The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-02-18
"REMINISCENCES OF
A NOTED MINSTREL
Interesting Incidents in the
Career Of Billy" West.
KNOWN THROUGHOUT COUNTRY
Began ga the boards y Ith sol Smith
RuSScil-His Marriages. aad Large
Property Interests--His Fame in
This city.

At the same time that George Prim-
rose was cracking jokes 90 a New York
audience last Saturday nigh,. Billy"
West for ,ventE-soyen years his partner
in Che minstrel business. and one Of The
hest-kGoNH opponents in America OF tie
b.acE-facc form Of entertainment, passed
away an The Palmer House. Chicago.
Billy" West was q general iavorite
taroughogt the country. particularly in
Philadelphia. where he scored his greatest
successes. In 1870 be had the honor OF
playing IN that city in the company of
Dir Sci Sn-th Russell. George Primrose
IVES also member Of The organization
al thar tine. The troupe was known as
The Berger Family Of Swiss Bell Ring
ers." and 80 fell to the lot Of Primrose.
West and Russell TO supply the comedy
element
Famous Minstrel Troupe Formed
Primrose had already won considerable
renown as q bIack-face entertainer. Mr..
West also had tendency to that part of
the profession. and IN 1871 they organized
in Philadelphia the famous Primrose &
West Minstrel Troupe
The combination met with remarkable
success, and for a great many years IL
was the leading minstrel organization OF
this country.
Cupid'S Willing Victim.
Although it had but seldom fallen to the
lot Of BILLY" West to play the part OF
a lover upon the stage. he was willing
victim OF Cupid off the boards. In fact
he married three times. His first wife
Mo ~rrrr~ an
engag cement with Weber & Fields, in New
York.
Mr. Vests second wife was Miss Lizette
Morris. a wealthy young Philadelphia girl.
whose father. the late +. Joy Morris, was
at one tirne Minister 20 Turkey About
nine years ago the second Mrs. West died.
leaving her husband the bulk of her prop
erty This consisted chiefly Of eonsidera-
bic valuable real estate IN the heart Of
the business portion Of Philadelphia.
s.Pete'' DniIey's Brother-in-Law-
After remaining single Cor a number Of
years. Billy West again took unto him
self a wife. This time he married Miss
Emma Hanley. then appearing in the
play. "A Straight Tip" in which Mr..
Peter F. Daley made his initial appear
ance as a star. Later Mr.. Daley became
the brother-in-law Of Mr. West by mar
rying Mrs. Vests sister.
Il is stated that the property Of the
dead minstrel amounts 20 between $780,
GOO and $500 zoo. The bulk Of this prop
erty IS located in the City Of BrOtherly
Love. although Mr.. West also possessed
property in Chicago and other towns
Generous to Those in Need.
4 weu-known theatrical man said to a
reporter for The Times last night:
Billy West and ! were old friends
FOR a great many years. II is true that
he was a very rich man. in fact about
the richest minstrel Of his time. But
be was a high liver and an unusually gem
eTOus giver-
NO man in the profession was too
Door or too degraded to receive a kind
word or a financial lift from Billy il
was mis- invariablbe custom at the close
OF each week while on the road. TO make
the stage dOorkeeper a present OF i've
or zen dollar bill I never knew him to
fail 70 10 that. He was known from ono
end Of the country 10 the other as a kind
hearted man who would befriend anyone
in trouble.
white Faced and BLACK Faced.
"He and Primrose quite frequently oc-
cupied the same dressing room and were
remarkably free from the jealousy that
usually prevails in organizations such as
theirs. or late years however. Billy
Vents tendencies inclined more and
more 70 the white faced minstrel show.
while Mr. Primrose was an exponent Of
the Old-time 'blaek-faced type. Their
/ differences over the matter grew rather
I sharp until the partners separated"
Mr.. Vests death resulted Indirectly
| from cancer Of the throat. The imme-
| date cause, however. is said 10 have been
/ the effects OF the x-ray treatment. ad-
ministered TO him as a last resort TO save
his life He had undergone nine opera
lions within the past sixteen months.
EIkS to Hold the Funeral.
He was a life member Of the Brooklyn
/ Lodge CT Elks. No. % and in accordance
| with his dying wish he viii be buried I'm
| der the auspices Of that organization. The
/ interment will be made In WOodlawn Gem
/ etery. near New York city.
The news Of Mr.. Vests death has
caused genuine sorrow 10 the large num-
! Der of minstrel and theatrical men
throughout the country