New-York tribune., 1903-01-18

than the ordinary bad boy could think of in a
week
Look out for Captain Jimmy. He's got a new
one" IS the whisper which goes around group
every time the old soldier approaches. It is not
the unsophlstcated new member whom Captain
Jimmy picks his victim. He likes to fool the
elder members best.
Hello Major" he said the other evening on ap-
preaching Major S. Ellis Briggs. the commander of
the Ola Guard
go onr' was the good -hu-nored replv .'I'r on
to your tricks. Don't try to work me-"
'What insinuationr' remarked the old veteran
as he kept putting vigorously the butt of cigar
Got light?'
Just lighted. Captain Jimmy" clapped its burning
end to the stump of his Havana fooer" as he
called il afterward. and a cloud steam arose
Captain 'Jimmy's' cigar was no cigar at ALL but A
hollow bit Of wood filed with water
Somewhere in his travels Captain Jimmy" has
discovered kind of match which will explode
twice. The common. everyday April fool match
explodes only and after the first snap one can
handle the match with sense of security Not so
with Captain "Jimmy's" matches. The unwary
victim will light one, hear it snap and then with
joke that 1T never hit me- calmly hold I'D the
flame to the end of his cigarette. With the first
puff, however. there is flash and a conclusion of
the atmosphere, which leaves the face OF the victim
as blank as that Of a clock when the hands are
gone.
But even Captain Jimmy" after the fashion of
other great and cunning OF history has been
known find at last the tables turned 1t was only
few days ago that he gave a loaded cigar TO
member who. after thanking him for it.
lighted it and walked a friend Captain
Jimmy looked at the cigar which he had given
away, and then a pained expression suddenly
clouded his features.
by George he muttered TO a confederate I'm
afraid he's got the wrong end In his mouth If he
has. it Will blow half dozen Roman candle balls
down his throat. Here" and advancing to his in
tended victim, he snatched the cigar out of the
other guardsman's mouth. AS he turned it over to
see if the young man had actually lighted the
wrong end the cigar began spit fire in direc-
tions. and finally landed a St Elmo ball of flame in
the jokers beard. BY dint Of slapping brushing
himself vigorously Captain Jimmy came out of
the ordeal alive.
Captain Jimmy has several impersonations with
which he delights his friends on high occasions
One consists of the costume by French
ballet dancer: another. that of English soldier
with red whskers match, and 1t is said that he
is now having dress made to order in which he
will pose as Sultan of the Cannibal Islands In
business hours James F Wenman is to be found at
his office. No. u Old Slip. busy with the details of
the cotton brokerage firm. Of which he is the
founder and head.
The Old Guard is made up of picked men, They
almost all of fine physique and big frames
The biggest of all is Thomas J. COnroy- He is
nearly six feet tall. and has been known to tip
the scales 470 pounds Many a story is told
members playing billiards in the just
off the drillroom, when noticed that the balls
would not stand in the centre of the table. AS
soon as they were put in motion they would in
variably roll over TO the side toward Forty
ninth-st- Finally the players were compelled to
place chips under two of the legs of the table.
The game went on. and soon the balls began
hug the other cushion. At last old veteran who
was looking at the game. remarked quietly: You
can take the chips out now. Conroy has just gone
downstairs"
Inc morning after their arrival in Providence.
r. J., last September, a trip the Old Guard
was rendered breakfast by the local military or
ganizations. The menu contained more than a
dozen items. and was a white cloth sheet five
feet long The bill of fare put into the safe
keeping Of William, the armorer. William hoW-
ever became interested in the food itself that
he forgot all about the MENU and when breakfast
over, the menu. well a the meal could
not be found. All eyes Were turned Conroy ana
the charge even made that had appro-
priated the bill of fare, that could have the
TINE breakfast every morning after he got back TO
New-York. Indeed Mr.. Conroy might even vet
have been suffering under this imputaton had NOT
a package arrived at the armory morning from
Hartford, Conn, which contained the long lost
menu. A Connecticut military organization which