|
Thomas Bainbridge, 93, Butte’s sole survivor of the Civil war,
died at 4 o’clock yesterday morning at St. James hospital.
He was taken to the hospital Sunday, believed suffering
from a heart attack, but doctors yesterday
said ptomaine poisoning contributed to his death. His passing
closes the book of Lincoln post No. 2 of the Grand Army of the
Republic.
The man who fought with Grant to save the Union seemed
indifferent to death. Only
the day before he died he was up and about the hospital halls.
Attendants took this for a sign that he was getting well,
that he would leave the hospital in a day or two. During
the night, however, he began to sink.
He quietly awaited the end.
Funeral
Monday
Some years ago, while attending a meeting of his post,
Mr. Bainbridge was heard to say that he didn’t want to be
buried for three days after his death. The odd request, whatever
prompted it, will be strictly adhered to, friends said.
RITES SET
FOR BUTTE VETERAN
Funeral services were announced for 2 o’clock
Monday at the Daly-Shea chapel.
Full military honors will be accorded, in charge of
Silver Bow post of the American Legion and Henry W. Lawton camp
of Spanish War veterans. The
Rev. Floyd Logee, pastor of the Presbyterian church, will
officiate. Burial
will be in the G. A. R. plot in Mount Moriah cemetery.
It was announced, also that members of the John F,
Reynolds circle, Ladies of the G. A. R., and the Women’s
Relief corps will hold ritualistic services in the chapel at
7:30 o’clock Sunday night, to which the public is invited.
All patriotic organizations will attend the funeral
service Monday.
With the death of Mr. Bainbridge, it now becomes
necessary to surrender all property of Lincoln post to the state
adjutant’s office in Helena, those in authority said.
This includes records of members, directions for
ritualistic work, the post flag, and any and all other equipment
possessed by the post.
Women
Filled Offices
Incidentally, all of this will be attended to by a woman,
Miss Cora Williams. Several
years ago, when the remaining members of the post had become too
enfeebled to carry on the duties of the post, the work of
conducting meetings was taken over by members of the Women’s
Relief corps, with women being elected to fill all the stations.
The aged veterans attended meetings, but took no part in
conducting them. Miss
Williams is the acting adjutant.
Native
of Kentucky
Thomas Bainbridge was born on June 21, 1846, in
Louisville, Ky. He
lived there as a child. At
the age of 19 he enlisted in the Union Army, joining Company D,
Indiana, U.S. Infantry, early in April 1865.
He went into service in Boone county, Ky., shortly before
the historic surrender of General Lee on April 9, 1865, at
Appomattox. During
the next few weeks he fought in the fierce guerilla battles,
putting down uprising of the defeated Rebels.
Although he seldom spoke of his experiences in the war,
the veteran once described the Kentucky scenes of night raids
and ambush battles as “hell holes.”
“I wasn’t in any of the big battles, but we were kept
plenty busy by night raids, ambush fights and guerilla
battles,” he told an interviewer several years ago.
“It was all an adventure to me.”
Mr. Bainbridge served in the Army until April 17, 1868,
when his enlistment
period expired. He
then returned to Cincinnati and worked there a number of years. |
In
Butte 48
years
He came to Butte in 1892—48 years ago—and lived here
continuously. For
more than 22 years he spent practically all of his time
prospecting for gold, most of the time in the Highland area
south of the city.
Although the advancing years affected him increasingly
during the last decade, “Tom” spent almost every summer in
the hills, in quest of the precious yellow metal, until three
years ago when he decided to retire.
“I guess a man should quit work when he’s 90,” he
told a friend.
The aged veteran was familiar to most Butte residents.
Small in stature and slightly stooped with the years,
“Tom” had been a familiar figure at the head of Memorial day
parades. For many
years he marched proudly and with the correct, stiff carriage of
a soldier. Several
years ago it was suggested that he should ride a hose or sit in
a car in the parades, instead of marching.
He spurned the advice, saying: “As long as my two legs
can make it, I‘ll march.”
But during the last few years he rode in automobiles
leading the parades.
Beloved
by Friends
The veteran was beloved by his few close friends.
He was quiet, friendly and unassuming.
As with the passing of the years death removed his
comrades in the war between the North and the South, “Tom”
became more reticent and less inclined to talk of his
experiences. “I
don’t want my friends to think that I’m bragging,” he said
frequently when attempts were made to question him about his war
experiences.
Many years ago he told close friends that he had never
married and gave the reason.
He said that before he enlisted for service he had
been in love with a beautiful girl.
He was 19 and she was 17.
She encouraged him to enlist for the war and agreed to
await his return. While
Tom was in the service she became suddenly ill and died.
“I never knew a thing about it until I got back,” he
said. “And from
that day on I never met any girl to equal her.”
He lived simply in a room in the Empire hotel, 101 South
Wyoming street. He
was independent, and grateful for his military pension which
fulfilled his needs when his age made it impossible for him to
work.
The aged veteran was stricken Sunday afternoon while
talking to James McCashin, American legion official, on a street
in the business district of the city.
McCashin called a police car and “Tom” was taken to
the hospital.
Doctors believed at first that the 93-year-old man had
suffered a slight heat attack but it was later determined that
he had ptomaine poisoning. His
condition was improved Wednesday, so he was able to leave his
bed and walk about, visiting with other patients.
The end came early Thursday morning.
The Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, Woman’s
Relief corps, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Spanish
American War Veterans, and other patriotic organizes will
participate in the funeral.
There are no known survivors.
The Montana
Standard
Butte, Montana
4/5/1940 |
