Document text
Ruby Maloney
Austin, Text's
JIZOGRAPFIGAL
Tial .2Z XX Wail=
JUL -1. 1938--
nen 7hompeon wss born in 1844, of -nglish parents, The
name or Thompson has spread to the extreme borders Or this Gouts
try, over its mountains and valleys, through the ulnas of Moslem,
the mines of California, the minelel fields of Oolorado and the
far interior and even beyond the oceans, for he had kindred in
old -ngland on one siee of us, and far Australia on the Other.
A brave, fearlees M44, retiring and *heritable Si 4 on
when not aroused by the perpetratiOa or 'Iroise or lajsellee on him
sat, or ethers unable to wipe with assailants, he vas dangerous,
deadly and „Ala as a bolt or lightning when the supreme aonent
of recessity, safety sad cation sans. its appearance gas attrao-
tive when his indignation was not on fire. The subplot of this
sketeh was, at his untimely "taking off,'' forty-one years old,
five feet and nine inehes high, rWer swarthy complexion, stoutly
bull*, weighing ob, ut 170 pounds, bleek heir end blue eyes, ,u1ok
in all his motions, of indomitable mem, and modest and retiring
in demeanor. Hc spoke satin an ,Als a handsome, generous an;
the friend of the weak end oppressed, fearless es e lion, and
alt%ough it has been his rate or misfortune to repeatedly take
human life, it has ever been done in solri4efense, or at least
uader sirewastanees that enabled juries toerult hiii. berate
deed* hat he aecomplished whieh he deserved credit or, swage
pass 2 Biographleal sketeh of Thrompsoa
woe as part of Bea Thompsoa's nature. Oonorous to a fault, ho
bars no ill sill to won*. It woe natural for hta to fora,*
a wrong, and lastanees aro Moos whore, under the moot eggravato
lag eireumetionses, he freely foresee the 'Abjurer, and afterward,
by generosity, mads the wroarftdoor a friend.
L &Wain bit
Bon Thompson at the age of ?cartoon commenced to loam the
printing business, and during the time he followed it, fequirod
suffieont protioleacy is it to be a good workmon end resolve fair
wagers, Lt the averse of offsets in Twos and Merle° at the ti,e
Ben wee working at his trade Or. of too exciting a nature for a
man of this temperament to follow me pesoful as oeoupaties. A
year or two before the 'or bottom: the states flee was in Now
Orleans, where he had gone to cork with a book bind's* who had
formerly carried on business la Austin.
123E
His first difficulty was in New Orleans with a rronchmsa
named La Tour, we st'emptod to kiss a girl in an omnibus in whilh
he um riding. The rrenehmna had been to a ball, was roll or vine,
and *Ian don interfered to protest the girl vho serommod for
whiteness sailed hi- an *merles,* poppy and steak him. ,Zuleker
thaa thought hen pulled out s dirk knife and stabbed the 7renehmen
In the shoulder, and would have killed hi- had not the friends of
pegs 3 WillerMill WAD,* Or Ben Thompson
the Frenchman stopped the fight. to returned to Texas *bout the
time that O. Oortina, with a assidereble arny was operating on
the i1.0 qrands by the Texas 6tate Authorities, Ben repaired thither
and joined him, and here was the initial move in Ben Thoepson's
esrosr that shaped the oourse of his life for years end turned him fr
from the quit* walks of evrry day existence to be an aster or
prinoipal in seenas and insidents that, were they transeribed to
paper, would read more like the Arabian Knight's entertainments
than the *Oust **sureness of life Wye et adventure, positions
of denrer, a life of exeitement that fed on excitement.
3.11201. L Waal
hen the ,°ortena war ended the war between the north and ;AvIth
hed just begun. Ben at an early ',0y enlisted in the reetmeat of
col. Jahr F. Baylor and proseeded enroute with his **areas* to
Nee nOZ1001.
"ison at -ort Ciaxt temporarily. Ben for some unknown reason,
was generally late when rations were issued, end on one *session
he was *compelled to appropriate some neeessary articles, one artiste
in particuler being e oandle, by which he could make 'lay -Outs' for
the boys at moats.
when the boys discovered that Ben perpetrated the act, he
endeavored to reprimand kin in harsh terms, Galli g 111-7, s liar end
thief. As he said this he appreaohed Ben monoculgly, who said.
