Rice, Billy – Died 1902

RICE

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/19/2024 at 21:00:44

Source: Decorah Republican Mar. 6, 1902 Page 2 Col 2, 3

—“Billy” Rice, the noted negro minstrel, died at Hot Springs, Ark., last Saturday afternoon. He visited Decorah some eight or ten years ago with Haverly’s minstrels, and will be remembered for the very funny mock conversation he held by (pretended) telephone with an old acquaintance he discovered at Conover. His specialty was stump speeches on all live topics of the day Poor old Billy. He made fun in his time for hundreds of thousands but died in poverty and without any near-by friends.