The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-09-08

tet was NOT q quartet at ALL JOlu M
Hubbard who was one OF the singers OF
the time, says il was rather the Hubbard
crowd. In other words, there were a
number Of men with good well-trafned
voices from whom a quartet was made
up on short notice for any sort Of rally.
political or warlike, that was called
Among those were Frank Hubbard.
Thomas Corwin, Captain l. B. Church,
Horace Boutwell,, John Hickey, Little
Charlie" Smith. Edward Everest, and
John NJ Hubbard, and a little later on
Frank Crosby, Aleck Rourk and c. ].
Andrews.
Frank Lumbard was the life and soul
Of the organization. He was typical
Bohemian, delighting 10 lead his singers.
and. as Mr.. Hubbard puts IL unwilling
to go home so long as there was any
other place to go TO. Wherever there
was singing going on Frank was sure
to be there, and as the meetings called
incident TO the war were for the mos,
part in need Of good singers the Lum-
bard quartet, no matter who composed
ii, became one OF the well-known entities
of the time. It's fame spread beyond
Chicago, and the singers were urged 20
go out and sing in the meetings called 10
stimulate an interest in the struggle then
on and cause men 10 rally 10 the stand
ard Of the north.
On enc occasion, in Petersburg. Va.
the rebels heard Frank Lumbard's songs
got up a sort OF flag of truce and took
him over the lines into their camp. There
Hubbard regaled them till his repertory
was exhausted. after which he was es-
cor.ed in honor back to the northern
camp.
Properly speaking, the Hubbard quar-
tet came into existence in 1861 and lasted
till 1880. Mr.. Andrews. who was then
mere lad-he was only 81 when ne died
became quite an associate of Frank Luui-
bard He had a good voice and was
early given a place in the musical cot
erie. The quartet sang every where No
rally was thought possible without it.
Indeed, enthusiasts have said that the
quartet was second only to the presi-
dents proclamation in gaining soldiers
for the northern ranks. Be that as II
may, IL was soon recognized as a power
in the cause Of the black man, and was
n demand accordingly. The personnel
OF the quartet varied according TO the
circumstances, but it was always the
Lumbard Quartet.
1t was yong Andrews first experience
es a public singer. He was born in 1s40
in Gait. Ont. and was employed, when
a lad Of but IA years, as a musician by
the Wizard Oil company. He drifted TO
Chicago, however. and soon became one
of the most ardent OF the slaves friends.
Indeed, he was not content merely with
singing, and finally he enlisted in Com
pany B. Fifty-Eighth Illinois Infantry,
re-enlisting at the end OF the original
term and being mustered out at the end
of the war. In all his active service in
the field ne was still the singer of free
dom and patriotism.
At the close of the war he virtually
made music his profession and Travelled
through every state in the union. Then
came the great Chicago fire, and there
was a revival OF the Hubbard Quartet.
There were any number OF appeals for
help, and Frank Lumtard, Frank Cros-
by. Aleck Rourk. and c. j. Andrews
banded together and toured the country
to raise money for the sufferers. The
fame of the quartet OF the SOS insured
cordial welcome for fire fund workers,
and their efforts were eminently success
full
Mr.. Andrews for the last six years OF
his life was the secretary Of the Veter- |
ans association. The members OF that |
body ascribe his death TO a strange IA |
tality. They say he one of thirteen !
members OF the association who five |
years ago attended the funeral OF c. F. |
Cole. One of the thirteen they say, has |
died each year since the death of Mr.. |
Cole. Mr.. Andrews was the fifth, and |
the remaining eight are already specu- |
ating who the sixth will be.