Mark Hughes died in Chicago, Ill., February 6, 1882; age 34 years.
William Dwyer was a well-known tenor singer, and played successful engagements with Bryant’s, and the San Franciscos in New York, and Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels in Philadelphia.
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| BILLY DE RUE | BOBBY DE RUE |
| (DE RUE BROS.) | |
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| BERT. LEIGHTON | FRANK LEIGHTON |
| (LEIGHTON BROS.) | |
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| BILLY FREEZE | LARRY FREEZE |
| (FREEZE BROS.) | |
He was born in Dublin, Ireland; he died in Washington, D. C., December 30, 1898.
In the author’s possession is a document dated July 17, 1850, wherein one James Norris purchased a fourth interest in a prominent minstrel company of that day for $200.00. Imagine what a similar interest in Lew Dockstader’s Minstrels would cost to-day.
“Cool” Burgess (Colin Burgess) was one of the most famous names in minstrelsy. Tall and slender, with long, drooping moustache, he provoked merriment at sight.
He first appeared professionally in his native city about 1857, at the Melodeon.
Subsequently he was identified with many minstrel organizations, amongst the earliest was Burgess and (J. E.) Green’s. About the closing of the Rebellion he joined Hooley’s Company in Brooklyn, where he became quite popular.