Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-27

Tributes OF Our Contemporaries 10
the Late Col. william r. Thomp-
son.


Macon Telegraph and Messen0er.
AS our readers have been advised by tele.
graph, Col. William r. Thompson, late editor
Of the Savannah MonAIs0 NEWS. died at his
home in that city, on Friday night last
Colonel Thompson waa the oldest and most
distinguished member 6f the press 10 Georgia,
having covered n service OF nearly fifty years.
He began his journalistic career In Augusta,
prose cuted II In this city, IN Madison and Ia
Baltimore. Maryland, and finally closed IL in
Savannah. His work an editor, a literateur
and a playwright, gave him fame beyond the
borders Of Georgia, and indc ID beyond tire con
fines Of this continent. The writer can recall his
pleasant face from the memories OF boyhoOd,
when he had charge OF the Augusta Mirror.
our intercourse with him commenced with the
opening Of our journalistic life twenty five
years or more ago, and since then we have
known him intimai sly as man and as an edi-
tor We bear cheerful ami willing testimony
10 his integrity. his ability. virtue and industry.
The reputation won by his pen IVES deserved,
and IL Is a sad fact that the labors Of lifetime
brought little save reputation and a living
from year 10 year. The copyright of his books
had long since passed from his hands for a
mere pittance. and the benehciaries of his
plays never remembered him In the way OF
royalties for his genius.
His tastes and DISPOSITION scarcelv leaned to-
wards the jars and wrangles Of the political
arena, and fierce polemics were foreign to his
nature. yet he bore himself always well and
ever for what he conceived to be the right
The MORNING NEWS may Justly be said to
have been built up by his industry and judg-
ment. and viii stand as a monument to his
memory. He has laid down his work in the
fu'lness or honors and years. and has left be-
hind him memories which win not only be cher
lshed by his brethren of the press but by all
the people Of the State.
AUGUSTA Chronicle
Colonel William Tappan Thompson. he ven
cradle senior editor Of the Savannah News,
who died Friday evening at his home in Sa-
vannah. was one Of the best known journal
lists in the South, and he possessed the re-
spect and esteem Of sll Of his contempo-a-
mes But he had achieved literary repu-
tatlon not only es newspaper writer, but as
an author and humorist ss well-a reputation
that was BY no means confined to Georgia or
to the South. How many of our readers have
read and enjoyed Major Jones' Courtship" a
work that is full of rich, quaint humor and
once read will be read again, ACQUIRING fresh
interest with each perusal. Besides 'Major
Jones CourtShip." he wrote THE Chronicles
OF Flneyllle" Major Jones Travels" and
other sketches, the well known farce Of 1.-The
I've In1ian and a disqualification OF the
Vicar of Wakefield" which was produced
both IN America and Europe with great success
colonel Thompson was born at Ravenna o.,
on the 3lst or August, 1872 being the first
white child born in what is known rs the
=" estern Reserve" of that State. His father
IVES Nlrglnlan aud his mother a tive OF
Dublin, Ire,and, who came to this country with
ner father, an exile from his home because of
having resisted what he believed to be the
tyranny OF the British Government during tie
revolution OF rs. When he was only eleven
years OF age his mother died, and his father
then removed TO Philadelphia, where he too
died soon afterwards. Young Thompson was
mus thrown uDou his resources at very
early age, and he entered the Office of the
Philadelphia Chronicle, wnere he com
meDced his journalistic career. He had not
at that time, however. fully made up his
mind TO pursue the profession OF journalism
Receiving the appointment Of private secre-
tary TO Hon. James D Wescott. then Terrific.
rial Governor Of Florida. he came to the South
and began the study of law in Governor Wes-
cots Office. In 1875 he left Florida and moved
70 Augusta, where he became associated with
Judge j. 3. LongEtreet, the author Of the cele-
brated 'Georgia Scenes. y who was at that time
editor OF the States Rights Sentinel When
the Seminole war broke out he Joined the Rich
mond Blues Of this citv. and went to Florida
with that company. There are several gentle
men now in Augusta who were members of
that gallant organization, who remem.
her Colonel Thompson well at that
time. On his return from Florida he
engaged in the publication of the Augusta
Mirror, the first purely literary paper ever
published in Georgia 1t Yves at this time that
ne married Miss Caroline A Carrie daughter
or Mr.. Joseph Carrie, of this city who still
survives him. and who, as his confrere Of the
NEWS well says, by her lifelong unselhsh
devotion as wife and mother, he's shown her
eli 70 he worthy. in every respect, of the
beautlful tribute which he himself he's paid
her when, in dedicating to her his WOrld-re-
nowned work. major Jones' Courtsbip. 8" he
touchingly alluded TO her as "having blessed
the morn, cheered the noon and bright
ened the evening of my life" Not meet
ing with financial success in the publication
Of the Mi ron, Colonel Thompson merged
IL into the Family Companion, the publication
OF which ives begun in Macon, where Colonel
thompson now took up his residence. He sub
sequently went to Madison and took charge Of
the Miscellany, in the columns of which Major
Jones Courtship'' fl ct appeared He was in
cuced TO publish it in book form, and disposed
OF the copyright for a mere song. In 1915
he prepared for the press ''Hotchkiss' &C 1ifcz-
ton OF the State Laws Of Georgia" and during
the same year he became a. rociated with
Park Benjamin, the poet. in the publi-
cation in Baltimore Of the Western Continent
weekly paper, Of which he soon became
sole editor and proprietor. In 1850 he removed
70 Savannah and commenced the publication
or the Morning News. and has been the chief
editor or that paper ever since. During the
war colonel Thompson YVES Aid-de-Camp to
Governor Brown, and rendered valuable a-sist-
ance TO the State and Confederacy. He was
delegate to the National Democratic Conven-
ton which nominated Seymour and Blair for
President and Vice President. He was men,
Der OF the Constitutional Convention of 1871
and OF the s. tie Convention which sent dele
gates to the National Democratic Convention
in 1870
Modest and unassuming in manner. never
c?nncent or his own abilities. which were so
widely recognized and appreciated a devoted
husband and father of untarnished integrity
Colonei thompson was an honor TO the profes
son Wnich he had chosen, and to the State
Hhlcn ne made his home for so many yeaI5 of
ms Ire He belonged to the old school Of
journalists who are so rapidly passing away.
ne was an able writer, and will long be re-
memoered by his brethren Of the press, and by
the people Of Georgia.
Cq7,on,7ob Y;v,ae