Norwich bulletin., 1910-12-03
We'll Printed Reports Speak We'll For
 Municipal Enterprise
PASTOR M'NALLY A HARD HITTER
He Inquiries: sIs it Not Time Wake Up and Give God the Right of Way'-Captain William H. Champlin Retires from Service-He Commanded the Old Brig George of Norwich-The Decease of Tommy HaIlam

@ man named Kelley of Norwich was steward and the men along the wharves used to say, but of course un- justly, that the captain and the stew ard too, occasionally brought a cigar or two, and perhaps a jug or a keg of some liquid that were not entered upon their ship stores or upon the ships manifest taken by the customs inspec- tor and deposited in the custom house
 During the height of the trade with the West Indies a fleet of vessels were engaged by the Norwich importing firm, but the old brig George was the only vessel owned by the firm, and during their first ownership the George was under the British flag. At one period of the Georges career George T. Marshall was collector of the port, and some were unl1ind enough to say that he would accept gifts of cigars bay rum, and perhaps a little Jamaica, that had been landed from the George duty free.
 Major John H. Tibbits succeeded MT. Marshall as collector, and he and a party of friends made a pleasure trip to Porto Rico on the George, with Captain Champlin in command. Of course, what that party brought back was all duly entered and duty paid at the New London custom house.
 When the business with the West Indies declined Captain Champlin re- signed and went steamboating, and was succeeded on the George by Cap tain Edgerton. This was during the first administration of Grover Cleve- land, and there was change in the entire custom house force, with the exception of the ianitor, Anthony Jer- ome, the present incumbent. Soon thereafter a, cange in the laws put the J. M. Huntington company out. of busl- ness and the George sailed away from New London never to return. and at the same time the former important trade with the West Indies became one of the things that were and are no more to Norwich and New London. on What I Know About the Brig George would make interesting read ing.
 Thomas HaIlam, who for the past forty years has been the only survivor Of the old anshouse that stood on the site of the present Bulkeley school and who has been a town charge for over sixty years, died suddenly at the alras- house and was buried early this week in the town lot in tile Jordan ceme- tery. He was about eighty years of age and it is said was g. descendant of a. prominent New London family. but he evidently outlived all his relatives, for there were few besides the inmates of the alInShouSe at the funeral ser
 
 to lowering the body of Thomas Hal lam into a pauper's grave. There was not even a clergyman to say the final words or to off1ciate at the services, and this solemn duty was performed by Iayman, Frederick Rockwell. Thomas Hallam was of weak mind and unable to gain his livelihood unas- sisted. and was therefore entitled to a home in the almshouse, and when the end came he was entitled to a Christian burial, which of course he received.
 It would seem, however, that a man of Thomas Hallam's advanced age and his sixty years of life in the alms- house, would give him a little more consideration when the end came than is ordinarily given to the ordinary paul. per and an ordained clergyman invited to conduct the funeral services. If the town officials were unwilling to pay the customary fee for such service, there is no doubt but any minister in the city would have cheerfully per- formed the last sad rites gratis. Tommy Hallan1, as he was familiar ly called should have been buried as are the great majority of the dead in these modern times, with regularly ordained minister officiating.