The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-03-09

the pubic as star performer
in minstrelsy for thirty years,
were consigned to Greenwood cemetery
the other day, there were many sin
oere friends to pay the last tribute Of
respect to one of the most unique char
acters the stage has ever known.
The closing days of Billy Vests
career disclosed no new phases in the
character Of this picturesque figure in
minstreIsy. He died as he had lived,
striving to the last minute to keep up
a bold and pleasing front.
Dr. McBurney told West eight years
ago that he suffered from cancer. If
the progress of the disease had any ef-
feet on the disposition or habits of the
patient. there were no outward signs
of it in his demeanOT- During a period
of six years West was able to ward of
any recurrence of the malady, but
when another canCeTOus gathering
troubled him, about year and half
ago, he knew that his days were num-
bsred
Nevertheless. as a matter Of pride. he
insisted on keeping the name Of VIII
liam II. West before the public. and
when he was not laid up in hospitals in
various parts of the country-he sub
mitted to ten operations in all-he was
on the road with his company, parad-
ing the streets. rehearsing and playing
his part with all the enthusiasm of
man who had the world before him.
1t was not until a couple of months
ago. after he had been disfgured by
an operation performed in San Francis
co, that close friends Of the minstrel
knew his case was absolutely hopeless
and that the end soon must come
When the X-ray treatment was ap-
piled in Chicago, 1t wrought such a
/ change in the appearance of the man
that his wife declined to allow any but
! his closest friends TO see him. But to
those who were permitted TO visit the
/ sick room he exhibited no change Of
/ demeanor, affecting a jaunty air even
/ while prCpped up with pillows on his
+ couch. striving always to entertain MS
guests, joining in the conversation,
/ which always was of cheerful ma
/ ture.
/ Once after Mrs. Lew DOckstader.
/ who had been his friend for years. had
/ called with a bunch Of American
/ Beauty roses. plans for an outing at
! West Baden Springs next summer were
| discuss ID.
Il am afraid, Mrs. Dockstader." said
West. that / snail nave 70 cancel al
/ nv engagements after the middle Of
/ February. If we all so to West Baden
( together, we viii have co make the trip
within the next few weeks.
! Directly he had made this remark
! something in the faces Of those gath
cred about him told him be had SAID
! something which had panied them
/ This was contrary TO his nature, and
I he Immediately sought to correct what
! he evidently considered was an unfor-
tunate blunder on his part.
/ Il was merely joking he said. Oi
| course we viii ali 90 to West Baden
next summer. This X-ray treatment
/ will fix me up in good shape"
Vests mind wandered during the
/ last few days Of his life, and he went
/ back in fancy to the days when he and
| ''Prim." as he designated George H.
! Primrose. his associate for twenty
eight years, played together as boys
/ first in Buffalo. and then on the road
| with circuses and other organizations
that have PASSED into history.
CuriousIy enough. most Of the news
paper chroniclers OF things theatrical
! have displayed an astonishing lack Of
! knowledge of the several matrimonial
alliances in which West figured His
| first wife was Fay TempIeton. Theil
/ married life. though short, was happy
one. The divorce proceedings. which
were instituted in Chicago. were uniGUe