, 1880-12-12
Fxperiences Of the Jefersons, Senior
and Junior, at Vincennes,
Ind, in 1874.
4 nBusted" Company, Which Had to
Be Assisted in Getting Ont
Of Town.
Rallies Of the Articles LEFT as Security for
the Funds Advanced to the 1mpe-
cunious Histrions.

fnfo priut, and exist only III the memories oi
thp aoldest inhabitant" The writer moi
ione since heard Incidentally of one of these
,,am;n,scences TINT took on the semblance u1
he legendary; and, as it concerns a man
rim though then comparatively unknown,
l. now of worldwide reputation, and as he
i,now prominently before tho Chicago pub.
u, undertook to trace the matter up for
the purpose of laying it before your readers.
The hero Of the story is none other than the
iustly celebrated
JOE JEFFERSON,
who is this week delighting Chicago audi
eaees
Having learned that, thirty-five or forty
7ears ago, Joe, then Il mere lad, was here,
with his father and Ills company, and that
ther met with disastrous troubles, nearly If
mt quite overwhelming them, sought to
find an ..oldest inllabitant" whose memory
vas ancient enough to serve me. After
much trouble succeeded not only III finding
man with suitable memory, but i'll secur-
inc the very man who in the troubles of the
party STOOD By them and succored them. It
was after fearful drive, over rough roads
md through the cold, that I reached the
home Of
"oLD JERRY DoSAvEN,"
as he is commonly called in this city. After
tylng my horse, I walked across beautiful
sward, now coyeren with snow, to the farm
house, which is pleasantly situated on the
brow Of 4 hill Upon knocking at the door
acheery "Come in!' was heard, whereupon
lifted the latch and entered. Mr.. Donayen
advanced to greet me, and directed me to a
seat by the great, blazing fire of wood in an
ol,l-fashioned fireplace, and which was ex-
ceedingly welcome to my benumbed fingers
and toes 4r. Donayen is man
S4YE:aI:s OF AGE,
oyersir feet In hight, and sta1lds erect and
straight IS an arrow. His white hair gives
Lin venerable appearance, which is aug
uented by his sightiess eyes,-he having
lost his sight some two years since. The
room was similar to the sitting-rooms OF
ordinary far7n-houses. with here and there
marks showing at some time transition
from "better days"
Having passed the compliments of the day,
md being warmed through sufficiently to
handle my peril, I communicated to Mr..
Donaven my object in thus visiting him. lie
at once informed me that it would afford
him great satisfaction to comply with my
request, and thereupon summoned into the
room Mrs: tiedekin. his daughter, the widow
Of Michael lledekin, formerly a prominent
citizen Of Fort: Wayne, Ind. Mrs. uedekin,
being informed Of the object of my visit,
1ronght into the room
A LOT or RELICS
Fhlch had been kept i'll the family during
ae many intervening years as souvenirs uf
he old-time acquaintance. OF these / will
peak further OH.
As the former history Of Mr.. Donaven has
TO do with the subject, I will
,onaven, who formerly lived in Philadel-
hia, was a relative of the Burkes, Jeffersol1s,
nd Warrcns, who were representatives Of
he wealth, refinement, and culture of that
ity at that time Oslo to ls3O). He was,
trough this relationship, acquainted with
e;ors- s-of the country at that time. Joe
Jefferson, Sr.,. and Warren, brothers
n-law, owned and conducted the
Philadelphia Theatre. MIR. Donaven in 1919
eft that city and came West. settling iii this
:lty the following year. Here he entered
shall now speak. prosperous commission
merchant Having furnished these prelilni-
na11es, will now allow the old gentleman to
PROCEED WITH LIS STORY:
"lthlnk, as near as I can reco1lect," be
sald, 1T was in the year 1874 when
the Jefferson troupe. under the
leadership and management of Joe's
11atheE, arrived i'll Vincennes, having Travelled
nom Louisville, Ky.. or Evansville, Ind. Il
coach. over bad roads, and through worse
weather, and were nearly worn out with the
,aagues "a Of the journey. The party consist
e OF Ar. Jefferson, Sr., his wife and WiIe's /
s!Ster, and Joe, Jr., together with five or six |
PPnets, whose names cannot now, recall
.sted myself in their behalf. After securing
laaste1s for them, l saw them partake Of
sooa hearty supper; after which all the
afty, except Joe and his father, retired for |
.ae ae Fight to seek much needed rest III sleep.
u: Jefferson and myself then talked over
ta situation; and, after discussion, it was
E1AY FOR AT LEAST TWO NIGHTS,
n then determine as to the future Vim
with no public hall or railroad,
5a 1e, nad never been visited before by any
agMMs' M' unless 1t was stray circus. The trip
!? lncenneS had proven severe one flnan-
sa1 sal, as we'll as physically, and the party
y 'e,1 e; ;really in great trouble. set about to
y T. Aa " mat could be done [ gave them the
~ y ol ol:L nv Warehouses; large frame build
M Win. as may easily be imagined, very
|aa: aG VI t1e calutOrts or cOnrcniences Of q
ssaue. sss obtained help b. personally inter-
-. saag cluzens, and We went to work the next
ons. ~ erect all llnprOlnptu stage, Seats, etc.
sc ssal1ain was pitced together to hang be-
nsS tssa tne audience aud the players Willie |
!. asy were dressing,-no curtain being used
luont OF the stage.
aa msel a,ss: ai preparations were made, and
r. r., cMsenuul ~ hour drew nigh, no Une--not
~ ~ NJ ~. Je1erSOll-Was more excited than
q a. We e nervonsly waited for the audience
A'e III, one by one. At last
i sH.fpr8