The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-05-09
BILLY NEwCOMB.
The Death of this Once Celebrates Min
sfreI
Cincinnati Enquirer.l

cincinnati Enquirer.
Colonel Nick Roberts last night tele-
graphed us from New York the fact that W.
w. Newcomb, the we'll known Ethiopian
comedian and minstrel manager, had died
in that city yesterday. Mr.. NewcOmb was
born in Utica n. Y, August 4, 1880, and
was, consequently, in his 47th year. At
a very early age he evinced a decided
prediction for the stage, and one night
happening to attend the performance of a
Mr.. Fitzgallan, a banjo player and singer, he
became so much infatuated with him that
he sought him out after his show was over
and besought him to take him as an appren
tice. Fitzgallan engaged him, and under his
guidance and tuition he soon became very
clever performer. While playing in Utica
Mr.. Newcomb attracted the attention of n.
B. Howe. then the proprietor of the largest
circus in the United States, and the result
was that he was engaged by that gentle
ine salary. At the expiration Of
this contract he, with a Mr.. Thayer,
organized band of Ministries and travelled
with it quite a while very successfully. At
ter severing his connection with this party,
he was the feature of a number of minstrel
parties for several years. While with Eel
lows Ministries he originated the famous
Essence of Old Virginia" Ia breakdown
dance that is yet favorite on the minstrel
boards) and burlesque lecture on
"WOman's Rights" that serves as a model
even now for minstrel stump speakers
About this time he met the celebrated Hi
Rumsey, the banjo king, and the twain
united their fortunes and founded Rumsey
Il Newcomb's Ministries, which in its day was
the crack travelling minstrel organization of
the country. This troupe lasted six years,
and made an immense amount of money.
In 1860 it visited Europe, doing well in Eng
land, Ireland, Scotland, and fairly in Rus
STA and France. 1t did not please in Ger
many, however, for the Germans took um-
bragg at the fact that the members of the
troupe were only cOrked up darkles and not
slmon-pure nigs, as they supposed they were
when they saw them play, and no
amount of argument could convince
the stolid Germans that Newcomb and
his party were not frauds. Returning
from his European trip he took his troupe
to Cuba, and in forty-two concerts cleared
the sum of $4,000. After dissolving part
nership with Rumsey Mr.. Newcomb went
into business as a manager on his own hook
and for while was quite successful. Many
of our readers will remember the war that
took place between La Rue's miDstrels and
Newcomb's for the possession of Woods the
alter a number of years ago. The contest
ended in favor of Newcornb, who had for his
comedians Billy Emerson, Johnny Allen
and Billy Manning. These parties made
| such a success with him that they seeded
and started the ever popular band, Emerson,
Allen & Manning's minstrels, which, in one
week, at Fixes opera house, took in over
81 900 for receipts. In conjunction with
Nick Roberts, Mr.. Newcomb afterward
started gift enterprise in connection with
his Ministries 1t was quite popular for
while. In his day Newcomb made an
immense sum of money, but being
of an imprudent nature, be did not re-
tain it long. and his latter days were embit-
tered by sickness and poverty. Indeed, to
such a strait was he reduced for money a
couple of years ago that he sold a costly
InUnument which he had erected over the
remains OF one OF his wives for mere pit
lance AS an Ethiopia an performer he was
one of the best that blacked up. and
there are few in the business to-day that are
n 1.-THE as good as he was. Bobby Newcomb,
the famous song and dance man, was his
ward and pupil.