broadly grinning with anticipa-
ton, put his party inside. Walter Proba-
bly, Robertson rode on the box, and was
the first man to surrender. He fell off
even before the road agents pulled a trig
ger. Hughes face was a study when
Franz poked the muzzle of murderous-
looking six-shooter against his chin aud
growled, Hold up your handsr' The
American boxer trembled The cowboy
meant business. In an incredibly shor.
time the valuables of the party were
slowed in the bandits pockets Every
time Hughes arms showed an inclination
to droop the order was repeated" Hold
up your handsn The ugly six-shooter
never changed it's direction. 1t was al
ways looking at Hughes. Then came the
grand finale. The brand new IS silk hat,
all Hughes had except his clothes, caught
the eye of the road agent.
The first shot made two larger holes
in the crown of the beautiful "dicer."
Hughes turned pale. His friends in the
arena boxes were dying with laughter
and some called aloud to the road agents:
Make him dance! Take his coat! Shoot
his feet off! Gag him!" Holding the hat
at arms length Franz emptied his re-
volver in it and contemptuously kicked 1t
to one side. He then permitted the VIC
TINS of the hoid-up to resume their IN
terrupted journey. The agility displayed
by poor old rheumatic Probably Robert
son in mounting to his seat beside the
driver was revelation to his friends.
When Buffalo Bits band came to the res
cue every man-Jack of 'em took partlc-
ular delight in shooting a new hole
through Hughes departed hat. After the
melee the "dicer" resembled a sieve.
Dexter Fellows captured it and hung
it ON the giant buffalo head in his office
At midnight some one stole it, and il Is
supposed to be somewhere in Center
street to-day.
There are certain features of the hold
up that cannot be called Joke. The road
agents got about $15 out of the party, be-
sides any quantity of valuables, such as
watches, rings, charms, ETC., and this
money they retained. Word was sent
to the victims that if they would be good
they might have their jewelry, sbut must
not expect to see their lucre again.
Hughes recovered his watch at 8 o'clock
in the morning, the robbers sending II
to him at a restaurant where he was
eating supper He lost some bonds or
stock of the Chiriqui Trading Company
and some valuable papers on the battle
of Tien Tsin Some people may say he
has lost caste. but he is not man 10
be downed. As the Press had it yester-
day his last words were: "This show isn't
over yet"