The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-03-18

career on the stage and as he is a native
OF Wheeling, spent his boyhood here
and here made his first appearance on
any stage, the facts OF his history have
peculiar interest for Wheeling people.
Mr.. Howard wa one OF six children
Of a former town crier" OF Wheeling.
Five oil them still live. Mrs. James Fit
ton, of Bellaire, and Mrs. Gillespie, OF
this city, being his sisters, and no hasa
brother, superintendent OF a gas works
in Ohio and another in business in Aus
tralia.
Yesterday an INTELLIdENcER reporter
called at Mr.. Howard's boarding place,
an Main street, near Tenth, and had an
interesting chat about old times in
Wheeling and in his business, What
he has not known about minstretsy
and negro delineatlon IS not OF much
interest, as he has been in nearly every
successful company since the Titles
He is still conceded to be the best i'm
p~ersonator in the country OF old negro
men.
Mr.. Howard made his first appearance
on any stage in lS47, in the old "city
hall" now the Second ward market hall.
He, was but u boy. Joe, Dick and Sam
Sweeney had a company Of six, doing
negro minstrel business over tho Jul
try. A young fellow named Yancey,
atterward we'll known here as Capt"
Yancey and T. Tommy Cockayne, lid
der" made up the seXtette. Poor
Tommy Is still here, but a wreck OF his
former self.
In those days there were no COM
panies travelling in special cars and
CARRYING their own scenery. Such a
combination az 1.-The South before tho
War" would have simply paralyzod the
country, literally speaking,
The company made its first 'tour" IN
o skiff, starting from Wheeling, The
first stand was at Grave Creek (now
Moundsyille.) There we're then few
halls in the small towns, and tho GUS
tom was 10 get the dining rooms in the
''tavern'-thls was before the hotel
was inyented-put two large tables to-
gether for u stage, and give the perform
ance. For front seats two bits" were
charged, and for general admission n
bit, or u! cents.
Ministries then were not much like
MINISTRIES now. There were no bones.
A horses Jaw bone and n hard piece OF
wood made u racket somewhat like a
c%astanet, and in the hands OF n skillul
performer not without q rude rythm.
The banjo was a homemade affair OF
four strings. After this five were put
on, but no banjos could be bought.
Dan Rice, afterwards the famous circus
man, war n hostler for Mr.. John Nc.
ComtneY, who had a stable and yard
where Pollock's flour mill Is now
Mr.. Howard saw Junius Brutus Booth
play Shakespearean tragedy in that same
old market hall afterwardl He saw
John Wilkes Booth, and pronounces
him a better actor than either his father
or his brother, Edwin, though he
thinks he was insane.
Young Howard rose rapidly as a
negro impersouator. In 1852 Harriet
Beecher Stowe wrote "Uncle Toms
Cabin" which created a furore historic
ever since. In 1853 Mr.. Howard wrote
q one.act sketch based on the novel, and
appeared in it. A comedy was given,
followed by this sketch, and Mrs. stowe
saw it and was 10 favorably impressed
that abe had him expand it Alter this
it was rewritten and enlarged many
times, but Charley Howard remained
for years the representative impersona.
tor of Uncle Tom in tho land. Recently
he has refused to appear in fake COM
panies.
When President Lincoln issued his
call for men for the three months SCR
vice, Mr.. Howard responded prom pity,
After that term was done, he enlisted
in Carlin's battery and served until he
was detached tor scout duty, In his
minstrel days be had made the tour
through the Valley Of Virginia atoot
time and again, and knew every foot Of
the way. For this reason he was made
chief Of scouts there for the division in
the field. lie was shot and disabled,
and now draws u pension.
Joseph X. Emmett was playing tho
snare drum in a st. Louis theatre when
MI. Howard played an engagement
there. Emmett's right name was Joe
Kanfraw. Howard took charge OF a
theatre in Cincinnati, and Emmett in
6l6Ltu Oh ROllR VIII lllllAl III Nhn NAAAA
ly permitted. He procured dutch"
wardrobe on the sly, and finally Mr..
Howard let him appear at a benefit
After that he rose, rapidly il not
steadily.
Dennan Thompson once played for
Howard at $50 a week. lie was doing
Joshua WhitcOmb in n sketch, the coun
tryman coming in and viewing a very
loud ballet. Dot OF ahis was evolved
the play Joshua Whitcomb."
Stephen Q. Foster, OF Pittsburg, wrote
"0ld Black ZOO" for Howard. Will S,
Hays, of Louisville, wrote "Tho Little
old Log Cabin in the Lane for him,
Ho is himself tho author Of "The Days
When / was Young" II Couldn't Stay
away" where tho Cotton blossoms
Grow" and "Whore the Old Man 3 Laid
away" All Of these songs he has made
famous.
In 1896 Howard wrote "Old Eph's
Dream OF Home" which expanded and
rewritten in several acts instead Of one
IL tne piece now being given at the
Grand by Whallon & Martel's company
under tho tito OF "'rho South Before
the War" with old Charley Howard as
the star, Next year II is the intention
to tako tho company to England, and
produce tho piece oil over Europe
Howard has already mOdo several tours
in Europe, and has also appeared in al
tho cities Of Australia
Mr.. Howard discouragos young peo
plo from going on the stage. Ho sayl
II Is n hard life, last 10 DO chosen OF al
careers, but from tho way no has stuck
to IL and tho success OF his career he
offers 4 stronger encouragement to am
Lltta. Nhau anvlhtuu In cnn unv IN th,