War Service of Local Musicians Revealed by Newspaper Records

The Rambler told you of Frank Cardella last Sunday, but had not space for all his notes. Frank was born at Lexington, Ky., and came to Washington in the 70’s from St. Louis, where he had lived long. I recall memories of him in these rambles, because he was a musician of merit, taught the art, and played the organ and piano in public, though he chiefly earned his living as a clerk in he surgeon general’s office. He was related to the Pistorio family by marriage.

In The Star Saturday, July 24, 1897, was the death notice: “Cardella. Suddenly, on Friday, July 23, 1897, at 2:45 a.m., R. Frank Cardella, beloved husband of Margaret Cardella. Funeral at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 25, from his late residence, 503 H street northwest.”

Below that notice was this: “Headquarters John F. Reynolds Post, No. 6, G.A.R. - The death of Comrade R. Frank Cardella is announced. Comrades will meet at Grand Army Hall on Sunday, the 25th instant, at 1 o’clock p.m., wearing the badge of the order, to attend his funeral. Interment at Arlington Cemetery. By order Frank G. Calvert, Commander; F.L. McKenna, Adjutant.”

In The Star, Monday, July 26, 1897, was this: “At the funeral of the late R.F. Cardella, who died last Friday from an attack of neuralgia of the heart took place yesterday from No. 503 H street northwest, the interment being at Arlington. The dead man was an active and popular member of many fraternal and patriotic organizations. The services at the house were conducted by Rev. Dr. Elliott of Ascension Church, and at their conclusion special services were held by the Scottish Rite Masons and the Washington Lodge of Elks. At the grave in Arlington Masonic services were conducted, as well as those of the Grand Army of the Republic, Reynolds Post, No. 6, of which the deceased was a member, having charge of the ceremony. The service was concluded by the flag service, conducted by the U.S. Grant Circle of Loyal Women. The floral tributes were many and magnificent.”

In another account of the funeral which the Rambler found, it is said that the services were in charge of New Jerusalem Lodge, No. 9, F.A.A.M.; members of Columbia Commandery, Knights Templar, Reynolds Post, Grant Circle of Ladies of the G.A.R., and the Legion of Loyal Women. Special services were held by the Elks, Washington Commandery and Scottish Rite. Maj. Bayliss conducted the “ring service” of the latter order, and the printed account contains this: “This service is a most impressive one and is rarely performed. It had never before been held in this jurisdiction. It consists of taking the sacred ring of the thirty-second degree, which had been conferred upon Mr. Cardella, from the dead man’s finger and placing it on the finger of his widow.”

This old account says of the flag service at the grave that it was conducted by Past President Nellie C. Royce of the U.S. Grant Circle, and continues: “This was the peculiar and sad rite of placing a silken flag in the hand of the dead veteran, Mr. Cardella having served in the 62d New York and also held the position of ensign in the Navy under Admiral Porter.”

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In looking through The Star file for obituary notices of Frank Cardella, the Rambler came upon a musical organization he had not heard of. It was the Mount Pleasant Field Band. The matter was found in a letter telling of Summer visitors at Pin ey Point, and it was written that the Mount Pleasant Field Band was playing at the resort - was “discoursing melody,” I believe the writer said. Names of members of the band taken from that story of July, 1897, follow: Sergt. Burdsall, Lewis Vogelberger, J. Churchill, Alvin Quinter, L. Campbell, Ned Dawson, Will Cone, C. Churchill, George Zellers, Hugh Rivers, R. Robinson, R. Dennison, Lawrence Maher, G. Madert, Charles Madert, Aleck Frazier, Joe Grant and A.H. Hoffman.

You hve read in these rambles mention of Emmanuel Massari. I have south a picture of this celebrated musician and have found one, but the difficulty of reproducing it seemed great and I believed that a satisfactory “cut” for newspaper could not be made from it. Further on in this series I may show you Massari’s picture. He was born at Naples in 1843. When he came to the United States I do not know, but he enlisted in he Navy in January 1861, and served as a musician in the ship Susquehanna until 1863. September 4, that year, he “enrolled” in Capt. Osborn Wattson’s company - Company I, 3d Pennsylvania Artillery - a remained with that command until honorably discharged, November 9, 1865, at Fort Monroe on the muster-out of the company. His discharge is signed, “H.C. Corbin, assistant adjutant general.”

After the Civil War he enlisted again in the Navy, and I have seen his honorable discharge signed, John H. Stephenson, paymaster, but I have no information where his service was. He enlisted in the Marine Corps as a musician in 1873, and soon after that the Rambler finds him a member of the Marine Band and living at 650 E street southeast.

He married Miss Harriet Biondi of Washington, a daughter of Antonio Biondi. Antonio Biondi came to the United States from Sicily in 1840, enlisted in the Navy as a musician, was leader of a ship band at the onset of war between the United States and Mexico and received an injury making it impossible that he play his instrument, the cornet. Before the close of the Mexican War he came to live in Southeast Washington.

