Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1895-01-20

one to Introduce the OurIeSQue elephant
on the minstrel stage-went out and
addressed the audience as follows:
Ladies and gentlemen: Iregret very
much to say that the elephant got a
little behind on his board bill and the
heartless landlord seized his trunk for
security, so that it will be quite impos-
sible for him to appear before you this
evening""
The audience caught on and dispersed
amid the Lost boisterous laughter. Dur
ing the balance of onr stay there we
frequently heard people asking one an
other in a humorous way: "Have you
seen the elephant" and am rather in
clined to think that this common phrase
had its origin in this incident.
We played in number of Southern
cities, and in Charleston and Savannah
particularly played long aud successful
engagements.
A TOUGH sTEERAGE.
After our engagement closed the COM
pany broke up and the mem bers drifted
away in twOs and threes. Joe Cava-
naugh, Jim Terrell and myself stayed
in Charleston and had high time, and
when we finally got away We had just
enough money TO pay for steerage pas
sage. AT noon of the first Gay out
there was passed down 10 US some
beans and Iron spoons to eat them with.
II was pretty tough after the good
things we had been accustomed to, and
we stared at the beans and then
at one another with very de-
iected and unhappy looking faces.
Just at that moment the steward
came along and l recognized him as
Charley Walters, formerly prominent
amateur banjo player of Philadelphia.
Wasn't glad to see him, though!
Hello, Charley / said.
"Hello, Bill" he replied; what on
earth are you doing down there?"
Were broke" / answered, and had
to take stesrags. For heavens sake,
get us out of here if you can"
"I'll try" he laughingly replied, and
be did. we made a careful sneakon to
the upper deck, when he took US in
charge, and there, under the pretenee
of showing US the snip, took US around
until we finally landed in some unoccu-
pied first cabins.
Cant you get us something to eat
Charley?" then asked. 1--WE are most
starved"
CPL go and see" he answered. THE
dinner is over, but perhaps l can find
something for you"
Ia short time he returned with q
plate full OF chicken sandwiches and q
bottle of champagne, and-well, you
ought TO have seen US go for them. The
deception wasn't discovered, and we
had first cabin all the way up, and we
so amused the passengers with our
songs and fun generally that we fairly
! foated in champagne during the whole
trip.
After playing an engagement In Phil
adelphia | went on Western and
Southern tour with Campbell's Min
strels, and after my return to Philadel-
phia, Fellows came from New York and
engaged me to play at No. 444 Broad
way, which then had the old Tattersall
wooden front.
In 1852 Sam Wells and located in
Cincinnati. ard, under the name OF
Wells Minstrels, did a good business.
| h. NJ. Ho0ley, who afterward became a
leading Chicago manager, was our first
violinist.
In 1854 l came to New York to take
George Christy's place at No. 444 Broad
way, he desiring to take rest. In 1855
Sitter, Wells and Birch's Minstrels were
organized, and we made al extensive
tour, playing to good business.
THE WEST WAS WILD.
Then followed my California trip,
and it was hummer, both in the way
OF financial returns and novel expert
ences. Tom Mcguire sent r. M. Hooley
here, and he engaged Sam Wells,
Charles Henry, Ned Deaves, Max
Zorar and several others, including my
self. We played in Frisco under the
name Of the San Francisco Minstrels,
and We did great business, our profits
I.,f.