The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-02-16

ton. Mr.. Vests home was in Utica
n. Y. His friends in Chicago estimate
his estate at $500. goo.
I'm all in. old man. 1 don't think
III lat out the route"
And when Billy West addressed
these words to his old friend, Martin
Mulyey, the last time he visited Salt
Lake, he was not only sincere, but
accurate in his grave prediction. The
minstrel favorite died before his tour
had ended. with the firm belief, formed
several months prior, that such would
be his fate
There are not many of the timers
alive today who were more popular
than William H. West. He came from
the old. old school, adorned by Jack
Hayerly, Eph Horn, Luke SchooIcraft
and Lew Benedict. and for good
many years was a contemporary Of
Billy Emerson, who is today in de-
plOrable shape in ST. Louis
1t was Billy Vests polish that
brought him success in minstrelsy. He
was, Of all Ministries, the favorite of
the women. possessing grace, good
looks and astonishing ability as
dancer. Way back in the early dav5
he and George Primrose made their
debut in a song and dance speciality
with HaVerly'S MastOdon MINISTRIES.
That was the first time either of them
had set foot on the stage. Something
1t may have been sentiment-heId
them together as partners for twenty
eight years after that Eventually. the
boys got money enough to get into the
business as proprietors, and soon they
became famous as mem bers OF the firm
OF Barlow, Wilson. Primrose and West.
West is the first Of the Big Four to cross
the great divide, and in many circle
last night, no doubt, his departure was
spoken Of by those whose eyes were
bedimmed with tears.
Following the big combination. West
was one of Primrose. West and
Thatcher. After that it became Prim-
rose and West. and three seasons ago
the greatest team of dancers that ever
appeared in minstrelsy separated,
Primrose joining DOckstader and West
taking cut a show under his own di-
rection
As member OF the profession, West
was popular with his fellows. As a
performer he was still more popular.
Seldom, if ever. did he take a position
on the end-fOT comedy was not in
line-but as an interlocutor and dancer.
and, above all. creator of novelties.
including drills and marches. he was
without peer. He knew his place ex-
actly. and did not try to step beyond it.
The last time Mr.. West was here he
was suffering from cancer. and in con-
versation with Mr.. Mulvey he ex
pressed the doubt that he would live
through another season. Still he kepr
on with the show. His fOrtitude was A
good deal like that Of Eph Horn. who
was called upon BY an old friend in
the hospital when his existence was a
matter Of minutes or hnl1rs.
Said the friend: III call again.
Eph. You'll be all right in the eno."
And the minstrel replied: Yes. I was
always considered pretty fair on the
end, then turned over and died.
After reaching San Francisco. lust
after leaving Salt Lake, Mr.. West was
operated upon for cancer. Two other
operations followed. and finally came
the operation in Chicago which re-
suited in his death.
James E Brennan, the Hi Heller OF
way Down East" was for many
years in the minstrel business and
often worked an end't with West in
the center Mr.. Brennan stated last
night that, in spite Of the malady
which the minstrel knew would carry
him OF, West was Of a CHEEKY disposi-
ton, and was generally known as ''one
OF the best fellows in the world" BreD-
nan was with him when he Originated
the Knights Templar drill. which was
considered one of the most magnifi-
cent pieces Of stage work ever put be-
fore the public