In the 1920's, the high-flying Beresford Gale (c1881-1935) would be a suc­cess­ful realtor and insur­ance broker. The majority of his enter­prises were services geared to his fellow Blacks. His professional career was book-ended by roles as a supporting actor. In 1901, as a twenty-year-old he toured internationally with Williams & Walker in "In Dahomey", the most prominent all-Black show of its day. He published his own play, "The hands of fate" (1913) in which cruel whites interfere with the progress of the Southern Black hero. (see below for a synopsis)↓↓↓

       On the day of his funeral, 1935-apr-02, "Sanders of the River" premiered in London, with him in a small role as Topolaka, an African native.

*       *       *       *      *

       Gale wrote the adventure story "Leone and the guards" mid-WWI when Black soldiers of the British and French empires, as well as Sikh regiments, were getting more attention for their accomplishments. Americans were not yet involved. The real story of being BIPOC in the Great War is best told in David Olusoga's The world's war : Forgotten soldiers of empire (2014).

       The breezy plot of Gale's story advances almost too quickly, with its combustive limerance, and fascinating lady spy vs lady spy subplot related in passing. Too, it would have paid to explore further the details of Le Garde Noir network lying dormant in the USA.

       The climax in the fabled trenches near Marne, breaking the German stalemate, is well imagined. The fighting without end, the lack of news, the sustaining surge of patriotism are all good details. The romantic dénouement is tender and pure.

Beresford Gale's story was published in two parts in 1916-dec & 1917-jan. Read "LEONE OF THE GUARDS" here.

 

       Richard Walker, a Negro, on becoming of age, finds conditions in the South unbearable, and decides to seek his fortune in other directions. His friend, 'Bud Thomas, a queer but sincere individual, decides to throw in his lot with "Dick." The day before their departure, the master of the plantation, Lemuel Craven, a white man who is nothing but an unconvicted murderer and forger, happens on the scene, and plans for Dick's downfall, even though he had already robbed him of his father's inheritance. In the midst of Craven's machinations, Sam Harris, another white man, who is in deed and word the Negro's friend, succeeds in frustrating Craven's evil plans, and saving Walker's life. In the meantime. Craven who is the common law husband of Bell Schriner, a white woman, on becoming at variance with her, attempts her murder. She is saved in the very nick of time by Walker. To show her gratitude, Bell asks Walker to visit her at her house at midnight, and when he refuses to murder Craven for her, she turns on him, and brands him as her traducer. May Brooks who is Walker's sweetheart, defies death to save her lover, and through great strategy helps him to escape. While Jim Taylor, "who loves the white man" is abducting Bell Schriner to remove her from Craven's path, he is killed. Levi Goldberg, a shrewd but benevo- lent American Jew, holds the supreme proofs in the evidence of Craven's crime, but is afraid to say anything till he is sure he is right.

       After ten years' absence, during which time Walker mounts to fame, fortune and honor abroad, he returns home to wed his sweetheart, only to find himself immersed in the direst tangle of intrigue and hate. His old friend Harris who has been working on the mystery all the time, happens to drop in to congratulate "Dick" on his rapid rise in life. He meets Craven and explanations of a very different nature follow. Goldberg, who is also an unexpected visitor, after fighting his way into the reception room, turns out to be just in time to help in the solution of things, while Sister Agnes, Miss Josephine's chaperon, turns out to be no other person than Bell Schriner reformed. Walker, who at this moment is in dire distress and on the verge of being taken off to jail, is agreeably surprised in having the tables turned in his favor, while Craven is hurried off to jail by the same officer who promises that if he had anything to do with it, Craven would go to the "chair" before he went to trial.

       In the end, justice triumphs, and the Honorable Richard Walker, Negro, being exonerated becomes the righful heir to the Farmdale Plantations where he marries his sweetheart after the long lapse of ten years.

       The ingenious workings of fickle Fortune have undoubtedly lent her aid in building up the fabrics of —

"THE HAND OF FATE."

 

Beresford Gale Dies In London

       LONDON, Eng., May 2. — (ANP) — Beresford Gale is dead. The dashing broker who climbed the ladder of life to fame and fortune during the boom days when he was a stockbroker in Philadelphia, passed away in London last week. He had been in London four years, coming here as Grand Traveling Representative of the Improved Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

       Mr Gale was a native of Jamaica, but he spent most of his life in the United States and had become an American citizen through naturalization. Tall, slender, well groomed, a natural leader and a super salesman, Gale, naturally gravitated toward the top of any enterprise in which he was engaged. While yet a youngster he came to England in 1901 as a member of the Williams and Walker troupe which played "In Dahomey" at the Shaftesbury Theatre for eleven months.

       In Philadelphia he developed a business as a stockbroker. Opening magnificent offices on Broad street his name became synonymous with grand deals, high finance and luxury. He was reputed to have been the first Negro in America to own a Rolls-Royce automobile.

       In 1930 he came to England as a representative of the Elk Grand Lodge. He quickly became a factor in the life of the colored colony here. He established an active lodge of the order here in London, and arranged for an annual service at Westminster Abbey where sermons were preached by Canon F. L. Donaldson.

       Just before his death he took a rather important part in the film "Sanders of the River," starring Paul Robeson.

       Memorial services were held at the Church of St Giles-In-The-Fields, Bloomsbury. Mrs Beresford Gale survives.