"PROMINENT MINSTREL MAN"S REAL NAME LEADS TO CONJECTURE HE WAS ONCE ONE OF THE NOTORIOUS HATFIELD GANG. DOUBTS AS TO HIS BRAVING THE LAWS OF WEST VIRGINIA.
"It is reported though his company is advertised, it will not appear in any of the cities in this state. The depredations of the notorious Hatfield family has made the name feared wherever it is known. Officers have been on their track for years. The majority of the desperate family seem to be secure in the fastnesses of their mountain hiding places. So completely terrorized are the mountaineers by this family that no arrests have been made of any of the gang lately. However, should the member of the family now masquerading under an a.s.sumed name enter the state he will be arrested on sight and made to stand trial for past deeds of the family. However, it is not believed that the man will run the risk of entering the state. It is rumored he is on his way to Canada."
Kaine supplemented his first telegram with a second one advising Alfred that the evening paper would publish any statement he telegraphed, and to make the denial strong.
Alfred wired him:
Engage counsel who will answer for me. I am prepared to give bond in any amount.
AL. G. FIELD.
He further telegraphed "Devil Anse" Hatfield and several others of the family:
Will be there. Meet me on arrival.
Another telegram read:
Get this in newspapers, but not as coming from me.
Another telegram went forward later as a news item:
"It is reported here that a dozen armed men from Kentucky and West Virginia are secreted on the cars of the Al. G. Field Minstrels, to resist arrest of one of their number who is reported with the minstrels."
Of course all this was false. When the minstrel troupe arrived, hundreds were at the depot. Alfred was one of the first to leave the train. The officers and many others were aware of the falsity of the published statement, but hundreds were deceived by the sensational reports.
The owner of the paper wherein the reports originated a.s.sured Alfred they had been imposed upon and the columns of the paper were open to anything he might dictate for publication. Introducing Alfred to his city editor, the owner of the paper remarked: "I have requested Mr.
Field to prepare a statement for publication. We want to do what is right by him."
The matter was submitted to the editor. He reminded Alfred that it did not answer the article published by them but was a boost for his minstrels.
Alfred replied: "I realize the matter published was false, but the dear public has gained the idea that I am a desperado. They will only remember this a day or two. If I endeavor to contradict the published reports, it will keep it in their minds. This matter I submit will benefit me. A denial such as you have in mind will not do me any good."
While this advertising was not the sort Alfred desired, he was bound to make the most of it. The theatres were packed to their capacity during the three or four weeks the opposition worked the press with the silly matter; although many newspapers treated it as a joke. For a few weeks Alfred was a living curiosity, pointed out by some as a desperado to be shunned, sought by others to be idolized. Surely, human nature is past understanding.
It is dangerous to try to blacken the character of your opponent as it invariably places one"s own under the spotlight and they"ll find spots you were sure were never visible.
Ed Boggs, now Secretary to the Governor of the State, was at the time engaged in the drug business and managed the Opera House in Charleston, W. Va. The gross receipts were the largest in the history of the opera house. Alfred carried his share of the money in a satchel after the show. Boggs accompanied him to the ferry. There was no bridge spanning the river in those days. Boggs" store was on the corner of Water Street near the ferry landing. The ferry boat was on the opposite side. Boggs suggested they step into the drug store and smoke a cigar until the boat returned. Alfred, arriving at his private car--the wife was a visitor--the first question propounded was: "Where have you been to this hour of the night? Where"s your satchel?" Alfred nearly fainted. He rushed out on the platform of the car. The ferry boat had left on the last trip of the night. Alfred was not clear in his mind as to where he had left the satchel, whether in the drug store or on the boat. He floundered along the banks of the river, endeavoring to locate a skiff that he might recross the river. His fears were that he had left the satchel on the forecastle of the ferry boat where he stood smoking while crossing the river.
The Kanawha is a narrow stream as it flows by Charleston, yet it seemed an ocean that night. Alfred"s slumbers were neither lengthy nor soothing. One hour previous to the scheduled time of the ferry boat"s arrival on her first trip of the morning, he stood on the sh.o.r.e gazing across the river. When the boat was within four feet of her dock, Alfred leaped aboard, and began inquiries. The captain said: "I was at the wheel. If you left your money on the boat you might as well stay on this side. There was a rough crowd aboard after the show. That money"s split up and partly drunk up by this time." Mr. Boggs had not arrived. The clerk searched the drug store. He urged the minstrel man to a.s.sist in exploring the mysterious recesses behind the counters. No satchel was found. Mr. Boggs was late coming to the store. "He always gets here before this," the clerk a.s.serted. Alfred could not restrain himself longer. He fairly ran to the residence of Mr. Boggs. The servant brought the message: "Mr. Boggs was not well this morning. He would probably not go to the store until afternoon."
