The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1949-12-06
O'Dwyer Calls Death
OF 'Bojangles' Robinson
The End Of an Era

Charles WILSON, Percy Harris,
Billy Rowe. Lester Walton. former
u. s. Minister to Liberia; Harold
Douglas; Lew Leslie; Frank
Forbes. only Negro boxing COM
missioner in New York; Dr. VIII
liam c. Carter; the dancing team
of Buck and Bubbles; and many
others.
More flowers appeared. Some
were from RKO Pictures, The
Actors Fund Of America, and q
score Of individuals. These along
with other flowers were piled upon
eight flower cars which were to
proceed the body Of Bojangles on
his last ride to Evergreen.
As the body was brought out
! Of the armory. the band that Rob-
lnson loved. the one that he put
out money for Monarch Lodge
Of the Elks No. 45. jlayed in tribute
to the man who had danced be-
fore it in Harlem on many oc-
casions.
But Harlem Monday was a Curl
GUS Harlem. There were few wet
eyes along the routes; there were
few in the church. except the fam
.ly. But all eyes were on the pro-
cession and many Of the onlookers
gawked to see the celebrities who
were bound to be present
Still, this was the greatest
funeral Harlem had ever seen.
: On very few occasions does
the mayor of New York come
to Harlem for funeral. On
no occasion do stars of both
races jam the streets In tri-
butte to fellow artist.
There were approximately $780,
900 people on the streets Of Harlem
lining the way of the procession
from land st. to 10th st. They
were held back by 400 New York
policemen from the armory to
Duffy's Square. At some points,
the sidewalks could bear the crowd
no longer and showed them against
the border fences and ropes, into
the arms of stalwart cops who
joined hands to hold them back.
The funeral took on the confus-
ing aspects of splendor as nattily-
dressed mounted policemen rode In
the vanguard of the funeral pro-
cesslon. They were preceded by |
fire engineered motorcycles which
were to escort the procession to
the cemetery at a fast clip once
out of Brooklyn.
The favorite band followed play
ing funeral march. Dignitaries |
including the mayor, rode behind
the body of Robinson in sleek IL
mousines. The flag-draped casket
on the once great dancer received
ohhhhs! and ahhhhs! along the
route. It was closer than many had
ever been to Bojangles.
Abysslnian Baptist Church was
the last stop for verbal fonors for
the 71-year-old dancer; the dancer
who was born in Richmond 16
years after Grant took it during
the Civil War. Here at the church,
as at any funeral, facts about Rob-
lnson were told which were not of
general knowledge: many did not
know that his real name was Lu-
Their and that "Bill" is the name of
his brother who came from North
Carolina to the funeral.
Few people knew that Boz
jangles had danced for more
Catholic charities than any
Protestant; for more Jewish
charities than any Gentle.
His pet charity, the Light
house Association Of the Blind,
was well represented In q
quiet corner of the church by
| seven sightless people.
+ The family Bill left behind
sat, walked, and rode solemn
Iy. His young wife, Elaine,
cried throughout the services.
| Her parents and family were
also grief-strilxen. His brother
from North Carolina, who was
obviously blind, sat In the
| family seats an hour before
the rest arrived with his wife.
He was deeply hurt.
Powell called Robinson the
''rightful Mayor of Harlem" Still,
after all Of the speeches; after all
of the comments and eulogies. Har-
Hem watched as she has watched
hfor years, mighty incident, the
proportions of which she has never
sen. There was a ripple of talk
Iabout the funeral of Florence Mills.
but 1t was not as mighty as this
| No matter what opinions were.
pro or con. Harlem watched as Bill
Robinson made his last trip
through the streets of the black
metropolis to the greenness of his
last resting place in Evergreen.
CONTINUED on Page 81