The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1876-01-28
Sudden Death Of Ex.Goy. Thomas.


Ex-Governor Francis Thomas was instant
ly killed on Saturday afternoon last, short
distance west of Frankvile, on the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad, by being struck by To-
connective, while walking on the track. The
Cumberland Cialian gives the following &C.
count of the accident:
Ex-Governor Thomas had quite number
of men engaged in getting out locust posts,
for fencing his land, and they were at work
on the mountain side along the line of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. On Saturday
afternoon about half past two, he visited these
men for the purpose of paying them off, and
while walking along the track about one mile
east of the Frankyille Station lie saw freight
train approaching him from the east, and
stepped over to the south track to avoid it,
At the same moment "helpcr" engine came
upon him from the west, slender" foremost,
the approach of which he had not noticed
and did not hear. There is short curve at
this point, and the engineer says that as his
engine rounded the curve he saw Governor
Thomas walking ON the track, with his arms
folded behind him, and his head bent, in n
meditative mood. 1t was too late to give an
alarm or to check the speed of the engine,
and in moment it struck him in the back,
knocking him about twenty feet, on to pile
OF railroad bars beside the road. The loco
motive was stopped as soon as possible, and
assistance summoned, but life was extinct
The body was not mutilaied, but severe
confusion was found on the back ofthe head,
and several near the spinal column.
Hon. Francis Thomas was in his 7sth,ycar,
having been born on the Sd of February,
1893. His father was Col. John Thongs, OF
Frederick co nty, from whom he doubtless
inherited his taste for political life. lie was
educated at st. Johns College, and was adj
mitted to the bar at twenty-one years of age.
His fine personal appearance and matchless
oratory soon brought him into public notice,
and he was elected TO the State Legislature
successfully from 1922 10 1927, and again in
1929, when lie was Speaker of the. House.
In 1880, he was President of the Chesapeake
and Ohio Canal. From 1881 TO 1S41 he was
q member of Congress. In 1889 he was mar
ried to Miss Mcdowell, a daughter of Gov
Mcdowell, OF Virginia, and neice Of Mrs
Thomas II. Benton, woman of the highest
rank, of great beauty and of spotless purity
and virtue. Mr.. Thomas disposition led him
into causeless and insane jealousy of his wife,
which at length took the shape OF confirmed
monomania. The ultimate result was an APP
pication by Mrs. Thomas to the Maryland
Legislature for a divorce, which was granted.
In 1871 he was elected Governor being the
second Governor elected by the people At
the expiration of his term of office he built q
house among the mountains, where he lived
morose and solitary life, taking no active in
terest in the outside world
When the late civil war broke out he
emerged from his retirement and although
previously he had been Democrat, he took a
most active part in support of the Union
cause. His services were rewarded by the
Republicans, who elected and re- elected him
to Congress as long as they maintained the as
cendancy in the district. When the political
tide changed, he was appointed collector of
revenue. Several years ago President Grant
appointed him Minister TO Peru, which po-
sition he resigned during the past year.
MI. Thomas possessed a gift of eloqucnce
rarely rivaled, but he was lacking in judg-
mcnt discretion and wislom-qualities in
dispensably necessary 10 great statesman.
His life was one long career Of disappoint-
ments, and he has left behind him nothing to
pcrpetuatc his fame, but the memory of his
matchess eloqucncc.