The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-12-28
REBEL
interesting Incidents I'm the Experience Of
confederate Prisoners Of War-They had
Theatricals at Johnsoa's Island-Cap.
tain James I. Astts one of the Players

Theatricals at Johnsoa's Island-Cap.
tain James i. M.tts one OF the PLAYERS
There are many incidents OF the late
civil war coming to the front as the
years put us further from the conflict.
we rave heard how cheerfully and he
roicly the confederate soldiers endured
the h~ardships OF camp life and how full
of fun and humor they were in the face
OF all the dangers and privations tina.
beset them every day. Their patriotism
and fighting qualities are q matter Of
history, recorded in the battles that
made the great American war the most
noted in the annals of the world. How
many, however, know that amid all
the dangers of battle and the restraints
OF prison life that h boys in grey
ave some of their time and attention
to histrionic matters and played their
parts upon the stage?
Our esteemed citizen, Captain James
Z. Nets, Third North Carolina Infant
Island, in 1864, and he tells us that
even in the confinement Of prison h
boys kept UP their spirits and had fire.
! quent theatrical entertainments. AS
mementoes of these occasions, Captain
Metts is the possess or of several bills
advertising the plays and giving the
casts.
ISLAND MINSTRELS.
One Of the bills proclaims the fact
that the Island Minstrels'' would on
Saturday afternoon, October 10, 1863,
give an entertainment. Under the head
line Of the bill the names Of h fol-
lowing management appears:
Manager and proprietor, Mr.. Chas.
L. Stout"
Acting Stage Manager, MI. E. H.
Walter"
Musical Director, MI. w. H. Har-
riss."
''Treasurer, Mr.. J. C. Ward"
The following unique announcement
is made:
"The manager having had forty
years experience in his peculiar line of
business, is proud to to the
friends Of the institution and citizens
OF Johnson's Island, that after unpar-
alleled exertions he has succeeded in
procuring the first order OF talent from
Fort Delaware, Alton, Camp Chase
and the penitentiaTies of Columbus,
OhIo, and Allegheny City, Pa, he is
NOW prepared to present to d public
the greatest array of talent ever De-
fore witnessed in the United States.
He has succeeded in procuring. dor
one night only, the ~ervic of the Gel
ebrated Irish comedian, Billy Boyd,
n also the following stars: MI. ID. l..
Durham, the GnimttaIble bones: Mr.. T.
f. Mitchell, the renowned guttarfst;
MIR. J. C. Ward, the exquisite futist;
Mr.. VIM. H. Harriss, the modern Palg-
amin; Mr.. Ole Bull Livingstone, Mr..
Paul Julien Hannahan, Mr.. Joe SWee-
ney Cronin, Mr.. Triangular Decker,
Mr.. Charles L. Stout. Feeling that he
would not Zoe able do justice to his own
merits, he respectfully invites the
public to come and see what he can
do with the tambOurine."
Then follows an interesting pro-
gramm of songs, jig dancing and mu-
sic by the members of the company
and the band LAS a third part it is an
nounced that 1.-THE astonishing after
piece entitled The Secret, or the Hole
in the Fence would he presented"
, REBEL THESPIANS.
Another bill that the
Thursday evening, January Z, 1864, in
IAN Original drama by Lieutenant A.
]. Peeler, of Florida, written expressly
for the Thespians." The bill says: The
manager feels an honest pride in pre-
senting this performance to his fellow
prisoners. a splendid melo-drama in
five acts 10y a member Of the associa-
ton. The play reflects much credit
on the young author, exhibiting great
beauty and perfection in d~elineation Of
character. IT presents to the soldier
many familiar scenes of the LIST, End
and 3rd Of July at Gettysburg, Penn"
The performance concluded with h
farce BOX and Cox" The orchestra in
cluded the talent in the Island Min
s~trels,'' and among he managers ap-
pears the name of Captain Jno. r. FEEL
IoNS, dS pAoiAlptOS ""O
the war became the famous district at
torney OF New York. In the farce Cap
ain Fellows took the role OF Box
Our tOwnsman, Captain James I.
Nets, then lieutenant. appeared in the
drama cast as Mrs. Louisa White"
THE REBELLONIANS.
p Another of the bills the
first appearance of the "Rebellonians,"
Thursday April IA, 1864. They gave a
minstrel performance and concluded
with '%The Intelligent C~ontraband,"
an original farce written expressly tor
the NRebellonians." Lieutenant Metts
was down in the cast.
The price of admission to these per-
formances was % cents n reserved
caats 10 cents. In one of the bills it is