The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-06-17
BLIND TOM DEAD.
Stricken by Apoplexy While at
the Piano.
His Whole Upper Right Side
Was Paralyzed.
BACK TO THE PIANO.
He Went But His Right Hand
Would Not Work.
Dropped Dead From a Second
Shock Saturday Night.

| New York, June 17.-"Blind Tom is
dead. And the ending of this childish
black pianist. at whose wonderful play
ing thousands have marvelled ever
since our grandmothers were girls,
| was full Of pathos.
Three weeks ago, as he sat before his
piano in the home of Mrs. Eliza B.
Lerche. the widow of his old master, at
No. 60 Twelfth street, Hoboken, singing
the old melodies with which he had
thrilled great audiences before the civil
war. he suddenly stopped and fell, face
downward on the floor. Mrs. Lerche,
who has cared for him over twenty
years. ran into the room. and helping
him up found that his whole upper
right side was paralyzed.
But Tom couldn't understand that he
was different, and soon went back to
his piano. When he found that his
right hand could not strike the Keys he
said. with his voice quavering, Toms
fingers won't play
Again and again he tried. Finally,
when he realized it was useless his big
blind eyes filled with tears and he wept
like child. Each day he returned to
the piano and with his left hand start
ed some favorite piece. Discords came
quickly, however, and then, with tear
moistened cheeks, he would rise and
pace the floor until late into the night.
His old mistress sought to comfort him,
but he would only sob out, Toms
fingers won't play no mo-"
Finally Broke Down. l-
Last Saturday night Tom went to his
piano again and began softly his old
lullaby. Down on the Suwanee River
but his voice broke. Sobbing. he rose
and said: I'm done; all gone, n1issus."
The next she heard was a faint cry
and a thump near the bathroom door.
He had dropped dead from a second
shock -@
DR.. Charles Gilchrist. of Hudson
street, Hoboken, was summoned, but
he said that his services were too late.
The old pianist was buried from
Frank E. CampbelPs funeral chapel, at
No. PAL West Twenty-third street.
Thomas Virgins, has been reported
dead many times. In the late seventies.
accounts were published that he had
succumbed to consumption and that a
physician had made an analysis of his
brain. A few years later came another
report that he had Jumped from the St.
Louis bridge -~=
Then he wasykilled again near Gin
cinnati, and after that he persisted in
the Johnstownefood:s L-
Appeared Here in 1904.
Up until 1904 every one was certain
Indl ne really EdQ Ql6Q, Wnen SUDDEN
~ he was announced on the billboards
of the Circle theater. where he played
to audiences as enthusiastic as ever.
: Blind Tom was a prodigy. With an
uncouth figure, of almost gigantic pro-
portions and an intellect, approaching
that Of an imbecile. nature had join
ed a divine gift of music.
Back in the slave days, when he was
but two years old and clothed only in
an old shirt. he sat beneath the win
dow of his first master, Gen. James
Bethune, Georgia planter. and heard
the sound of a plano. Thrilled, he
crawled trembling up the steps into
the parlor where the music was.
Gen. Bethune saw how apt the child
was, and said, 1.-The child is music
crazy. Poor little thing" Then he
placed him before the piano and let
him strike the keys. To his utter as
constituent the child, after hitting the
keys clumsily for a few minutes, be-
gan to play slowly, with one finger, the
air he had just heard.
Gen. Bethune Immediately began to
educate him. and from that day until
the time Of his first stroke he has
played eight hours nearly every day.
In 1856 the boy was eight. his master
toured the country with him and later
went to Europe. over 100000 was re-
allied during this tour. Young Bethune
then took him and with his earnings,
It is said, established valuable racing