Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1883-07-19
TOM THUMB.
Death of the Worid-Famed Dwarf--skctcl
OfHis Career.

Death of the WOrid-Famed Dvvarf--sketch
OfHis Career.
charles Haywood Stratton, better known
to the world as General Tom Thumb, is dead,
having succumbed to stroke Of apoplexy
at his home in Middleboro, Mass. 1t is said
that, to those who knew him, his death wa
not surprise. His irregular habits and
occasional excesses have seriously alarmed
his friends, and for many days he has been
quite i'll. During the temporary absence
of his wife he has entertain ed quite a
number of iovial fellows, who have always
been ready to partake of his hospitality.
His widow, the almost equally famous and
popular Lavinia Warren, whom lie married
IN 1863, and who has appeared on the stage
with him constantly since their marriage,
was IN Cincinnati, but was summoned home
by telegraph.
Tom Thumb was born in Bridgeport,
Conn.,, on January 4. 1888, and was con-
sequently forty-hye years old. He came to
the notice of P. I. Barnum in November,
lo42, and the Snowman describes him as
being under two feet high, weighing less
than sixteen pounds, beautifully formed a
blonde, with ruddy cheeks and mirthfuE
eyes. Barnum introduced Stratton to the
public on December6 8, 1912, by the namet that
afterward preceded him around the world
midget So week, with expenses for himself
and his mother, for four weeks. Then he
was re-engaged for twelve months at 81
week, but long before this term expired Mr..
Barnum paid him $25a week. In january,
1046, Tom Thumb, now getting $50 week
and expenses, set sail with Barnum for Eu-
rope in the Yorkshire, sailing ship. The
little General proved decided hit inEEng-
land, France and Germany, and the state
ment, never afterward omitted from the
showbills, that he was exhibited before the
crowned heads, was literally true.
In the autumn Tom Thumb returned with
bus 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
curiosity had grown greater than before.
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.
BaTnum, who had no desire to spend his life
in travel.
In 1857 Barnum took Tom Thumb and
Cordelia Howard, a child who was famous
as Little Eva in "Uncle Toms Cabin" to
Europe, and in 1852 he engaged Lavinia and
Minnie Warren, two tiny sisters, to the for
mer of whom Tom Thumb lost his heart at
Bridgeport. The fact that Tom Thumb and
Lavinia Warren were to be married re-
doubled the interest In them, and Barnum
offered them $1,000 to postpone the we'd
ding q month. This was Indignantly re-
fused. They were married In Grace church,
and held a reception afterward in the Met
ropolitan hotel. This was in 1862.
Of lase 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 and jewelry, In the burning
of the Newhall house, at Milwaukee.
General Tom Thumb long ago grew in
height, became stout, and ceased TO be the
smallest mortal on exhibition. He wore
mustaches and beard. Three generations
of Americans sat before him. He was fond
of yachting, lived comfortably and saved
soma r1oucu