Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-16
TOOMBS' LIFE GOES OUT.
DEATH COMES AS swEETLY AS
A CHILD's SLEEP.

torment to Occur To o-morroW-TO Lie
In the Same Grave wi.h His Wife.
WASHINGTON, GA, Dec. 15.-As the
old town clock was striking the hour OF
= tonight the spirit OF the illustrious
Robert ToOmbs winged its way to the God
VINO gave it. His life had been hanging
by thread for some months, but few
weeks ago, to the surprise Of everybody,
he seemed to improve. He slept better
and had a better appetite, but about the
middle of last week he began TO fail more
rapidly, and Wednesday sat in his easy
chair for the last time. Friday he grew
much worse, and sank rapidly till to-
night, when the end came. Remarkable
for his physique, as well as for his intel-
lect, he has cluug to life with great
tenacity.
THE CAUSE OF DEATH.
Paralysis was the cause OF his death.
He showed symptoms OF this disease from
the first, and during the past few days
the left side of his face and neck became
very much drawn and distorted. His
death was peaceful, and not marked by
any exclamation OF pam. He had been
perfectly UNCONSCIOUS for several days,
aud did not suffer at all during his illness.
During his Illness his mind would seem
perfectly clear at times, and he would
converse as nationally as ever. At other
times he dTifted into incoherent dis
course. Nearly all the while however,
his mind was clear as 10 events Of the
past.
TO BE LAID BESIDE HIS WIFE.
His remains will be inferred in the
cemetery IN this place on Thursday.
To-day the remains OF his wife were re-
moved from the old family burying ground
In the country, and In death they who
loved each other so dev0tedly in life Will
rest in the same grave. Until the past
few years Gen. ToOmbs often expressed
the desire to be buried on the place where
he was born, but year or two ago he
changed his mind, and IL was his wish to
be buried in the town where he had so
long made his home.
SCENES AT THE DEATHBED.
The deathbed was surrounded by the
family, and there was also present his
only brother, whom he loved 30 we'll.
When Mrs. TOombs died the General re-
marked that his brother Gabriel was his
| only tie on earth. Washington weeps
over her illustri0us dead. The devotion
of his people to him was wonderful. They
never expect TO see his like again.
A SKETCH OF MR.. TooMBs' CAREER.
Robert Toombs was born In Washing.
ton, Wilkes county, July 2, 1910. The
ancestors of Gen. TOombs were English
royalists, and followed the fortunes of
Charles L. They owned, 1t is said, the re-
treat sought by that luckless King at
| B0scabel after the battle Of Worcester,
They left England shortly after this event
and settled in Virginia. During the
revolutionary war a regiment OF Vir-
| ginia troops was sent to Georgia after the
/. n Al.
| request Of the Georgia authorities. The
father Of Gen. ToOmbs, then a mere boy,
was major In the regiment. At the.
close OF the war Georgia gave to each OFF,
Ger and private OF this regiment hand
some estate. Major TOombs SCI
lected tract in what Is
now Wilkes county and settled
down. On this place. still owned by the
family, Robert 1oOmbs was born. His
father died before he was years old.
He was educated by an old SoOtchman
until he WAS 10, and then, well pre-
pared for college, he went to the Univer-
sity Of Georgia, then Franklin College.
He was handsome, wealthy, rollicksOme
/ youth, and got into some trouble with the
faculty and left the institution. He grad
uated at Union College, Schenectady, n.
Y, at the age Of 49, after which he stud-
| led law at the University OfVirginia, was
admitted TO the bar at the age Of 10 byl
special act of the General Assembly, and
| opened an Office in his native town. He
was married shortly afterwards 10 nOblel
and lovely lady who was his faithful COM
panion until her death, which occurred
some two years ago. He was very sue
cesshll in his profession, before be was
33 years OF age having made
| ing $50 600 per annum at least for several
years. He served as captain
Of volunteers under General Scott
| in the Greek war Of 1896, ana was elected
! TO the General Assembly on his
return home the following year.
! Then commenced a political career un-
equaled IN Georgia for brilliancy. While
| Stephens, Cobb and Crawford were fight
| ing stubbOrnly and with varying fortune,
and Benjamin Hill, then brilliant young.
| steT, was being beaten at the polls, after
/ sweeping the hustngs, TOOmbs took bis
| honOrs without struggle and as If by di-
vine right. He won distinction in the
Legislature by opposing State aid 10 rail-
roads, and secured the passage OF bill
which took the finances OF Georgia out OF
! the hands Of the old managers and ad-
vanced iis bank notes from about 40c. on
the dollar to par. He was reelected to
! the General Assembly every year except
one until 1915, when he was elected 10
| Congress.
He cast his FIRST vote for Andrew Jack
son, but fell out with him about the nulli-
fcatiOn troubles and became a Wing.
While in the Legislature ne was nOmi-
mated for Congress, and made the race on
| the WhiR ticket. Although there was
majority Of hfieen against bis party In his
district. be carried 10 by large majority.
The bitterness Of Georgia politicians at
this period was intense. The State was
split into factions, led by Clark and Craw-
ford. The two leaders met twice on the
field OF honor, and it was charged that
Clark sent gallant young fellow named
! Van Allen 10 Kill Crawford, who fought
duel with him. Then TOOmbs adopted
the cause Of Crawford. The elder T0Ombs
had a personal rencOntre with Clark,
while Robert led the younger wing OF tho
Crawford party through all the noted
campaigns of that period. 10 h said that
he knew every President personally ex-
cept Washington, Jefferson and the elder
Adams. lie saw jackson inaugurated,
aud sat by John Quincy Adams when no
died. Mr.. Fillmore offered him the Sec
retaryship OF the Treasury, which he de-
clined TO accept, and suggested Gov.
jenkins, Of Georgia, who was offered the
navy. President Taylor offered Mr..
TO0mba the Secretarysnip OF War, which
be declined, and suggested George w.
Crawford. who was appointed.
Mr.. T00mba was member OF the Ma
iional House OF Representatives Tor four
/ consecutive terms. and Wna one or tho