The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-03-26


The first military organization in the
town OF Wilmington that we have any
record of was a cavalry call
ed he Wilmington Light Horse. 1t was
composed Of our best citizens and it is
recalled hat Ex-Gov. Dudley and DR..
James F. McRee, Sr.. served as cap
tains-
Iheir place of meeting was in front
Of the old Jail which then stood on the
lot adjoining the present building so
long used as a court house. Immediate
ly opposite was an enormous oak tree.
its trunk followed out by age and in
which the boys used to congregate and
watch the evolutions of the troop with
the most intense delight. But h
trumpeter of the company, Philip BaZ-
adhere by name, was the central object
Of their admiration. He came here
from the island of Guadalupe. a bar
Der by profession or as he was fond
Of styling himself. a tonsorial artist.
and was Of mixed blood. His
were very polished and his address ex-
tremely courteous and dignifed. in fact
it was a pleasure to meet him and to
receive his polite bow with uplifted hat
and his usual greeting your servant
sir" He was scrupulously neat in his
dress, always wore broadcloth and a
beaver a and a half dozen or more
white cravats around his throat as the
fashion then was. indeed the latter was
carried to a very great extreme and
it is recalled hat on one occasion a
prominent leader Of society being TAX
en- suddenly Ill. fourteen linen ambric
cravats were unwound from his neck.
Whenever there was to be a parade
of the Light Horse, Philip was in his
glory. Dressed in a scarlet coat and
cooked a with breaches to suit and
top boots. he would mount his horse
early in the morning and gallop fiercely
through the streets. stopping for a mo-
ment at each square to toot his horn
and which announced to the slumber-
ing inhabitants that the Light Horse
would parade that day. No peacock
with all his brilliant feathers displayed
could be vainer than he, nor bantom
cock struting in the barnyard more
conceited. He really thought he was
the most important parsonage in the
bailiwick and that without him, the
Light Horse would sink into insignifi-
canoe. A crowd of boys Of all colOrs
generally followed at his heels as he
rod along, shouting and hurraing
with might and main which added
much to the excitement Of the Occa-
sion and to his w self Importance and
cOnceit. But there was nc harm in
him and he was always, even when
dressed up in his scarlet uniform, po-
lite and respectful.
His barberShOp was in the alley
that runs from Front to Water street
known as Bank Alley and %adjoined the
Cape Fear Bank lot and his residence
was above it. He did not cOnfine him
self entirely to his shop for he could
be seen on the streets every morning
with his rasors and can of hot water
vending his way to the residences OF
many of his customers to wait on them
at their homes and bearing himself
with great dignity as he passed along.
He was one of the institutions of the
town n very much respected. but
unfortunately as he grew old he began
to tilt with John BarleycOrn and with
the result that attends all who enter
into that contest. After a few rounds
he was compelled to throw up the
pon and disappeared from the pub
lie case entirely and pom enquiry it
was discovered that the t%onsorial artist
Of ban alley, the scarlet trumpeter
of the Light Horse, old Phillip Baza-
diere had sounded his last note and de-
parted. He died very poor and We
think, neglected, and has long since
been forgotten.