The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-15
THE LATE THOMAS E. ADAMS.


THE LATE THOMAS Z. ADAMS.
The Reverend Mr.. Palmer was never more
earnest or more eloquent, in any address he
has made in his ministerial capacity, than he
was yesterday in his funeral sermon over the
corpse Of Colonel Thomas E. Adams. Never,
either, had Doctor Palmer subject Of the
earth earthly more deserving of his encomiums
and his fervid eloquence. Amid the assem-
blage which filled the room wherein the body
was exposed, there was hardly one eye that
was dry, or bosom but heayed with emotion
for the loss of the noble and fearless gentle
man whose inanimate body lay there in its
last sleep.
Thomas Edwin Adams was born in North
Brookfeld, Mass, in 1924. He came to New
Orleans in 1916, and was so well pleased with
the people that he determined to make the
city his future home He found many friends
here, all of whom, with the proverbial kind
ness of Southern people, extended the hand
of welcome and assistance. Among them was
our venerable and respected fellow-citizen,
Moses Greenwood, Esq, who took Col. Adams
as aclerk into his house of business, andin two
or three years made him partner. In 1858
Col. Adams took an active part in politics as
member of the Wing party, and was
elected to the Legislature. About this time
there was sad need for some determined
man, whose integrity was spotless, to take
charge of the police of New Orleans, and
quell the aggressive and sanguinary party
spirit which broke out continually in broils
and bloodshed. The principal men of the
city, the merchants, the property holders, and
ali other good citizens subscribed petition
to Thomas E. Adams, calling upon him to
assume the position of chief of police, and
provided he should take the place, raising the
salary of the Office from $500, as paid by the
city, to s15,000-the difference to be made
up by them. With Characteristic disinterested-
ness, Col Adams accepted the Office, but re-
jected the increase of salary sacrificing the
prospects of mercantile reputation and COM
potency for the good of the people among
whom he had made his home. How well he
executed his trust, how firmly and at the same
time how kindly and considerably he exer-
cised his powers, everybody OF mature years,
who then lived in the city, must remember
with gratitude.
When the war broke out, Col. Adams was
opposed, vehemently, to secession. But
when Louisianas entire population entered
into the movement, none of her own native
born were more earnest, more indefatig-
able or more fearless in the Southern
cause. He gave it his time, his health,
his devotion and his sword. Wherever
there was perilous mission on either bank
of the Mississippi, Tom Adams was the
one selected to accomplish it; and he in
variably did his work thoroughly, and made
his reports with modesty and truthfulness
which showed the greatness and the magnan-
unity of his soul. He had q remarkable ia
Guilty for detecting crime, and a glance of
scrutiny from his eye was as effective as q
cross-examination at the bar.
Col. Adams never considered odds when he
saw the weak oppressed. An instance of this
we cannot withhold from our readers. Some
fifteen years ago, whilst travelling on a steam
boat on the Arkansas river, on business for
his house, be witnessed the swindling of a
young farmer bya professional gamester. In
dignant at the cheat, he called upon the ruff
fan to refund his ill,got winnings. The adj
venturer, who was as stalwart as himself,
clustered and fumed, but Col Adams seized
him by the neck and pitched him into the
river. 't--
The part which Col. Adams took in the
affairs of the city, since the war. is too recent
for impartial narration. One fact, however,
can nowhere be gainsaid-that his conduct
and generalship on the memorable 30th July,
1866, were worthy of being classed with the
conduct and generalship of the first military
men of this age.
Alas, for Tom Adamsl Cut off in the ma
turity of his manhood riven from his de-
voted wife and his darling girl and boy; no
longer greeted at his club and on the streets
by the legions of friends who loved and adj
mired him! His death is another link broken
from the chain which binds us to this world.
He was the intimate and beloved friend of
the editor of this paper. Tried in circum-
stances in which men of ordinary nerve
would have quailed and stood aloof-but his
courage, both moral and physical, was per-
feet, and as he never failed a friend, so did
no enemy ever overcome him. 1t requires
generation of men to furnish an antique
model like Thomas E. Adams Under a
rugged exterior he had the kindest and most
affectionate heart that ever actuated human
being. Brave to temerity, but gentle and
guileless as child, he was a man to whom
a population would appeal in their hour of
danger, and on whom an infant would smile in
its waking hours. My friend-my brother
good bye ; may we meet again.
Welsh Edwards, Ding Dong Bell. IN the
White Fawnu at the Academy of Music Mon.