Delaware gazette and state journal., 1897-07-15
WASDEVOURED BY VULTURES
The Sad Fate of Thomas B. F.
Dickerson in Florida.
ONCE A RESIDENT OF DELAWARE
Edited the New Castle News a
Few Months.
Was Member of Wilmington Branch
OF Internauonal Typographical Union--
Went South During the Winter for the
Purpose OF Visiting Former Deiawarean.

A dispatch from ocaa, Fla, dated
June Goth, says:
''Ths badly decomposed body of
Thomas B. #, Dickerson OF st. Louis,
was found near Kendrick, FIVE miles
north of Ocala, this morning, about
$50 yards from MIR. Whitehead's home.
Nearly all the flesh had been eaten from
his body by vulturos, the bead was
entirely severed from the body and was
recovered some so yards from where
tine trunk was found.
Deceased was a printer and about
two weeks ago worked on the Banner,
when he was taken i'll, and after ling
ering around until Thursday night left
with the intention of going to Nash
vile, Tenn, to meet his wife. He was
a member OF the Typographical Union,
and had several letters of high recon-
mendation from metropolitan journals,
on which he had been telegraph editor,
He was SO years old, and a Mason in
good standing.
Justice Crawford hold the inquest,
and the verdict was death from an
unknown cause. 1t is believed that he
wandered to this spot and either laid
down TO rest and died or dropped dead.
He was last seen about week pre-
vious tu the finding of his body, by the
section boss of the railroad who stated
that he WAS very sick. His remains
were buried where they were found,
out in the piny woods. His parents re-
side in Tennessee, while his home
where his wife lives, was in ST. Louis,
NO."
A supplemental dispatch from Gaines
Vile. Fla, says: 1.-THE body of white
man was found near Kendrick to-day.
The man must have been uead about
four days. for buzzards had feasted
upon his body and had made identifi-
cation impossible Several letters were
found upon his person addressed to
Thomas B. Dickerson, and it is pre-
sumed that this is his name. One letter
was found Aigned Your loving wife,
Minnie The address was No. 222l
Locust street. st. Louis, Mo. A coroner 8
jury is Investigating the mysterious
case. No signs of foul play have been
found. -
Thomas B. i. Dickerson, the person
referred 10 in the dispatches, was we'll
known in this city. He was man OF
good repute and a first-clas printer,
who had studied the business most
thoroughly. He was an editor of no
mean ability and had worked on
several metropolitan newspapers in st.
Louis, Chicago. Baltimore, New York,
Philadelphia, Boston and other places.
He arrived in this city on September
26th, 1896. and went to New Castle,
where he took charge of the New Castle
News writing its editorials and super
intending the editing of the paper
until December 9th, 1896, when he left,
ostensibly for the purpose of going tc
see his wife. who was ill at their home
in St. Louis, Mo. He was afterward
heard from in Baltimore, when he wrote
that he was going to leave that city or
December 10th for his home. He wat
afterward hsard from in st. Louis, anC
spoke of coming East with his wife. liz
was expected to return shortly after
ward and resume his position on thu
New Castle News.
He changed his mind, however, auc
went to Jacksonville, Fla, to visit II
Ross, the former proprietor OF the New
Castle News, who had moved to biz
Southern home.
The deceased was admitted to th
Wilmington branch of the Internationa
Typographical Union on December 4th
1896.
He was we'll thought of by those wit
knew him aud was considered one O
the bright lights in the profession. A
letter received here proves his identifi
cation to be complete A suit of clothe
worn by the man was marked "Cun
molly g. Weller, Wilmington Del. -