Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1889-05-02
OLD TIME MINSTRELSY.
THE MIDDLE MANS" STORY OF
HIS BURNT CORK CAREER.


Tour to Cuba--Livlns Several Days
Five Crackers Beating n Ride.
ness Is Joseph M. Norcross, the jovial inter |
locutor Of the Haverly-Cleveland minstrels. |
Mr.. Norcross is not very old in years, only |
about ~, but there are few whose term Of |
service In the ranks of minstrelsy approaches |
hisl 1t was just about thirty two years ago |
that he Backed himself up and earned his |
FIRST dollar as a maker OF laughs. IL took |
good many laughs to make a dollar IN those |
days, and backing up was not then the simple |
operation 1t is today
Now, carefully prepared burnt cork can be
purchased ready for use by the barrel but
the dark faced artists of third of a century
ago thought burned wood good enough for
them. He had excellent alto voice and
taste for instrumental music, and had made
something of a reputation from perform
ances with amateurs. Assuming the name
Of Joe Norrie and purchasing "a violoncello,
he organized minstrel company The or
ganization was known as Sharply and Nor
rios MINISTRIES, and included seven perform
ers. The instruments of the orchestra con
sisted OF a VIOLIN banjo violoncello and jaw
bone.
80 encouraged was Mr. Norcross with his
success that in 1859 he joined the company
controlled by William and Byram Christie,
sons OF the original Christie.
THAT TRIP TO CUBA AND BACK
He next joined the Eolian Ministries and
made tour to Cuba and Mexico. The per-
formances were given under canvas and the
company, meeting with financial reverses,
reduced expenses by discharging all the can
VS. md
their duties. Hiscontract called for a salary
Of $50 week, something really enormous for
those days. He was with the company SIX
months, during which time hereceived ex-
aotly two weeks salary, paid in numerous
installments
They had man adventures during their
Mexican tour. u was at the time of the re-
bellion, and while playing at Bagdad and
Matamoras pass was obtained from the
Confederacy allowing them to cross the river
and show In Brownsville. Mr.. Norcross has
that pass In his possession today When the
company desired to return to the United
States vessel was chartered to take them to
New Orleans 1t was expected that the voy-
age would be accomplished in less than five
days, 30 only provisions enough for that
length Of time were taken. Contrary winds
and dead Gains heightened the voyage to
nearly two weeks, and they would certainly
have starved had they not fallen in with a
small schooner, from which a barrel OF crack
ers was obtained. The crackers were of
Mexican make, half a foot square, nearly as
thick through and hard as a brick They
were equally divided among all on board.
each receiving five.
When Mr.. Norcross and his company
reached New Orleans they were dead broke.
members or the bankrupt minstrel company
set out from New Orleans for home Ii was
remarkable journey, and can best be told in
the words of Mr. Norcross. Said he:
I'VE went aboard the steamer Ruth, which
was bound up the Mississippi TO Cairo, where
we hoped to find another boat which would
carry US to Cincinnati from where we could
take the cars TO Philadelphia. explained to
the captain our state of finances, and he agreed
to give us our passage if we would help put
the cargo on board Having served as oan-
vasmen, we did not mind hard work, and
hustled the bales Of cotton about with such
good viii that the captain soon called us upon
deck and said we had done enough We gave
concert that night and pleased the captain
20 much that we were given staterooms We
continued to entertain the passengers, and
when we reached Cairo were presented with
purse of $50
"Ilearned from the steward that the steamer
Darling, which was then about to leave for
Cincinnati, was run by splendid sort of peo-
pie, so determined to try and get passage
without paying for 1t. ! went TO the captain
with the recommendation OF the steward, and
asked him If he would not give us our pas
sage in exchange for musical entertainments
1t turned out that the steward was thorough
lx1h hat So.
refused my request
He said that the steward tried to pass off
ON him all the dead beats be could rake up.
One of my companions was clever piano
player, and Just before the boat was to start
he began a performance upon the steam cal
hope an instrument with which all Missis-
sippi river boats were then provided. So
merrily did he play that the captains heart
was softened and he informed us that we
need not go ashore.
THE DAzED LANDLORD
SAT Cincinnati separated from my three
friends had about $50 in my pocket. but
/ determined to save it to buy a suit of
clothes with, when / reached Philadelphia. I
knew | could not get an engagement unless /
dressed decently. CHANGING to notice a gen
tleman, who had no baggage, purchase a
ticket, explained my situation to him and
he agreed to check my two trunks through to
Philadelphia. | got aboard the train and
when the conductor came around told him
Of the bad fix was In, but could not induce
him TO pass me. As he insisted upon it got
OF at the next station intending to board the
next train But when the cars started my
heart failed me and l got on again The con-
ductor was rather wrathy when he found me
still aboard his train, but finally won his good
will and a IN rho vt
helped me through to my journeys end.
II had nothing to eat from the time left
Cincinnati until / landed in Philadelphia, ex-
eept one meal, and that was a big one. The
train stopped at a restaurant and I went in
and ate all / could. When finished called
for the landlord and said: My dear sir,
have had a splendid dinner here; | have
eaten all can and have not "a cent to pay for
1t. IL had asked your permission you would
have refused me. Now that the dinner Is
gone, what are you going to do about itp /
expected that he would kick me out, and
rather hoped he might. Instead he looked
dazed for a moment and then said, Have a
cigarpn
Soon after arriving in Philadelphia Mr..
Norcross secured an engagement with Cotton
and Murphy Joe Murphy and his fortunes
mended rapidly. OF course he has expe-
rienced the ups and downs peculiar to his
profession, but his career has been unusually
successful. His voice, which in youth was
alto, changed to rich, deep bass and has
gained for him an enviable reputation as a
vocalist. He has been with most Of the IA
nous minstrels of his time, and has crossed
the continent seven times. He Joined Hav-
erly's company in 1884 and went to Europe
with that mammoth organization When
w. - CLEVELAND assumed mana IF fhe
company in January, 1887, he was retained
rs stage manager, and has dnce retained that
position and contributed much to the won
derful success this company has won.-Bos-
ton Globe.
Roroed IN Iaava Homa