The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-02-16
BILLY WEST, MINSTREL, DEAD.
CANCER ENDS MS CAREER AFTER
A LONG ILLNESS.
X-Rsy Treatment FANS TO Relieve Him
Had Undergone Two Operations
His Long Career on the Minstrel
stage I'm Various Partnerships Estate.

stage I'm various Partnerships Estate.
CHICAGO. Feb. is -"Bnly- West the
famous minstrel, died this morning at the
Palmer House a little after 0 o'clock. His
wife was with him, and in the next room
were his wife's two sisters. Mrs. Daley
and Mrs. Donnelly
Three months ago West came 10 Chicago
to be treated for canoe OF the cheek by an
X-ray expert. At first it seemed that he
was responding satisfactorily to the treat
ment, but later II wal found that the disease
had advanced too far TO be checked. For
five weeks he had grown worse. and re-
Gently 1t had been known to himself and his
wife that he had only a short time to live.
Yesterday afternoon he began to sink
rapidly and all night his death was ex-
pected
William West was born In Auburn,
n. Y, about fifty years ago. When he was
IL years old he was the envy Of his play
mates on the street corners where he gave
exhibitions of clog dancing. He finally got
a place with a vaudeville show and went
on the stage in Buffalo in 1859. George
Primrose was dancing on the stage OF a
rival theatre In Canal street, Buffalo, when
he made the acquaintance OF West and
they agreed to launch their fortunes
together.
West at that time was known as william
II. Flynn, which was believed 10 be his
proper name. He and Primrose challenged
other clog dancers for the championship
of the world and after many contests were
invariably victorious. They travelled for
a time with John O'Brien's circus. Then
they got an engagement In the old Olympic
Theatre on Broadway, appearing with
the company in which Sol Smith Russell,
j. W. McAndrews and other old-tipers
became famous.
IL was about this time that J. n. Haverly
organized his minstrel company. He saw
West and Primrose dance and offered them
an engagement with his troupe They we're
travelling with Haverly's Minstrels in
1871 when they entered into an arrange
ment with Milton q. Barlow and George
Wilson, at that time members Of Haverly's
troupe, to organize n troupe of their own.
This troupe bcca me famous under the ma me
of Barlow, Wilson, Primrose nd Vests
Minstrels. When they opened the season
at Wilmington, Del. the first money taken
in ri the box office consisted of a new silver
dollar. Each of the partners wanted TO
keep il as a souvenir, and a qua rrel resulted
over the coin which almost dissolved the
show. Finally they drew lots for the piece
and II went to Barlow.
After travelling with Barlow, Wilson and
Primrose for four years Mr. West and his
lifelong friend, Primrose, learned that
Barlow and Wilson were going off on their
own hook and the partnership was dis
solved. II was then that West and Prim-
rose Joined forces with George Thatcher
and their show became famous as Thatcher,
Primrose and Vests Ministrels. When
they got to San Francisco this partnership
was dissolved and West went into partner
ship with Primrose. They continued to
appear together for four years and then
they dissolved partnership, West organ
ling a minst rel troupe OF his own and
Thatcher joining forces with Lew Dock
stader.
West usually appeared on the stage as
the middle man or lnterlocutOr, but fire.
quently he appeared az an end man. He
continued 70 appear doing n clog dance
until the close Of last season, when he COM
planned Of an affection Of the throat. In
June last his physician informed hin that
no was suffering from cancer Of the throat
and that he would have To undergo an opera
tion. He went to a private hospital IN
East Thirty-third street and there under
went an operation at the hands Of Drs. j. +.
Erdman and W. C. Gilday. Then he went
with his minstrel troupe TO San Francisco,
and there he underwent another operation
which neCessitated the cutting of his right
cheek. which left him with a deformity Of
the face. He started back East after this
operation, leaving his minstrel troupe 10
play in the various cities of the West. They
closed an engagement last night in Cincin-
natl.
West got as far as Chicago when his
attending physicians told him il would b.
necessary to take the .N-ray treatment.
This was in December last. During his last
illness he lost about n~inety-five pounds.
Mr.. Vest had been married three times.
His first wife was FAY Templeton, the
actress, with whom he lived only a short
time. He permitted her 10 get a divorce