Coachman to the College Tells of Halcyon Days When "T. R." Was His Fare--Freddy Only Man to Floor Best Man in Union

Freddy the Cabman was as temperamental as an opera star about being interviewed. It took the CRIMSON reporter a half hour to persuade him that a few reminiscences, not a nocturnal sleigh ride over frozen Cambridge streets behind old Freddy the Horse, was the object of his approach.

"Well," said Freddy, finally capitulating before the perseverance of the scribe, "I'm the only man that ever knocked 'Teddy' Roosevelt down."

"What!" expostulated the inquisitive one, frantically searching about in his pockets for pen and paper and a propitious beam of light from the flickering are light overhead.

"It's a record, I know," pondered Freddy, waxing garrulous. "Let's see! It was 43 years ago. I've been driving my cab around here now for 14 years. Well I drove 'Teddy' and a bunch of friends to their lodgings in Church Place. They made me come in and put the gloves on with 'Teddy.' He started for me but I jumped aside and swung with my right. It smacked him on the chin and down he went."

The old veteran of the street chuckled as the images of the past crowded around.

"He was a good man. He was the best man ever born in the Union," said Freddy, "even though Freddy knocked him down. He got up like an angry lion and came at me, but his friends stopped the battle there. At that time he was a handsome blond, and was just beginning to grow side whiskers."

"The last time I saw 'Teddy' Roosevelt," continued Freddy, "was when he was President of the United States. He had been lecturing at the Exchange Club in Boston. I was waiting for him at the curb when he came out. He shook hands with me.

"'Freddy,' he said, 'how are you making out?'"

"'First rate, Colonel,' said Freddy, just like this."

"Yes, he was the best man ever born in the Union, and old Freddy Caneny is the only man there ever knocked him down."