Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-02-27
TOM WORTHINGTON DEAD
an OCTOGFNAKTAN CLAIMANT
WITH A ROMANTIC HIS TORY.

AFTER HIS DeaIn-h1s AeAihht-AAA
Life and Frugality.
The dispatches IN yesterdays NEWS
the death Of Tom Worthington'
a noted character around Washington,
just IS hours previous to the passage Of
bis claim, Of twenty years standing, by
Congress. He had attained quite a repu
tation at the capital on account OF she
persistent manner in which ne pushed MS
claim,
TIE Washington correspondent oil the
Philadelnhia Press. in his letter to that
paper last Sunday, gave Worthlngton's
his 0rv as follows:
Old Tom W0rthingtOn was one OF tue
claimants" that may always be found IN
He has been here for 20
years. and not even my friend, the genial
has shown such patience,
z aal. confidence and industry as poor old
Tom. The story of this good old man
would fill a volume. 1t Is romantic and
dramatic in the highest degree. L know
of nothing in fiction to compare with it.
In the usual course of nature he must
soon pass to a higher court for the justice
that is denied him here: and then we shall
hear so much about him and his trials
and his sutferings. 1t is probably one of
the elements i'm our being that we keep
our sympathy until the object Of it does
not need it-when it can do BIN no good.
FROM A FARM TO WEST POINT.
l Judge that Col. Worthington must be
now nearly 50 wears of age. He was we'll
reared in Ohio. where his father was a
well-to-do farmer. At the proper age
was sent as a cadet to West Point. lie
graduated No. - in a class of 3S-Gen.
Sibley being No. l. Among Col. WOr-
thingtOn's other classmates were LeOnidas
Polk. William u. Magruder, Philip st.
George Cooke and others who achieved
distinction in after life. WOrthingtOn re-
manned in the regular army about two
years, when be resigned and returned to
Ohio TO become a farmer. He became a
Brigadier General in the Ohio militia, and
was an Adiutant of an Ohio regiment in
the war with Mexico. At the breaking
out OF TIE rebellion he was one Of the first
to recruit first a company and then
regiment He was the Colonel Of the
Forty-SiXth Ohio Regiment, and was at
the celebrated battle Of Shiloh.
Tuere are many stories about his con-
duct at this battle. Some Of them say he
was brave and fearless 10 the point Of
recklessness. Some say he saw the dam
ger in which Grant and Sherman were at
Shiloh. and sW0re at them because they
could not see it, but no one ever denied
his patriotism and courage. Grant and
Sherman GOT him out OF the army in some
way, and ever since the close of the war
he has demanded Justice from Con-
gress. l believe there was a ,cOurt-mar-
tial convened 10 try hin for insubordina-
ton. or disobedience OF orders, or some
thing Ike that. but l find the record says
he resigned November p, 1862.
A DETERMINED MAN.
first met Worthington about fifteen
years ago. | think | never saw more
determined. persistent man. The mass
of papers he had accumulated relating TO
the battle Of shiloh and the whole len
nessee campaign filled a big trunk. His
case against Grant and Sherman priBld
facie was conclusive. 1t seemed as
though nothing could disprove it, but, of
course. one ought not to make up his
mind until he has heard both sides. For
twenty years, old Tom WOrthington
tOiled and begged and demanded hear
ing before a committee OF Congress. OF
course the strongest case in the world
against the two greatest generals of the
war would have been kicked out Of Con
gress or out Of any court at any time
since the close Of the war.
In vain did Col. WOrthington issue
greasy little slips containing startling
assertions and asking the privilege Of
proving them. In vain he sought every
Senator and Representative. In vain he
sought editors and spOndents-he
could do nothing, and now he is dying in
want and misery. Congress. however,
year or two ago, did 20 so far as to give
WOrthington pension OF $50 month
during life. Why? Unless he was right
in his fight against Grant and Sherman
he was not entitled to recognition by Con-
ba 1~ir aud fhpV
he was entitled to restoration and full
pay during the existence of the war.
TWELVE YEARS AGO,
In 1902. | was on very good terms
with Col. WorthingtOn. l remember on
this very day, twelve years ago, had a
long talk with him in the old Tribune
office in this city. He was very haggard,
and seemed to be suffering for want Of
food and sleep. He was hard at work at
that time on a book, a copy Of which |
subscribed and paid tor about once every
month. 1t was bitter cold night, and
the old Colonel seemed to enjoy the blaZ-
ing open fire. He was very dirty and
shabby. but his intellect was as keen and
bright as a razor. | asked him, toward
the close Of our conversation, what time
he went to bed those cold nights.
sometimes one time and sometimes
another" he answered. Il stay about
here when ] am not able to work, because
it saves wood and lights" | asked him
why he did not burn coal instead of wood.
There were several reasons. First, his
stove was not intended for coal, and sec
Ond, he only had fire once in a while.
When in his room, if he got cold, he
would build a little wood fire, warm him
self and the room somewhat, and let the
fire die out. Them continued he, "a
hot fire is bad in my room on account of
bugs. They are awful, sir; as big as
crickets. and bite like the ID. Plenty?
they are, indeed, sir; plenty as sinners
at communion. But | shake 'em up.
If it wasn't for my kind of bed
| don't know what | would do.
You see, lay two boards on my trunks.
They make good spring. Then | have
sort OF straw pallet that | put on the
boards: that makes my bed soft. Then l
have three or four army blankets, and
they keep me warm. In the day time |
stand my boards on end and roll up my
pallet and blankets, and tie them with
strap, as | used to do in the army; this
gives me more room to exercise in the day
time to keep warm. So | move the bugs
around in the morning and at night
| asked him where he lived and he told
me. asked him who did his cooking. He
laughed a little and said he did it himself.
If can't afford to keep warm, do you
suppose | can afford to hire house and
feed a cook: No, sir; do my own cook
ing and my own sleeping, when the bugs
will let me-"
wORTHINGToN's ROOM.
Anew days after this conversation l
called at Col. WorthiHgton's room, at his
wanted to show me some
papers and read me some chapters of his
forthcoming book. A more miserable
abode / never saw-a little room not
more than eight feet square, up three
flights Of broken stairs. in total darkness,
with the smell Of burnt fish, fried cab
bage, roasted onions, sour krOut and dead
rats surrounding you. In the room three
old trunks or boxes, three boards, big
roll containing pallet and blankets, a
pine table covered with manuscripts and
papers. all very dirty, a small sheet-irOn
stove, with one cover, for cooking, one
chair. Il small pile of wood, box con-
tanning potatoes ana onions, two or
three cooking utensils. The walls were
foul with grease and dirt. In this room
lived poor old Tom W OrthngtOn. In this
he cooked, and ate, and slept and work
ed. And thus the horrible smells were
accounted for.
The old Colonel was by no means reti-
cent. He said he paid So month for his
room. which was a deal too much. He
said he burnt half cord of wood per
month, half oak and half pine, for which
be paid 50. He said rent and wood were
his great burdens. He said but for them
he could live very high on five or six dol
lars month. "rhe trouble is" said he,
that people eat too much. A loaf Of
stale bread, costing four cents fresh
bread costs five, and | save cent there,
you sepl with a mess of potatoes and