The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-07-26
Death Of Charles StrattOn, the Cele.
brated Dwarf.
AfTpnI.EnnRo. Mass.. III,

MIDDLEBoRo, Mass, July 10.
General Tom Thumb died of apoplexy
Sunday morning. He had been slightly in
disposed for several days, but no serious re-
suits were anticipated. He leaves a widow,
who 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. lar
NUN in November, 1912, and the show
man describes him as being under two
feet high, weighing less than sixteen pounds,
beautifully formed; a blonde, with ufddy
cheeks and miFthful eyes. Banum intro
duced Stratt0n to the public on Decem 5er
s, 1912, by the name that afterward ire
ceded him around the worid-General Tom
Thumb. He paid the little midget So
week, with expenses for himself and his
mother fer four weeks. Then he was re-
engaged for twelve months at 81
week, but long before this term
expired Mr.. Banum paid him
S25 week. In January, 1916, Tom
Thumb, now getting fifty dollars week
and expenses, set sail with Barnum for
Europe in the Yorkshire, sailing ship. The
little General proved decided hit in En-
gland, France and Germany, and the state
ment never afterwaTd 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
20 Europe. When, three months later, he
again came back to America, his value as
4 curiosity had grown greater than before.
Barnum took in IS, 81 in twelve days
with him in Philadelphia, and @976.95 IN
one day in Providence. Mr.. BaTnum took
him to Havana and made a great deal OF
money there. After that the dwarf was put
In charge of agents Of BIT. Barnum, who had
no desire to spend his life in travel.
In 1857 Barnnm took Tom Thumb
and Cordelia Howard, a child who was
famous as Little Eva IN fUncle Toms
Cabin,'' to Europe, and In 1862 he engaged
Lavinia and Minnie Warren, two tiny sis
ters, to the former OF whom Tom Thumb
lost his heart at the showInan's home I'm
Bridgeport. At the old museum, where the
HGdld building now stands, the receipts
principally because Of the presence OF
the noted little man and the Wauens)
were frequently 1000 day. The
fact that Tom Thumb ard LavInia
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
" 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 %25,O 900 Dy eXhlDiung
the ceremony in the Academy OF Music.
They were married IN Grace Church, and
held a reception afterward in the Metropoli-
tan Hotel. This was in 1862.
Of late years the name Of Tom Thumb oc-
CURED outside Of museum show bills, when
he and his wife escaped with their lives,
but lost some money ard 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 On exhibition lie wore
mustache and a beard. Three generations
Of Americans sat before him.