The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-07-31
BRAVE TOM THUMB.
Plucky Deeds of the Little Man Who Died a
Few Days Ago.

New York Journal.
Tom Thumb was a brave little man. He
had lots OF presents in his pretty house i'll
one of the prettiest of the New England
towns, and some of these presents were most
valuable. There was a snuff-box from Prince
Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, pre-
sented to Tom Thumb when he was shown
to the court at Windsor, This ne priced very
highly, as well as a number OF other elegant
things which were given him by the
nobility and gentry of Great Britain.
On one occasion the knowledge that
he kept these articles in the house excited
the undisguised envy of a party of burglars,
who thought they would have an easy job
with the small family. Tom was awakened
at dead of night to the knowledge that burg
lars were in the lower rooms. His wife
begged him to let them complete their work
on the plea that his life was more valuable
than all the gold and silver in the world.
But the little man, who, though small in
stature, had the courage of a giant, went to
his bureau drawers, took out two hand
somely chased revolvers-one was a gift from
the Crown Prince of Prussia-and creps
down to the parlor, where he saw two meu
busy at work on a safe constructed in the
wall.
Stop that" he said quickly, W here's q
bullet for each of YOU"
The men turned round in alarm, and al
most laughed to see the d~iminutive figure
hhhs oNCOA q ON e ia OAlC VI b4Ctl lnACak-
ened him.
"If you make a step toward me I fire. said
Tom, and they saw a revolver in each of hi
little hands.
You're a plucky little fellow" exclaimed
the other burglar, and, by -, I'll have
nothing to do with this" Then, addressing
Tom, If we go, will you keep quiet?'
Leave my house." said Tom
At this moment Mrs. S~tratton, who had
come down and saw the scene, screamed
aloud. The two burglars thought no more
about it, but made a rush and scrambled ouI
of the window. In the flight one OF then
dropped a gold signet ring, which Tom was
ever after proud to show as a memento of his
encounter with burglars. He was never after
molested.
Tom was very fond of sailing. Once he
had the tiller and was Swimming along the
Sound with a party OF friends. A four
year-old boy, who was playing about the
dock, fell into the water. The mother
screamed.
Hold the tiller and bring her around"
shouted Torn, and in an instant he was in
the water swimming toward the drowning
child, whom he soon reached, and whom he
held up in the water for fifteen minutes.
while the people or board bunglingly tried
to get the thirty-foot boat around.
cit was said of Tom Thnmb," remarked an
setor yesterday, that at the time OF the
Newhall House disaster in Milwaukee, Tom
Thumb fled with his Jewelry, leaving his wife
This is not true. She had tainted.
and when they were found toward the foot
of the stairs, he was carrying her as we'll as
could, and would not let go when assist
ance arrived, so that they both had to be car
ried out together. When he reached the
street he tainted, too. But his pluck stood
by him during the critical period, an,lsshs
saved his jewelry. too" Isdw
Tom Thumb used 10 say that he wonld
OF 'eup all the money ne made to be the size
larly ordinary man. and this was ~partiou-
some CO waqse when he would come across
so annoyed b. bully. At one time he was
his wife by suoulls leveled at himself and
provocation, would "a on the slightest
in regular Sullivan styie gut the crowd"
found it out, and Tom h& s class soon
of it. quiet time
He often spoke of his visit %
and referred to the Queen and p%rjncand.
bert. G-4
The Prince OF Wales" he said,
about my size then. and seemed q Just
vast interest in me. But the Qua.naAea
very kind. and seemed to be almot as was
delighted as her son, then only a NH
The impression made was so goo, thu
two other occasions we were ordeAI TO- on on
palace" NC
Tom was too good a republicatto
| overcome by the honors showered bi
! by royalty. His demeanor was not ptsain
bold, but confident in the extreme. 4scn
very young at the time. The COW o. =.
England was mostly made up of youngeo,
pie, Victoria's age being only about tweAyN
five. When he went back the last time W
| that was changed. He did not see the Queel
at all, for she would indulge in no anus
ments, but the Prince of Wales, then just
married, invited Tom Thumb and his wife to
Marlborough House.
Tom Thumb was we'll off, but not actually
IL -lz- L. Hal A Nen {nan his fortuna
WAS auite large. bat IL dviadled dawn in
various specuiations, AMI he was compelled
to take the road again. When he passed
away he was worth fully $4,000, however.
which was a good deal for such q small man.