The morning call., 1890-12-26
AMONG THE CONS"
Minstrelsy at the San Quentin
Penitentiary.
Three Characteristic Exhibitions Given by
The Iron Gates Gigantic Speciality
Company"

San Quentin Penitentiary, where 1900 men
are incarcerated, work and have world all
to themselves, was stirred to- its very center
all day yesterday by an event Of uncommon
interest-one that shows that compulsory
isolation from the great living, palpitating
world without does not destroy all the ties
that bind them to civilization, does not make
them lose an interest in the events Of history
that are theirs by right of Inheritance. 1t is
safe to say that no day has been looked
forward to with more expectation, enjoyed
with more gusto, and destined 10 serve as
greater milestone in the unfortunate years
of their incarceration.
For weeks preparations have been going
Cd for a yuletide entertainment, and the
convicts with common interest entered
into the work. Uniforms were made OF
jute bags, dyed or painted, as dye or paint
first fell into the convicts' hands, and several
costumes were composed of jute cOlored by
both methods. The false hair and boards
were of combed 1ute, dyed and waxed, and
from a distance served as well as real hair
possibly could.
PRIsoN-MADE ACCESSORIES.
The scenery was of jute bags ripped up,
tackled to frames and painted. One of these
was street scene, another parlor and
third very respectable wooded scene. No
pdlt vi tut tdItut, NUttHtI Oil lllb DOaluS,
in the orchestra or back of the scenes, was
other than that of conyicts. They pre-
pared everything, produced everything, but
the results We're enjoyed by many visitors.
as well as officers and attaches and by the
convics.
The stage was built in the library. On
its right was buffalo hunting scene and on
the left painting representing a Mexican
bull-fght. A dude painted in an angle on
the LETT and minstrel on the right served
as statues to relieve the angle the recess of
the stage made with the wall. while above
were pendant feStoOnS OF eyergreenS and
holly.
The orchestra were seated onSstocls in
prominent position to relieve the distance
between the level height of heads in the
audience and the stage floor The follow
ing is the equipment of the orchestra {:
Leader, John Collins; violinists, Convicts
Brannan. Taylor and Knight; guitarists,
Ortiga, Espinosa and Rupert; bass vials,
Oliyas and Lewis.
AN ELABORATE PROGRAMME.
Fer name the projectors adopted "The
Iron Gates Gigantic Speciality Company" a
CHASTITY reference to their confinement, a
juggling of words to reduce the sting of
reality Their first exhibition was given on
Wednesday night for the officers aud prison
attaches and two were given yesterday for
the convicfs: one in the morning attended
by 500 prisoners. and the other at 80 in the
afternoon for the other 800. who were kept
in DURANGO during the morning.
The programme was elaborate, inter-
changeable and parts might have been
left out ad libtum without endanger
ing the play. and with the exception of the
first exhibition the whole was not carried
out. 1t opened with rendition of The
Old Kentucky Home" in which the vocal
lists were behind the curtain. This was fol-
lowed by minstrel end-nan act in which
Ed Walker was interlocuior, j. A. Cain
nd Ia nsfa I'M Lad fta
tamb0rine.
Their points all referred to their imprison-
ment Bones told how he was in San Fran
cisco once, then added, soto voce, but that
was long time ago" Then, with a shout.
Tamborne started the laugh that travelled
from the orchestra to the Chinese convicts
in the rear of the hall. To 4 convict the
joke may be full OF life; to a free man it
was the mockery of death.
DE CoSTA'S TOPICAL DITTY.
The second number was an original ditty
by Dave de Costa. 1t was designated on the
programme as comic song" 1t was, in
fact. history of his stay in the prison and
OF his hopes to leave. 1t detailed that he
has to serve three months and TWEEN ty seven
days yet, and advised the making Of his
citizens clothes:
Tell all the ICONS" good-by
Cause I'm gwine to go.
Then he added that if lie ever is put In
prison again it will be back East,
Or in foreign cline.
Or i'll some other penitentiary.
Then he sang to the company's chorus:
The time Is coming and hope 1t wont be long.
Choru: Tel all the ICONS" good-by.
I'll be going down the world singing my little song
Tell all the ICONS" guod-by.
II on the road stop for to get little drop,
wont be long II around is any cop.
Chorus: How! lymph! Tell all the ICONS" good-by.
This song questionable valus as an in
spirer among convicis was followed by a
beautiful rendition Of ITO M" ballad, by
one Mitchell, whose barytone is remarkable.
The next two numbers. sentimental
Crust and Sherwood. J. A. Cain gave the
well-known Pm Methodist, Pm a Meth
odist. I'm a Methodist until / de-" suited
to the several denominations, while the
company sang a chorus, the burden of
which was that that was one of his hard
trials. The finale of this part represented
King Caulllower's arrival. When the King
entered, the company sang The Mckinley
Dill has made him III, so you must receive
him we'll" II ended by the King being
arrested for disturbing the peace, after
having ''knighted" all on the stage, "just
as did with the Charleston's crew."
THERE WAS NO INTERMIssIoN.
The second part of tile programme was
known from the first to these alone who
held programme as there was no inter-
mission. ne entr'acte to allow the convicts
to go out to see man. which is a conve-
uicEce Tue lduIeS WUuluSEtNe aDpreclat ed.
The first number was comic banjo act by
Thompson and kyle, both experts on the
banjo. This was followed by dnet Lar
board Watch. Ahoy!" and a song and dance
entitled Alabama Blossoms" Convicts
Forney and Wheatley, expert clog-dancers,
10 answer to two encores.
The finale to part second was farce en-
titled The Mischievous Monkey" The
monkey was dressed in lcose-fitting gunpy
bag with uncombed jute sewed to it at If
regular spaces; not enough Of it to give the
impression that hair was meant but enough
to make the outlines indistinct. This non
descript had bis face blacksned and walked
more On his hands and head than his feet
AS a monkey lie was failure, as substitute
he was success His dire end was to have
his tail cut off. Justice is then appeaSed
and the curtain descends.
HEAP GooDi wELLY GooDW
Tne third part gave chance for indivi-
dual talent tc assert itself, ana several con.
victs took on themselves impersonations
OF national and race characteristics. After
farce introducing "Owney McGinty, that
Irish act entitled "The Workmen's Strike, i"
the entertainment closed with "Good
Night" sung by Flores and Sherwood.
Inc programme was prepared by Ed
Walker, manager. assisted by William
Forney. stage manager. John Collins was
the musical director, Al Lynchcombe the
scenic artist, and Con Hoffmann the stage
carpenter, all of whom are convicts.
We have had great time" said Convict
Walker. I'VE have to thank the Warden
for this chance to exercise ourselves in ways
not 1u:e.' 1t is much better than to have a
troupe visit us. We appreciate it more"
Him heap good, welly good" said Chi
nese convict. and lie went beamingly to his
cell. Evidently his words were echoed in the
minds of all present, and it is safe to say that
the memories Of the past and their associa-
ton In common heartfelt effort yesterday
will elevate most of them.
The meals served all day were much better
than usual and the machinery shut down all
day TO give them chance. In every way
the cons" at San Quentin enjoyed the day
and 1.-THE Iron Gates Gigantic Speciality
Company" will be handed down in the
prison traditions as a success histrionc.
A BURGLARS STORY.
Result Of an Attempt at Robbery I'm n