Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-07-26
Death Of Charles StrattOn, the Celc.
brated Dwarf.

MIDDLEBORO. Mass. july Is.
General Tom Thumb died of apOplexy
Sunday morning. He had been slightly in
disposed for several days, but no serious re-
suits were anticipated. Tie leaves widow,
vino had been on the stage with him since
1868. He was forty-Six years of age. His
correct name was Charles StrattOn, and he
came to the notice of P. T. Bar
mum in November, 1912, and the show
man describes him as being under two
feet high, weighing less than sixteen pounds,
beautifully formed; blonde, with rudy
cheeks and mirthful eyes. Bamum intro
duced StrattOn to the public on December
S, 1912, by the name that afterward pre-
ceded him around the world-General Tom
Thumb. He paid the little midget So a
week, with expenses for himself and his
mother for four weeks. Then he was H.
engaged for twelve months at 81
4 week, but long before this term
expired Mr.. Barnum paid him
S25 week In January, 1S46, Tom
Thumb, now getting fifty dollars a week
and expenses, set sail with Barnum for
Europe in the Yorkshire, sailing ship. The
little General proved decided hit i'll En-.
gland, France and Germany. and the state
ment never afterward omitted from the
show bills, that he was exhibited "before
crowned heads was literally true In the
autumn, Tom Thumb returned with his
manager, who was then the, proprietor of
the museum that bore his name, and
early the next year the mite returned again
to Europe. When, three months later, he
again came back to America, his value as
q curiosity had grown greater than before.
Barnum took in S5,504.91 i'll twelve days
with him in Philadelphia. and S976.9S in
one day in Providence. Mr.. Barnum took
him to Havana and made a great deal OF
money there. After that the dwarf was put
in charge of agents of Mr.. Barnum, who had
no desire to spend his life in travel.
In. 1857 Bamnm took Tom Thumb
and COrdelia Howard, child who was
famous as Little Eva in ''Uncle Toms
Cabin" to Europe, and in 1862 he engaged
.Layinia and Minnie Warren. two tiny Sis
fers to the former of whom Tom Thumb
lost his heart at the ShOwmap'S home in
Bridgeport At the old museum, where the
Herald building now stands, the receipts
principally because of the presence OF
the noted little man and the Waxrens)
were frequently $4,000 day. The
fact that Tom Thumb and -Layinia
Warren were to be married. re-
doubled the popular interest in them, and
Barnum offered them SIS, 900 to postpone
the wedding a month. This was indignant,
ly refused. The Snowman resisted the
temptation to have their wedding viewed by
the public at so much seat, though he said
he could have made S25, geo bysexhbiting
the ceremony in sthe Academy -6f Music.
they were married in Grace Church, and
held a reception afterward in the MetropoIi-
tan Hotel. This was in 1862.
CT late years the name of Tom Thumb oc-
Cured outside of museum ssow bills, when
he and his wife escaped with their lives,
but lost some meney and jewelry. In the
burning of the Newell House, at Milwaukee,
General Tom Thumb long ago grew in
height, became stout, and ceased to be the
smallest mortal oh exhibition He wore
mustache and beard. Three generations
of Americans sat before him. He was fond
of catching, and, being more prudent than
most of those who have enjoyed good fort
une in the same way, lived comfortably and
saved money. ~ , se-