The evening times., 1898-11-05
New York Cotton Mari
oLD-TIME MINSTRELS.
Interesting Facts About the PiO-
neers of Burnt Cork.

From the Boston Journal)
The first band of minstrels ever formed
! was in New York In 1872. Frank Brewer
! and Dan Emmett had been doing a double
act at the Franklyn Theater New York,
! when benefit was given at the Bowery
| Circus. Four performers volunteered and
| did their songs and dances on a board in
the ring. The performers consisted of
Frank Brewer, Dan Emmett, Bill Pell
and Frank Germon, 1t hit the public
George b. Woodbridge got them to ap-
pear in the Park Theater for a few nights
and then they went over to England
From this crude beginning Sprang all the
great bands of later days. They appear
ed in plantation suits, as "a first part
was not known at that time.
E p. Christy was playing fiddle in
dance hall in Buffalo, n. Y. He started
a band of ''serenaders.' as they were then
called-not MINISTRIES" 1t was composed
of Dick Hooley. Earl Pierce, George Har-
rington George Christy) and a few 9TH
ers. They played in the towns on the
Erie Canal until Christy wisely located in
New York, where he established lie
Christy Minstrels." He went also TO Lon
don and founded a company, and il is now
a fixed institution. Pony Moore is at the
head of II and has made a fortune in the
British Isle. At New York Z. p. Christy
was the middle man and George Harrin-
ton (who took the name OF Christy) was
the gay and festive clinker of the bones
and funmaker in general. Dave George
was on the tambourine end. George was
as light as a feather effervescent with
humor and buoyant In good nature; but
he was too fond of life" which caused
his death. He drank to excess, gambled
high; he grew lazy, heavy and cumber-
some. His domestic troubles wore upon
him, and his last years were passed in
poverty and obscurity. E. 2. Christy be-
came very wealthy, but, the war coming
on, he became impressed with the idea
that his money would be swept away and
he would become beggar, and in fit of
insanity threw himself out of a window
and killed himself Hooley is now pros
porous manager in Chicago.
The Campbell Minstrels then came to
the front. Luke West, Matt Peel and Bill
Newcomb We're members of this party,
likewise an excellent performer by the
name of Merit Sexton. Newcomb and
Rumsey Minstrels then came before the
public. They made great deal of =. J:-sy
and fine reputation. This band went
the rounds of the country. They went
over to our English cousins winning gol-
den opinions and coin. They then went
TO the West Indies and succeeded, but
made a wonderful fallure In Germany,
where they were hissed and finally driven
from the theater, as the people expe ected
to see real negroes instead of white men
with blackened faces. They considered
their show a swindle and treated them
accordingly Newcomb disbanded his
company after he returned home and
went into business he did not under
stand and failed. He died with only four
cents in his pocket.
James Dumbeton, of Baltimore, c.T-
Gus advertiser, started fine company.
Stanwood Harrington, Gill Pell, G. A
White ]. Howard and others took the
road. They also went to "Merrie En-
gland" and were q success They got
back home after two years, and appeared
at Palmo's Opera House, New York. But
during Dumbieton's visit to Europe the
"Chrysties' had gained such firm hold
in the Empire City that Dumbleton dis
banded his troupe and went back into the
circus business. Most of his performers
joined Christy.
Sam s. Sanford also started company,
and for a long time they We're favorite
party. "OIe Bull'' Myers, Jim Sanford
and Eph Horn were great cards with
this party.