Under the financial management of Tom Foley, of Chicago, the company went on tour in the Fall of 1871, giving their first performance at Xenia, Ohio, October 19. July 6, 1872, Mr. Manning severed his association as head of the company, which subsequently was known as Newcomb’s Minstrels, in Cincinnati. September 2, 1872, in that city, he began a brief engagement with Wm. Henry Rice’s Minstrels, and on October 28 he opened with Frank Moran’s Minstrels in Philadelphia. At the end of the season Mr. Manning became associated with Moran, and opened in Pittsburg, Pa., April 21, 1873, as Moran and Manning’s Minstrels. Mr. Manning then went to San Francisco, where, June 30, he began an extended engagement with Maguire’s Minstrels, terminating February 21 following. April 6, he made his first appearance with Simmons and Slocum’s Minstrels in Philadelphia, where he finished the balance of that season. His debut with Kelly and Leon’s Company in Chicago was made August 31, 1874, where, with only a slight break, he played all that season. July 12, 1875, he commenced a brief engagement with Neil Bryant’s Minstrels, and on November 8, Billy Manning, who was then far from being a well man, began what was destined to be his last engagement, with his old partner, Billy Emerson, with the latter’s minstrels. January 9, 1870, he married Mollie Williams, a well-known actress. Billy Manning was born in Piqua, Ohio, May 15, 1839; he died in Chicago, Ill., May 19, 1876. CHARLEY GARDNER (Bumberry), known as “Hop Light Loo” Gardner, from the fact that he originated the black-face song and dance of that name for the first time at an amateur minstrel performance in Augusta, Ga.; this was in the late 50’s. In 1861 he was with Duprez and Green’s Minstrels, and later with Burgess, Prendergast and LaRue’s Minstrels. Early in 1867 he toured with “Cool” Burgess with a minstrel company bearing their names. Mr. Gardner played a brief engagement with the San Francisco Minstrels in New York, and with Emerson and Manning’s Company in Chicago. He was the author of the following songs: “Sift Sand Sal,” “Walk Dad Lou” and “Over in Jersey.” Charley Gardner was born in Toronto, Canada, July 24, 1839; he died in Long Island City, N. Y., May 17, 1909. DICK MCGOWAN was well-known as a banjoist and a comedian in the 60’s; during which period he was with Yankee Hill’s Minstrels, Harris and Smith’s, Dick McGowan’s, and some more. As Mr. McGowan failed to keep his promise and give the author more data, this sketch must necessarily be curtailed. Sorry. Mr. McGowan was born in New York, December 28, 1839. JOHNNY “FROGGY” PIERCE (Owens) was a well-known comedian and had been identified with various prominent minstrel companies, notably Ordway’s, in Boston, in 1859; Lloyd’s, 1861; Rumsey’s, 1864; Coes, Purdy and Converse’s, 1867; Emerson’s, 1870, and many others. He died in New York, June 2, 1892; age 53 years.