Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-10-13
Ns Istt York

NEW 4Onh-Wnlle VeuS Ol
thousands were fighting for q
chance to glimpse the new Waldorf
Astoria, I dropped yer to see Al
Crockett (Albert Stevens Crockett
to YOU'D and refresh my memory on
legends Of dudes" and handles Of
the old Waldorf.
For years Al was press agent OF
the historic hotel, and established
himself as something Of an author
ity in his book titled "Peacocks on
Parade"
"You have heard q lot Of stories
about Oscar, whose name has be-
come known around the world"
reminisced Al. But I wonder II
you've ever heard this one. Well,
the old Hoffman House was owned
and operated by Ed Stokes. who
shot his way into the limelight
when he put q bullet through Jim
Fiske. the gambler and sportsman
or maybe the public will remember
him best In connection with the
Erie railroad scandals. Or maybe
they'll recall that the shooting
grew out Of jealousy over one
Josie Mansfield.
But to get around to Oscar:
Stokes owned a grand yacht. The
parties staged thereon were the
subject OF many whisperings.
Naturally, the cuisine must be per-
feet, and the attention to enter
tainment details must be the last
word. Suckers looked about his
Hoffman House retinue for some
one properly fitted to be chief
steward and major domo OF his
yacht. Stokes picked his favorite
waiter. The walters name was
Oscar"
Berry Wall has become known
through the years as king Of the
dudes" But it was a bright youn-
reporter named Blakely Hall who
is credited with creating the legend.
Wall was good copy" and Hall
knew II. His stories attracted so
much attention that a competing
newspaper looked about for a
rival. and selected Robert Hilliard,
the famous actor Of yesteryear. The
two papers began a battle Of the
wardrobe" each backing the
chosen candidate. billiard happened
to be appearing in a western melo-
drama. In his role Of gambler, he
wore a pair Of patent leather hip
boots. One night in mid March,
New York focnd itself showed
in" Hilliard, with his cronies,
were prisoned by the blizzard
Then, warmed by a few wniskyS
and soda, the actor thought Of a
way to outSmart Barry Wall. OF
course-the hip bootsl A few
moments later, to the admiration
Of his admirers, billiard was max
ing his way hip deep to the Hoff-
man House, where his cronies
gathered. Barry Wall saw and
frowned. Weeks passed before the
chief dude" was quite himself
again.
And here is a tale Of the old
Waldorf's opening as Crockett
passed IL on to me-one I had not
heard before, by the way: Yes
everyone who was anyone had
turned out. And the "berthas" lad
made their appearance as an i'm
portant feminine vogue. And social
history had been made-and al
that. But none in the crowd OF gay
first-night merry-makers knew OF
tragedy and confusion behind the
scenes.
1t seems that while the gala
dinner was being served, the body
OF o young woman-a dishwasher
In the pantry-had been found al
the foot Of the elevator shaft
Thirty-four specially engated
pantry workers suddenly refused tc
60 on. They put on their coat;
and walked out.
And on this historic night. the
assistant steward went out into the
street and hired buns and tramps
as fast as he could pick them from
the sidewalks. The great piles oil
valuable silver and glassware was
washed that night by an army OF
the city's derelictsl