The morning call., 1891-03-11
ALCATRAZ ACTORS.
Termination of Military Sen.
tence With Song and Dance.

Lille at AicatraZ lSianQ does not present
many startling novelties, and the announce.
ment, some weeks ago, that the monotony
of life on 1.-THE Rock" would be broken by q
dramatic entertainment was hailed with
delight by all whose home is at the post OF
the military prison of the Pacific. The
talent was local, and was furnished en-.
tirely from the ranks of those who have
transgressed military laws. and are now
paying the penalty fol- their indiscretion.
Rehearsals have been held frequently dur
ing the past three weeks, eliminating last
night in the presentation by the Alcatra7
Island Variety Troupe of AL excellent pro.
gramme in the Prison Library Hall, which
was crowded to the doors.
The entertainment was benefit rendered
to Henry Bennett, who will in short time
be freed from confinement. his term expir-
ing on April nth. Two years ago Bennett
was private in + Company, Third In.
fanHy, and deserted from his regiment
while at Fort Missoula, Montana. For this
OffenSe he was sentenced 10 four years i'm
prisonment ut Alcatraz, but two years
of his sentence were subs eQuently re-
mitted. His conduct during the period
of his incarceration has been good, and as
he has received five days credit in every
month, the term of his sentence has been
further curtailed by four months credits.
Bennett is popular alike with his fellow
prisoners and with the soldiers of the post.
He is by trade, first painter, second a war
rior, but does not seem inclined to follow
either vocation continuously. The benefci-
airy Of last nights entertainment is far from
being stranger to the discipline of mill
tary prison, having on at least two previous
occasions served three years sentence for
desertion. During one of these terms he
was known as Zimmerman, which is be-
EnVnH IN " n o.
his discharge Bennett or Zimmerman has re-
enlisted under assumed names, and after
serving for short time he has always de-
serted. Whether or not his Forthcoming re-
turn to the raiment of the ordinary citizen
will be permanent remains to be seen.
Bennett has returned to his first love dur
ing his sojourn at his present quarters, and
part OF his work has been the decoration of
the Ibrary-hall, and the painting of scenery
and dr0p-curtain for the stage. In return
for this service the prisoners composing the
troupe rendered him a complimentary bene-
fit In order that their companion might not
go out from the pris0n-walls empty handed.
All OF the c0nvlctS, except th0S3 degraded
to the yellow stripe for bad conduct, ere
admitted to the hall, ana a sufficient num-
Der of officers and prlvates were present to
provide good purse for Bennett when he
returns to civilianshp.
The string band of the Fifth Artillery
volunteered its services as an orchestra,
and rendered number of operate selec-
tons in good military style. The accom-
paniments to the solos and choruseS was
furnished by William II. Veltn on the me-
lOdeon ordinarily used for religious services.
Inc programme was long and varied, cou-
ssting of i've parts, in each of which was
introduced a different feature of buresQue
entertainment. The first number coul-
prlsed series of songs and dances,
interspersed with many venerable jokes
and some new ,wittlcisms, rendered by
IL Christie Minstrel troupe. This
was succeeded by four farce-comedies. emit
tied respectively French Flats" stand on
Your Head" Family Troubles" and Fun
in the Pawnbroker'S." Several local hits
were introduced, provoking much merri-
ment among the audience. The solos by
Lewis, Parker and Burton were encoTed,
and the clog-dancing by Lewis was highly
appreciated. Parkers banjo solos were
particularly good, as was the num-
Der rendered by the Excelsior Quar-
tet The hit of the evening. how
ever, was the burlesque impersonations
OF Sara Bernhardts cleopatra. by
j. C. Bushnell, who figured on the bill as
Charles Reid. Cleopatra as burly trooper,
six feet in his stockings, with an enormous
mustache, was indeed novelty, as was the
asp, which was lmpersonated by black
snake whip. The costume was clever and
realistic imitation Of the great French
actress.
The names of the comedians are as fol-
lows: J.. Lewis, +. Lamont, j. G. Bush
nell. T. Lewis. Edward Wilson, r. Parker.
j. Alexander, l., II. Peck, j. Cotton, j..
Hall, r. Burton, H. Massey and James Nc
Coughely. The unique floral decorations
were furnished by Edward Wagner.
Among those in the audience were: Cap
tain George w. Crabb, Mrs. Crabb, Miss
Bessie Crabb, Lieutenant William f. Han
cock, Mrs. Hancock, Lieutenant Charles
Gallup Mrs. Gallup and Miss Florence
Ryan Of Buffalo. n. Y, Mrs. Widrck, Cap
tain B. F. Leeds, Mr.. and Mrs n. j. Chap
man, Edgar A. Mackln. Sergeant Francis
McCatfery and Mrs. McCaffery, Sergeant
Erskine, Mrs. Erskine Miss Erskine, Ser
geant Charles Ii. Bowcott, Mrs. BGwcott.
Miss Bowcott, Sergeant Joseph Heitar Ser
geant Ray of Alcdtraz, Sergeant Kennedy
and Mrs. Kennedy of the Preside. and Fred
Levre, George Ryan, Alfred Nj. Pah John
Flaherty and George Kendall of this city.