Activities Among Negroes
In regard to the Twentieth Century Limited train wreck, which occurred at Forsyth, N. Y., the Eastern papers have spoken in the highest terms of the heroism of the colored maid, Mrs. Emma Washington of Chicago, and the Pullman porters. George Russell and Homer Lane. The maid has been in the railroad service 24 years, and of that time 20 had been spent on this train. One paper in speaking of her said: "No one was yet moving toward rescuing those imprisoned in the debris of the wreck. Back into the car she went and broke out the emergency equipment, ax, lantern, torches and crowbars. The porters responded to her command, and two minutes later the actual work of rescue was begun. Mrs. Washington worked side by side with others in wielding the ax, and lifting maimed bodies and assisting in the bandaging of wounds.
"Homer Lane, who was employed as porter on the sleeper Armistice, which turned over on its side, caused the rescue of many women and children passengers. He worked with one hand cut from broken glass, twisted steel and burned by hissing steam, until ordered to go with the rescue train to Erie, Pa. There were other porters who rendered service in the rescue work, only one losing his life, namely Reuben Pannell of the observation car. He had been employed by the railroad 18 years, 12 of which were spent on this train."
In a recent interview in New York City, N. Daniel Brancher [perhaps Daniel Nahum Brascher] of Chicago, editor-in-chief of the Associated Negro Press, is quoted as saying: "Having tried about everything else with more or less success, we are now softening and sweetening the race problem with music. A careful study of the music world discloses that we are making great progress. Roland Hays of Boston and Miss Marion Anderson of Philadelphia, lyric tenor and contralto respectively, have lifted our entire people by the power of their talent this year as soloists."
The following comes from Fort Worth, Texas: "An event which has been given wide publicity by the daily press of Texas is the musical program given at the St. James Baptist church of Fort Worth on Wednesday night of last week. The program was style 'An Evening With Negro Composers,' and was directed by Professor H. B. P. Johnson, of Nashville, Tenn. An unusual feature of this program was the fact that the First Christian church (white) of forty voices under the direction of Professor B. U. Taylor appeared on a the program."
In "Musical Notes," Maud Roberts George, in speaking of the grand opera in Chicago, said: "The second performance of 'l'Africana' showed it is one of the most popular operas of the season. It had been seventeen years since it had been sung by the Metropolitan Opera company, and the first time by our Chicago company."
The following is from J. LeCount Chestnut of Philadelphia, in which he speaks of the colored band contest held in that city before the football game between Howard and Lincoln universities on Thanksgiving Day: "The monster band contest was attended by about five thousand at the Third Armory the evening before the game. The prize was the beautiful Rodman Wanamaker trophy, a silver loving cup. The contestants were the Robert C. Ogden band (Wanamaker store employees). Philadelphia, the Imperial Elks' band of New York City, and the Howard University R. O. T. C. band. The award went to the Robert C. Ogden Band."
In regard to this contest, D. Bracher says in the Chicago Defender: "The recent band contest of the Elks in Chicago, and the Robert C. Ogden association of the Wanamaker stores in Philadelphia prove conclusively what we are doing with bands. Major N. Clark Smith, director of the Chicago Defender band in that city, a truly marvelous organization of almost one hundred newsboys, informs me that there are more than one thousand racial bands and orchestras in the country from the jazziest to symphony orchestra."
The funeral of Mrs. Dorsey of San Francisco was held Monday afternoon from the Third Baptist church, that city.
In Los Angeles this afternoon there is being held impressive ceremonies, the "Blessing of St. Victor's Hall" for colored social activities. This hall was recently opened to the public for colored men and women. The speakers will be Bishop Cantwell and Attorney Joseph Scott of Los Angeles. A choral society of thirty voices, accompanied by an orchestra of eight. will render the musical program.
