Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-30
in MEMORIAM.
Coll, william Tapp.n Thompson.
Jacksonville Times.

Jacksonville Times.
The Savannah News of Saturday appears in
the full newspaper mourning costume of re-
versed column rules, and contains highly in
teresting memorial and biographical sketch Of
its late Senior editor. Colonel William Tappan
Thompson, who. as already announced in our
pages, died on Friday evening last, after an
illness which had been prolonged several
months. AS this sketch is the completest and
best that Is likely to appear. we shall sum-
Marie It's facts. and quote the tender and ap-
preciative tribute which his associates pay to
He died in the fullness of years, after tedious
illness which was known to be hopeless from
the start; and our brief sketch of his long and
honorable life may lttingly close with the elo-
quent tribute with which that in the NEws
begins
Tallahassee BToridiGn.
Colonel W. T. Thompson, so well known as a
Southern journalist, died in Savannah on Fri
day evening last, in the roth year of his age.
Colonel Thompson was born at Ravenna, in
what has since been known as the Western
Reserve of Ohio. Early in life he entered a
printing Office in Philadelphia, and later, per-
haps IN 1880 or 1881, when he was still youth,
he emigrated to Florida and commenced the
study of law in this city with James D. West
colt, Jr., father of the present Judge Of that
name, then Secretary of the Territory Dur
ing his residence here he occasionally assisted
in the FlOridiGn office. 1t was after he left
Florida, in 1885, that his newspaper career may
be said to have commenced, for in that year
he unit ed with Judge A B. LongStreet, author
OF the Georgia Scenes" in publishing the
Augusta States Rights Sentinel. On the break
ing out of the Florida war he returned as
member Of an Augusta company, and served
during the campaigns of 1855. In 1876. after
his Indian war experience, he established the
Augusta Mirror. which was afterwards merged
into the Family Companion and publlshed at
Macon. Later he moved to Madison, Ga, and
took charge of the Miscellany. through the col
umns OF which he gave to the world Major
Jones' Courtship' in a series of letters, which
were afterwards printed in book form, and Sc
are surprised to learn from the NEWS that Col.
Thompson Obtained little profit from the ex-
tensive sale Of that humorous work. We will
not follow him through his journalistic and
literary career. His latest and most perma-
nent enter prise was the establishment in 1850
of the Savannah MORNING NEWS, with which
paper his name has been associated from that
time up to the day of his death. just tribute
to his memory appears in the NEWS of Satur-
day.
Cohesion Nelgs.
The vet ran editor, William Tappan Thomp-
on the night of the 2tth of March. Mr.. Thomp-
son was the founder of the Savannah MORNING
NEWS, and its Cditor for nearly a third of a
vannah. IS recorded IN "Hart's Manual
of American Literature;'' but it is not
strange that even Mr.. Hart, usually exact,
should have erred in this matter, for never was
| was he to the State of his adoption. His long
residence. earnest and until ing labors, intimate
and endeaIing relations closely identified him
with Georgia and her DC t INF erests. Mr.. Thomp-
| son We brought prominently into notice by the
| publication of major Jones' Courtship," which
| first appeared about thirty-eight years ago in
| the Southern MlSceltdny, published in Madison,
| Ga. The rich vein of humor which runs
| through the work hes won for it permanent
place in American -. literature The
| title of Major was familiar appellation be-
| slowed on the author of MAJOR Jones" by
admiring friends, to whom he had in
troduced his hero; the title of Colonel
/ was his under a commission from Governor
Brown Colonel thompson was never an
| ofhce-seeker, and had no ambition for political
| honors, though en- active and effective politi
| cal writer in every campaign for third of a
| century, during tine whole of which period he
was thoroughly familiar with the parties,
politicians and politics of the whole country.
He YVES chosen without
/ his asking or his agency, member Of
| the Constitutional Convention Of his State,
| which assembled in 1871, and was one of its
| most useful and patriotic members. He was
| several times recognized by honorable appoint
| ment from the Executive of Georgia, but
v ould never accept any position that would
| interfere with his duties as editorin-chief Of
| the Savannah MORNING NEWS TO which he was
welded with a love bordering on devotion
| Colonel Thompson ives happy in his domestic
relations, his wife being the heroine of Major
Jones Courtship. Col Tnompson's life was
long and arduous; he bad nearly reached
his three score and ten yeaIL He was true
man, firm and faithful friend and has left
vacancy which will not be filled, He worked
faithfully and acceptably, but never for the
accumulation of wealth. Colonel Thompson
was genial graceful writer, and made valua-
BILE contributions to Southern literature. To
Colonel Estill, the proprietor of the paper he
served so long and so ably, and who is now
using his great facilities for sustaining and en-
couraging Southern authorship. will, perhaps,
be delegated the grateful te SIX of gathering in
lasting form the works of his colaborer.
EdtOnt0n Chronicle.