The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-21
AN EMINENT AUTHOR GONE.
Death of the Genius Who Conceived the
First ssTom and jerry"


Death of the Genius Who Conceived the
First ''TOm and jerry"
New York Times
Jerry P Thomas died in his residence, Sixty
third street and Ninth avenue, Monday after
noon, of apoplexy. Soon after noon he left the
Hotel Brighton for his home. and, within five
minutes after reaching it. he dropped to the
floor dead. He leaves widow and two children
Jerry Thomas" as he was Familiarity called
was at one time better known to club men and
men about town than any other bartender in this
city, and he very popular among all classes
He was native of New York, where he was
born in 1882 He received some money on his
fathers death, and made an extended trip in
California and Europe, where he developed
quite taste for pictures and brio a brac.
On his return, in 1869, he opened saloon at
Broadway and Twenty second street. which
soon became the most fashionable resort of It's
kind In the city. He afterward moved to where
the BlJou Opera-house now stands, and his
taste for art led him to decorate the walls of
his new place with pictures, which were so
thickly hung that the saloon became prac-
tlcaily. AN art gallery. Some of his paintings
were really fine, and he had collection of large
cartoons by Thomas Mast representing promi-
nent men OF the city, which attracted great at
tentlon and drew business to the saloon. Jerry
was Of:an inventive turn of mind, and was con-
stanty originating new combinations of drinks,
some of which, like the tom and Jer-
came very popular and as they could not be
patented, were quickly adopted by other saloons
for the benefit of their patrons. This drink was
first quafed in 1S47, and Mr. Thomas never
wearied of telling the story of its first concoc
ton. In repeating it to friend, a few months
ago, he said:
One day in California gentleman asked me
to give him an egg beaten up in sugar. pre-
pared the article and then | thought to myself,
How beautiful the egg and sugar would be with
n / to md eoi6
.it you'll only bear with me for five minutes
I'll Tx you up drink thatll do your heart strings
good He wasn't at all averse to having
his heart strings improved so back |
went and mixed the egg and sugar, which L
had beaten up into a kind of batter. with some
brandy Then 1 poured in some hot water and
stirred vigorously. The drink realized my ex-
pectatlons 1t was the one thing had been
dreaming of for months l named the drink
after myself. 1 had two small white mice in
those days. one of which 1 called Tom and the
other Jerry. l combined the abbreviation in the
drink, as Jeremiah P Thomas would have sound
ed rather heavy, and that wouldn't have done
for beverage"
Thomas invented tom and Jerry" but he con-
tinued to make novel combinations of drinks
after he mad established himself firmly in this
city as saloon-keeper He always sought some
striking name for his new beverage, aud Blue
Blazes"-Scotch whisky burned in the glass
Buck and Brick"-a concoction of brandy,
sugar. and champagne-'Lamb's Wool
Curacao, Jamaica rum, and sweet butter-and
Champarelle'-another combination of cham
payne and brandy, were among the numerous
mixed beverages which he introduced to his
patrons. Jerry's business prospered. and he
made money rapidly. He was not content with
his profits, however, and undertook to increase
them by specializing in Wall street. This was
the beginning of his downfall. He was unsuc-
cessful in the street. and soon lost ali that he
had more rapidly than he had acquired it.
He was obliged to give UP mis- Broadway sa-
loon. and - moved to less pretentous place
in Barclay street. but his uptown business did
not follow him. and after a time he took a place
in Sixth avenue nearly opposite jefferson mar
ket Bad luck followed him here. and he was
finally obliged to sell out His collection of
pictures, which had become famous. was dis
posed of at auction. They were eagerly sought
for and several prominent saloon-keepers So
cured one or two each, some of them bringing
very good prices.