, 1877-01-20
EPH HoR N.
DEATH OF A CALIFORNIA PIO-
NEER MINSTREL.
'.THE KING OF THE c0LORED MEN,"

''THE KING OF THE COLORED MEN,"
On the second day of the present
month, in New York. died one of the
most remarkable men that ever lived.
We do not CLAIM that his was an exams
pie worthy of imitation, like that CT
many men whose lives have been sketch-
ed IN these columns; but he certainly
was the quar- intes' being we ever knew
Newspaper life necessarily annuls the
barriers of nature between editors and
the rest of mankind. Hence, it is not
unfrequent that negro minstrel comes
into an editorial room. advertises his
benefit and asks for "a few lines.'' 1t
would be mean to refuse it to kim under
such circumstances; and it was in this
| way that. nearly II quarter OF century
ago, we became acquainted with the Or
ratio subject of this sketch.
EVAN HORN,
| Or "Eph." as he was familiarly called
by professional associates and the play
going public, was born in Philadelphia
in 1915 and grew up in obscurity. His
father was WelShman, while lis mo-
ther came from the Emerald Isle. Of
his father he could remember nothing,
but it was probably from the maternal
font" ias Micawber would say that he
drew the inspiration of the mother wit
which made him marked man. In 1912.
man came to Philadelphia and describ
ed a plantation festival in South Caro-
lima, at which five negroes gave cons
cert, sitting on chairs in semi-circle,
one playing tamborine, while second
Otficiated as
''BRUDDER BONES,
The remaining three performing on
6ddles and banjos. Burnt cork was no
novelty even in those days. for dad
dy Rice" had been jumping "Jim
! Crow" all over England for six years
previously. But band was formed in
Philadelphia. the first organized in
America. consisting of Frank Brewer,
Tony Wlnnemore, William Warrle, Ed
win Deaves and the subject OF this
sketch. OF these Mr.. Deaves ls now
the only one living. His voice failed
him many years ago and he supports
himself as a wood engraver III San
Francisco. 1t must also be said to his
credit that he served calamity in the
Mexican war and emerged captain at
Cherubusco, promoted for bravery on
| the field. When this band was organ-
| iza5 Horn was
A CARVER IN A RESTAURANT
At a salary of dollar day. He was
not long III pulling out the ribs from
corned beef and converting them into
castanets. One night. while practicing
in his room. he broke one Of the bones
and was obliged to supply its place with
an old chair. From that came the lig-
mum vitae and cocoanut bones so gener-
ally in use by minstrels. In 184S, Horn
was one of the party organized by James
A. Dumbolton, who took them to En-
gland, where they played before the
Queen. He returned to New York in
1850 and next appeared at
444 BROADWAY,
Tn connection with Earl Pierce the
original "Pompey" Of Christy's Min
streis. flerce dlssolved the connection
in 1852 and when We came to San Fran
o;soo !, 1874 v. forrd uorr r,or;no ot
80, Erano;sno H.n of,arma,fs 10 s;,a a
of Moouire,s Orara Honse Tba con,-
as ~
Bryant. ,. y. campbell, Chas. Henry.
w. - W po,S DaaAe an GInl'a ~ noooI,, ns
these all are dead save Rackns Latham
and Henry. The first is one of the San
Francisco Mlrstrels In New York where
ne LAS a.nasseu @dso,ooo; ho'nian A.. ~
Boston tbeaters: Henry is SINGING in
some minstrel band at the East. He was
originally waiter on a Cunard steamer
and attracted the attention of
| 1hh AAiH DAM "AhLo'
Who procured him an engagement in
Woods Minstrels. After he came to
60, Froro;sco .,naer enoaoemer+ r.
~ ~ T.
'iaeulfe he ohehueA 1pn iioin "oou'
sonle'hinS anu 'heS "iu ho' spo"h one
n'sn'' no,. was e"oy " so '1o 'e
was standing in the wing. so that Horn
could not pass him. With look of
disgust mat even the soo,y covering on
i, &C. l@eU o,t o % ~ u,an ,ou d-"d Enn'
,;sh butlar - uo,n w,s reslIv
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