The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-07-17
POOR TOMS A.COLD.
Death of the Celebrated Liiputian.
E"Tom Thumb".--A Short Sketch
of His Career.

MDDLEBoRo, Mass, July l6-Gen. Tom
Thumb is dead He died of apoplexy after a
short indisposition from which no serious re-
suits were feared. The time of the funeral
has not yet been decided upon
Tom Thumbs real name was Chas s. STRAIT
ton, and he was born in Bridgeport, Conn, in
1881. His father and mo ther were of ordi-
nary stature. P T. Barnum heard of him
and went to see him. which visit resulted in
his agelnent TO travel with the great show
man.
In 1874, Barnum having entered into an
agreement for Tom Thumbs service for an
other year, at $50 week and expenses a
trip to Europe was resolved upon, They &C
cordingly sailed in the Yorkshire,
bound FOR Liverpool, the generals
parents and tutor accompanying him.
1t was through the influence of Mr. Everett
that Tom Thumb was first presented to the
queen. He proved to be a great favorite
with the prince Of Wales, who was about his
own age On the occasion of her majesty in
Producing the prince, she said:
General, this is the prince of Wales
How are you princeF asked the general,
shaking him by the hand Standing beside
the prince, he said; THE prince is taller than
am but feel as big as anybody, =" where
upon lie strutted up and down the room as
proud as peacock, amid the shouts of laugh
ter from all present He was the recipient Of
numerous costly presents from her majesty.
The dGke of Wellington was among those
frequently visiting the general, and showing
delight at his performances
In Paris, Gen Thumb was introduced to
I IL,
| eSs of Orleans the Count de Paris, and many
Others of the nobility, Tom Pouce, as the
French papers called him, created great
Juror in Paris, where he gained applause as
an actor
From France Tom Thumb was taken to
Belgium, where he met with like successes
and was presented to King Leopold and the
| qnCen, receiving many attentions and sou
venirS, Returning TO the United States by
way Of England and Scotland in 1877 Tom
Thumb was a rich man. He had left America
three years ago difiident, uncultivated lii
putian: he came back an educated and accom-
plished little man. Travel aud attriton W .th
50 many people had developed and polished
his native talent
A tour Of the United States was next made,
all the principal cities being visited. The
| general was received by President Polk at
the white house
In 1869 the general and his little wife, nee
Miss Lavinia Warren, Commodore Mutt, and
Miss Minnie Warren, started under the man.
agement Of MIR Becker on a three years
tour around the world. They Travelled over
! fifty three thousand miles, 81, 900 Of which
were by sea, and never met with any acct
| dent worth mentioning. They visited Cali
| fonia, British Columbia, Japan, China,
India, Arabia, and Australia In Ceylon the
| little party gained entrance to the Temple of
| the Sacred Tooth, where the idol Buddha is
enthroned, which is adorned with Jewels to
the value of SS,0o00DO
Gen. Thumb once met President Lincoln,
The latter was holding a consultation with
| some of the generals. One of the party said
| sneeringly: They call YOU general dc
| they Mr. Lincoln resented the remark by
saying: Il wish some of my generals were
| rs good a general as he is The general
was prouder of no honor that he had achieved
than of his having attained the thirty second
degree in masonry. He was temperate as to
| drinking, but lived high. and was an inveter-
| ate smoker, He had beautiful home at
Middleboro, Mass, where he INDUCED in
| driving, yachting, and other pastimes He
was the father of one child which died when
two and half years old His wealth was
very great, and be had the business tact to
manage it well. He, in December, 1892
| visited Milwaukee. where he narrowly
escs ped death in the Newhall house fire.