"Jumping Jupiter, Holy Moses," and other expressions were suppressed by the highly wrought-up minstrel, as he stood on the doorstep. Say to Mr.
Boggs: "Mr. Field must see him, if only for a moment. Must see him at once."
"Howdy, Al, I thought you were on your way to Huntington."
"No, our train does not leave until eight-thirty. I only have twenty-five minutes. Are you going to the store?" Alfred tried to look unconcerned as he asked the question: "Did I leave my satchel in your drug store last night? I feel sure I did."
Boggs gazed at him in blank amazement. "Your satchel with all that money in it? You don"t mean to tell me you left that satchel somewhere and are not certain where?"
"Oh, I am pretty certain I left it in your store."
"Well, if you left the satchel in my drug store it is there yet."
"I am pretty sure I did."
"But you"re not certain," persisted Boggs.
After every corner and nook of the store had been searched, Alfred went behind the counters. Again he looked under them. Boggs did not seem to be greatly interested in the search. He seated himself at a desk as Alfred rose from his knees, from exploring a dark corner, and inquired in an unconcerned tone, "Find it?" Alfred was irritated. He did not reply. The ferry boat whistle sounded. The bell was tapping. Alfred looked at Boggs. He was still at the desk.
"Good-bye, I"m going. I guess the Hatfields haven"t exclusive privileges in West Virginia. I think I"ll join them to get even. I either left that satchel in this drug store or on that boat. That"s a cinch."
Boggs raised his eyes. "Well, if you only knew where you left your satchel you"d have a better chance to recover it."
"Well, I"m going," replied Alfred, moving towards the door.
"Good-bye," Boggs shouted. Alfred was on the front steps. "Hold on,"
Boggs yelled, "I"ll go over the river with you." Alfred was looking across the river. Boggs was by his side. They had walked several yards towards the ferry boat. Boggs inquired as to what excuse he would make to his wife. Alfred turned his head. Boggs was carrying the satchel in his hand farthest from Alfred. As the latter reached for the grip, Boggs laughed as he pulled away, saying, "I won"t trust you with it."
Boggs discovered the satchel after Alfred left the drug store. He awaited the return of the ferry boat and endeavored to have the Captain make an extra trip to relieve Alfred"s suspense. The Captain refused, saying: "If a man is that careless with money, he ought to worry."
In the early days of Alfred"s minstrel career he became acquainted with Dan D. Emmett, the originator of American Minstrelsy (the First Part).
Emmett was living in Chicago at that time.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Dan Emmett]
Years afterward Alfred learned that Mr. Emmett was living in retirement in his old home, Mount Vernon, Ohio. He called on the aged minstrel. Mr.
Emmett pleaded that he be permitted to accompany the minstrels on a farewell tour. His request was granted. At the time there was no intention of advertising Emmett. He was simply to accompany the troupe as a guest of Mr. Field.
About this time several persons were claiming the song "Dixie." Alfred furnished the _New York Herald_ with irrefutable proof that to Emmett belonged the honor. That paper sent a man from New York City. He spent several days at the home of Emmett. The feature story and the subsequent proofs published by Col. Cunningham, editor of the _Confederate Veteran_, forever settled the controversy as to the authorship of Dixie.
Emmett"s memory, in his last years, as to dates was defective. The story of Dixie was often related to Alfred by Emmett and, from other information, Alfred is of the opinion that Dixie was sung in the south long before its New York production. Emmett was the musical director of Bryants" Minstrels. Dan Bryant desired a walk-around song and dance.
Emmett, on Sat.u.r.day night was commissioned to have this number ready for Monday night"s performance. He labored all day Sunday. Dixie was produced on Monday night and made an instantaneous. .h.i.t. This is the accepted story as to the production of "Dixie."
It is well known to all of Emmett"s intimates that he was a slow study and a very indifferent reader but once he memorized music, he required no notes thereafter. It is not probable Emmett turned out Dixie in one day or the company learned and produced the song with only one rehearsal. All minstrel people admit this.
Dixie was produced in New York in 1859. Prof. Arnold, of Memphis, (of Montgomery, Ala., then), claims that Emmett visited Montgomery in January, 1859, and sang Dixie, the words, however, a little different from those used in New York later. In presence of Mr. Field, Prof.
Arnold called Emmett"s attention to this. Emmett"s reply was that the air of Dixie--the melody--had been played by him for a year prior to his writing the words of the song.
It is Alfred"s opinion that Emmett first sang the song in the south else how could it in those days become so suddenly popular. It is an authenticated fact that the troops from Alabama first sang Dixie as a war song of the South. There are gentlemen living in both Eufala and Montgomery who a.s.sert that Dixie was sung in those cities early in 1859 and that it attained great popularity.
However, the memory of Emmett will be preserved to future generations as the author of a song the common people love to sing.