The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-24
BLIND TOM BETHUNE
DEATH OF HIS MASTER RECALLS
THE HISTORY OF THIS PRODIGY.
An Interesting Account of How This
Strange Genius Was Discovered
and Given to the World.
Washington Post.

Washington Post.
The death OF Gen. James N Bethune,
which occurred in this city yesterday, re-
moves a man who was leading figure in
Southern affairs for many years. A sketch
of his remarkable career appeared in the
Post Of Jan. 20, and mention incident
ally made that he had been the owner of
.Blind Tom
Public interest will now naturally recur
to this phenomenon and the question will
arise to his whereabouts. For years he
was one of the most familiar figures before
the public, and the source of continual
amazement to the thousands who went to
see and hear him. About two years or more
ago the telegraphie dispatches announced
that he had been killed in railroad acct
dent near Pittsburg. There was APP
parently authoritative denial of this in
telligence, and nothing more was heard Of
the matter. But at any rate about that
time Blind Tom disappeared to all pur-
poses as if the earth had swallowed him
UP and has never been seen since He was
perhaps the most remarkable human con-
tradiction that ever existed. He was the
child of Charity and Tom, slaves belong
ing to General Bethune, in Muscogee county.
Georgia, and his brothers and sisters num-
bered no less than nineteen. As soon as
he began to be able to take notice it be-
evident that he was an imbecile
Charity, his mother, was type of the old
time Southern negress, tender-hearted and
sympathetic, and when she discovered that
her child was mentally useless her grief
was touching.
Tom was nearly two years old when
Charity made known her trouble to her
master. HE kin tawk, Mass Tom she
moaned, ''but he don't say muffin 'cept
whut VOW say fust. Den he say it arter
you
Bring him to me- said the General.
IF can teach any pinter dog to bring my
can teach niger TO do as much"
Charity brought Tom up to the big house
from the quarters.
stand ng erect.
His master repeated the words, at the
same time taking him by the shoulders
and seating him: The next time he said,
Tom. sit down" the boy did SO. repeating;
he passed out of contemporary sight. This
object-lesson of General Bethune's was fol-
lowed implicitly by Charity, and Tom was
taught to make his wants known and to
follow. instructions given him solely by the
direction OF his instincts; trained, in
But hidden in the seemingly shapeless
mass of brain matter was a. jewel Of
genius that was to be uncovered to dazzle
and astonish the world. Nature had been
in her most fantastic mood when she fash
Toned him. and with an uncouth figure and
an intellect only degree removed from
imbecility, she had joined her divine gift
7 of music He was still a baby when he
roamed away from his parents cabin one
day and strayed up to the forbidden pre-
cinct of the big house yard.
HE FIRST HEARS THE PIANO.
One of Gen. Bethune's daughters was
| playing upon piano, which her father
| had just given her. The child, scarcely
out Of infancy. listened, fascinated and
thrilled. The sleeping chords within him
| were touched. Trembling and writing
! he crawled up the steps and into the par
! Tor and crept to the side of the player. 1t
| was not exactly proper, according to high
| Southern IDEAS for IL half-naked picka-
| ninny to come unlimited into the mansion
| and the event naturally caused talk Gen.
! Bethune was equal t. the occasion, when
! he learned of the occurrence.
The child Is music crazy poor little
make its life bearable.''
Naturally his daughters objected to such
| an object as u slave baby in the house, but
| Gen. Rethune prevailed upon them to let
| Tom touch the piano keys. Charity dressed
| him up and ne was taken up 10 the house.
| His little fingers could hardly bear down
the keys, yet his touch brought forth har-
| being played when he first heard the piano.
| Gen. Betnune was man of strong impulse
| at once 10 cultivate the germs he had
! seen and to ascertain what they would
bring forth. He was practicnG law at the
time and editing paper In Columbus. Ga.
| and went into town from his plantation
/ every morning.
| He had ample means to carry out any
| fancy that might seize him, So as IL was
| entirely out of the question for Toms
| talents to be nurtured upon the piano [
| home he purchased an3thx instrument
| for the boy and had ii placed in one of
| his Office rooms In Columbus. Every morn
| Ing Charity would dress Tom up and bundle
| him in his masters cifryail and every day
| the little fellow would play the piano. OF
| course, he did not really know one key
from another and sheet music 10 him was
like SansSrit to q Choctaw, but the child
| was able play correctly any tune that
| was PLAYED in his hearing. General Be
thune would hire wandering musicians to
come and play for Tom. ard the prodigy
! would almost go into spasms of delight.
Then he would bc placed on the piano stool
| and would repeat everything that he heard.
When Alexander III. Stephens. Robert
Tooinbs, the I.afnars. and the other great
legal giants of Georgia would come CO.
lumbus court 1t was common 10 hear one of
them say:
| Come ON, lets go down TO Jim Beth
une's office and hear his niger boy play
the piano.
| out at home it was with great difficulty
that Tom was kept under observation.
Sound owned MIN absolutely. He would
follow the birds songs out into the woods
and frequently when he was LOST in this
way he was brought back by the sounds
Of the flute. produced by one of General
Bethunes sons. who performed. exceientiy
deed, was based upon harmony. When
IL rained he would lie down with his ear
10 the water spout and listen TO the mu-
sic made by. The patter Of the falling drops.