The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-25
HAPPY. GO.LUCKY, HE
Charles Freeman Tells Of Billy
Emerson, His Old Associate.
HIS FAILINGs WINE AND FARO
They Explain, In Large Measure,
Why He Died a Poor
Man.

billy emerson, WHO suleQ last Hlsu1
at Diman's hotel, Boston, was once we'll
known in Minneapolis, although he has
not visited this city for six or seven
years. In his time he was the best known
minstrel man in the world, and for years
was paid the largest salary ever given a
man in his profession. "Charlie" Free
man, an old time minstrel, who now plays
the flute in the Metropolitan theater or
! chestra, travelled with Emerson several
seasons, and knew him Intimately. Their
acquaintance began when both were mem
bers of the Haverly company, more than
twenty years ago, and was renewed when
| ever Emerson came to Minneapolis, Free
man having left the minstrel business
and settled down here shortly afterwards.
Speaking of his old friend, this morn
ing, Mr.. Freeman said
Billy Emerson was born in Belfast. Ire
land, but came to America with his parents
when a child. His first stage experience was
with the Newcomb MINISTRIES. Then he didn't
do much Of anything but dance, although
later he became what is known as an all
around performer; that is, he could sing,
dance or entertain with a monologue, al
though they didn't call it .'monologue" in his
| day.
| He started as a kid, and steadily advanced
| until he became the hest-paid man in his
| profession. He was popular entertainer in
| San Francisco oven before the completion of
| the Union Pacific and they used to pay
| him almost anything to induce him to go
out there. He took his own companies to
! Frisco twice, and both times continued on
| to Australia, both tours proving great fnan
cial successes. However, although he made
| three or four fortunes during his life time,
he died poor. The money all went to
! gamblers and bookmakers. Billy
| fend on faro. He liked to bet on the horses
| "a
more opportunities for that sort of thing then
! than there are now. What is more he used
| to be very fond of champagne, and never
| thought Of going to bed without drinking a
| quart or more Of wine.
After our performances were over the boys
| use to assemble in the hotel harroom and
| sit down for q social glass. Emerson was
always with the crowd but he never con-
trlbuted anything to the brewers. He would
J sit down and call for a pitcher of cracked
Ice. Then he would get a quart of cham
payne and pour it into the pitcher. Until
the wine was gone he would sit there, and
never knew him to offer anyone taste Of
that first quart. That made him unpopular
with the boys. You see, he was drawing a
salary that probably amounted to more than
all the rest of Us were getting, put together.
He could afford wine, and we couldn't.
However, he died a poor man. Last year
he was given a benefit in Chicago, and that
| helped him out. Otherwise he would have
died in absolute want. The money all went
on faro, horses and wine.
He has wife and son, although he had
probably not seen either of them for good
many years. Both, believe, are living in
San Francisco. The son must be about 30
4 now. --. H.
When Haverly's MINISTRIES went to Eng
land, both Emerson and myself were in the
| company. That tour was a great success,
] in 1oru va
sponsible for the big houses. He was tall
| man, of medium build, and he had a wonder
fully good tenor voice. l always thought thai
| he could have made his mark in grand opera
If he had only studied for it. But he wouldn't
study. 1t wasn't in him, and no one could
make him do it. '~.E.." ~..----. g.. i's cd
J I remember one night was talking to The
stage manager of Her Majesty's theater, II
Manchester. We had put on number o.
| operate burlesques at the house, and while
we were talking Emerson was singing 6
song. When he finished, the audience broke
into a storm of applause, and the stage man
ager turned to me- 1--WE have had many
r worse tenor than Billy Emerson on thi:
STAGE said he, land they were counted
J pretty good too. He ought not to stay in The
minstrel business He belongs in grant
| opera" I LAT ghed, because we knew all tina
t before, and we knew, too, that you couldn'
drive Billy into opera with club He iket
black face work and money Wouldn't nave
tempted him to leave it. At that he wat
probably getting as much any Of the bes
opera people of his time. .,.
Chilly" Emerson won his popularity or
, three continents. and in two hernispheres. H
was as great favorte in England il
, America, and was as popular in Melbourn
, as in Frisco of New York. However, al
| that counted for little with him. He enjeyet
his money while he had it, but he never hal
| it long. Like Colonel Haverly himself, Elmer
son was one of the best customers tn
gamblers ever had. --~~s
Emerson's name was William Emerson
; Richmond, but he dropped his SURNAME
5 when he went upon the stage. He wa
, Sc years old, and died from compiled
: ton of diseases that finally resulted IL
conSumption. E' L.,