Three of his boys - Joseph, William and Charles P. - live in Washington. I have the name of but one daughter, Hattie, and do not know that there were other children than those named.

Emmanuel Massari and his wife Hattie had two children, John and Edith, or Eva, who live in Washington. Emmanuel was retired by the Marine Corps in 1881 on account of physical disability. He taught music and played in private bands and orchestras. Old musicians and the older people on the navy yard speak of him with esteem.

He died in 1893, and The Star, September 9, 1893, published this notice: “Departed this life on Saturday, September 9, 1893, at 6:15 o’clock, after a long and painful illness, at his residence, 650 E street southeast, Emmanuel Massari, beloved husband of Hattie Massari.”

The Star September 12, 1893, printed a brief account of Massari’s funeral, and I give y9ou this extract from that account: “For 20 years Mr. Massari was a soloist in the Marine Band and as a musician he ranked high. He served throughout the late war and was a member of the Grand Army. He also was a Knight of Pythias and a member of the Italian Society, all of which organizations attended his funeral this afternoon at 2:30 o’clock in a body. Interment was made at Congressional Cemetery. The deceased left a wife and two children.”

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While looking for the matter just related, the Rambler came upon a list of Washington singers, and some of the names may prick your memory. The story was of the Solo Choir. It said: “The Solo Choir that will participate in the rehearsal at Convention Hall tonight (September 13, 1893) and in the exercises at the Capitol on Monday (the 100th anniversary of the laying of the cornerstone of the Capitol) and consist of the following well known vocalists: Sopranos-Misses Bertha Lincoln, Blanche Mattingly, Mary H. Howe, Marie Macnichol, Amy Law, Sue H. Wilson, Flora Holden, Sallie Nicholson, M.S. Cully, Ida O’Neal, Mrs. W.E. Parsons, Misses Howes and Lowdermilk; contraltos-Mrs. S.W. Curriden, Mrs. Eulalie, Domer Rheem, Mrs. S.H. Bodfish, Mrs. Eva Cowling Weston, Misses Pauline Whittaker, Blanche Yewell, Martha Mundell, Mary Dashiell, Lillian C. Burroughs, Belle Ingram and Florence McNally; tenors-D.L. Burnett, A.S. Fennell, James H. Forsyth, G.W. Lawrence, Jacob Scharf, S.C. mason, Fred A. Gran, James G. Taylor, B.W. Beebe, J.A. Roeder, Percy S. Foser and George Scharf; basso-W.A. Widney, William De Ford, Elphonzo Youngs, jr.; B.A. Ryan, J.A. Hunter, F.H. Barbarin, Dr. T.J. Woodman, Theodore Friebus, jr.; H.T. Statham, Dr. Andrew B. Mitchell, W.R. Deeble, Charles F. Hall, D.W. Middleton and W.A.. Domer.

Here is a good place to set down a letter to the Rambler from his old friend, John Birsell-John E. Birdsell, secretary of the Musicians’ Protective Union. In addition to that title, the letterhead tells that this union is Local No. 161 of American Federation of Musicians, affiliated with the American Federation of Labor, 1006 E street northwest. A.C. Hayden is present and Harry C. Manvell treasurer. The letter follows:

”I have read with very much interest your articles appearing in the last two issues of The Sunday Star and intend if possible o acquire a full set of these articles since in my opinion they are a most valuable contribution to the history of the musical life in this city. (Thank you John.)

”In this connection it may be possible that, during the course of your researches for the preparation of these writings, you may acquire a complete roster of the orchestra which played at Ford’s Theater the night President was shot. I have had inquiry for his from several sources. He first came from somewhere in California. I communicated with the Oldroyd Museum, and when they did not possess this information, they expressed a desire to acquire it. To date the partial roster, which I have is as follows: Leader, William Withers,; violin, Chris Arth, solo bass, George Arth; clarinet Henry Donch; cornet, Salvatore Petrola. At that time the average theater orchestra was about 10 pieces, so my list is about half complete.

”I noticed in one of your articles, reference to Mr. Fred. Prosperi, as the first secretary of the Musicians’ Union. This was doubtless the organization formed on April 26, 1865. I have before me a copy of the constitution, price list and roster of this association, printed 60 years ago. It is not my property so I cannot send it to you, but if you were interested I should be glad to show it to you at this office any day between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. or 7 and 8 p.m. A short while ago I saw another document which might interest you. This was a roster of the Marine Band in the year 1876, showing name and address of each member. This is the property of Mr. Louis Kruger, a member of the band at that time and at present playing viola in the orchestra at Keith’s. He is on vacation at present.

”Again assuring you of my appreciation of your articles and the desire of my organization as well as myself to render you any assistance possible, I remain, John E. Birdsell, secretary.”

I went over to see John, copied the 1865 list of musicians, which I will let you see at our next meeting, and borrowed from the Musicians’ Union the pictures which are with this story.