The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-04-26
TELL GOOD STORIES
ABOUT COL. JOSEPH K. RICKEY.
R~EPCBLIC SPECIAL

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Washington. April The tragic Death
OF Colonel Joe Hickey in New York was
heard in Washington with much sorrow.
for Colonel Hickey was well known at the
national capital and had many friends here.
His death naturally recalls 10 Washington
the famous drink which bears his name.
and although it vas first concocted in this
city twelve years ago. it is still one of the
most popular thi~rst-quenchers. not only in
Washington. but all over the country.
SEVERAL VERSIoNS
OF THE "RICKEYS" ORIGIN.
There are several versions of the origin
Of the gin r!ckey. The one which passes
around here as the true story f. as fol-
lows:
One warm GUNNER day. about twelve
years ago. Colonel Hickey. who was a man
who liked his liquid refreshment, had been
indulGing not too wisely. but too often, and
WsshingtOn's favorite thirst quenchery."
and seeing the arable George Williamson
behind the POLISHED bar. asked for a bracer.
Williamson placed a large-siZed goblet
before the Colonel, and placed therein a
chunk Of ice. Colonel Hickey looked al the
ice for a while: and then said:
Pour some bourbon on It and fill IL up
with seltzer from a siphon-"
George really made what is now known
The Colonel drank it with evident pleas
ure. and ordered another. He drank six
before his thirst Was satisfied. ana then left
the cafe.
Fred Mussey. since dead. had been watch
ing the incident. and. after Colonel Hickey
had departed walked TO the bar and asked
George for ''one of those things Hickey
had been drinking" He. too. liked Il. and
SO next day Colonel Hickey and Mussey
both met in Shoomaker's. and with them
was Colonel Hatch. a ~well-known man
about Washington. When they ordered
their drinks as taken the day before.
Colonel Hatch. seeing a bowl Of lines on
the counter, said:
Say. Joe. why don't you try a lime in
Colonel Hickey liked the suggestion. and
Williamson squeezed a half lime in each
glass before putting in the bourbon and
50 cooling and so delightful that Il was
adopted as a permanent ingredient, and
made the Hickey
York, and called for a hickey at the Hon-
man House bar. of course. IL was I'M
known. but when he explained how VII
caught Oh. and within a day tbs rickey'
was the rage in New York. and ever since
II ma mas 9 9ftn many y ""rickeys' %ere Or
dered at Shoomaker's in memory OF Colonel
Joe. and George Williamson. who Is still at
Shoomaker's. was Kept busy telling how he
nrst made the original concoctiOn.
There now hangs In Shoomakers a sign
bearing the following words: This is the
Of the Hickey
After years of attendance at conventions,
he was always the center OF a witty.
sometimes hilarlOuS. cONtfle OF poll
tfcians. who did not care much how the
resulted. so long as the supplies
did not give out. and the gathering was suf-
prctracted. Colonel Hickey became
as a rational character.
NEW YORK VERSION
THE RICKEY'S" BIRTH.
REPTBIIC SPECIAL
New York. April S-The death OF Colonel
Hickey is regretted here in a wide circle.
and many anecdotes are told about him by
his friends.
IL Is upon an addition to the worlds cata-
logue Of fancy drinks that. perhaps. rests
Colonel Rickey's chief claim 10 distinction.
he had as clear a title 20 that as
10 his Colonel is somewhat IN doubt.
Hickey himself Is not on record personally
IS ever having claimed the discovery OF the
recOguizedly most popular Of coolers"
And II Is now almost generally accepted
Hickey bore about the same relation
10 the drink which bore his name as did
Vespucci TO the Western Continent
AN exploiter, not a discoyerer-uninten-
getting credit where Il really was
The drink. in a modified form. was
long before II received its dIstin-
and distinguished title.
Hickey exploited II and gave 10 its boom" |
II the St Louis convention when Tlden ]
nominated for President-and that was |