:Arrogant Vane", don't eons any nearer; if you do you will repent
it:" V812041 continued to approseht and as he did so began to drew
his six shooting but he was too slows Ben drew his pistol and fired
i so a fltoisphiis1 Sketch of Ben Thompson
sVlultensously with the ,14sorgmant• His hall went through the bolt,
of Venoet and through both IPSO Of a soldier leo was standing in
range. Lem was not touched for a wonder, as his antogonist woe
only a rev feet from him. Lieut. ughes was standing near, and
insteal if emoting him or ordering kiln arrested, made at him
with the evident intent of eutting him dews. Ben famed with his
pistol as well as he could, at the same tine demanding Of the
*Meer to erne his assault.
It Walla Offiser
Ben sew the °Meer was beat ea killing hilt and, quit* an
thoustt, fired, striking the officer in the neti. Es finally
surrendered to the ;attain, remarking: "Captain, I au:render to
you, end would havw yielded to them had they soumht to arrest ms
instead of kill ma. I am but a private, still my life Is fearer
to me than either of them, judging by the way they threw theirs
sway." Ben was made a prisoner. At first it was thou -ht both the
wounded *Mors were de 41, s first slowly resovisred; tabs latter
died in six weeks. Thls again Ben was in trouble. Us was subjected
to the greatest cruelty shsined to a prison floor for more th-n a
month on the flat of his bask, until the hard boards ware even his
flesh away.
A :41ond ilas
with sone Notches furnished kin by a aommiGhe ho tired the
prison and eon* user "going u- before he was ressued.
NI* 5 4* phisal Skoteb of ens Tboapoes
hr *Satin
The smallpox, or whet was tbougbt to be that dreaded disesee,
breaking out ammo the troops, aurees mould mit be obtelseds end
Bea volunteered to 'Stead alma th, silk sad his servioss vete
gladly seeepted and he its released for the -repose. The disease
proved to be ehlekea polo sad Bea made good use of his opportunity
and
Ventured SOO males to another eau' sad remained there until
his time of enlistment expired, being twelve menthe. lie then
returned to :or% clerk. He was never tried for the killing of
Lieut. lughes. Ste time expired end/loin t mortis' bed as juris.
diction.
The next serious affray rgas with
ASO!
whom he tilled in Austin. It was in a general street fight, and
the difficulty originated about the eaptainey of e military ecsmany.
aept. op, vas in the fight, which took plea* near illers livery
stable. !aother men we, eerionnly imion0440 at the same time. 40
V88 Rdaitted to boil in tht ease by 'Natios trdLaughlin, stood trial
and the Jury scuttled bi. At the close or we: Ben's reglaent is.
disbanded at 6e0o, and he returned home vh re he remained, attend-.
lag to his wen business and molailving no one, until the arrival of
the first Louisiana Gelvery, sommanded by %Ica. Badger. On the day
after the arrival of this regiment in Austin (the latter part of
,ayar the first of priI, 1845) en order was leaved by Oct. Badger
ror the er,se* of Thompson. No *rine or offense of say kind was
Page Bi ogrephleal sketeh of Den Thorium'
mentioned in the order. E* ass strested end view in tho Travis
County jell, be were Shea under military rule and *Moen of the
united 4)totes army 414 pretty amok as they pleased with *Mesas*
After exhausting every flar mesas that his Meads and himaelf.
moye osymble of, Bea made his *seeps through the souniwanee wlth
two sergeants of the guard, and eseempanied by theme two friends
and five enlisted federal soldiers the whole party sueoseded in
making their esespe to mexiso.
razimilloa
low struggling la mezies to sustain himself la the false posities
In 'bleb the diplomaoy of Napoleon had pissed hlue
The dram fell Of the ‘,outhern eenfedelsey had opened the door
to remit soldiers sof fortune eh* believed this selves with home
er eountry, and Den end hie aemrsdes linked their fate411111Vfortunes
with tA,a -*et unfortunate emperor and his ivivally unfortunate muse,
end remained in his army is a Ceptein until mezirAlisn's sapture an
***sullen, klibile in the *Nilsen army he had a
4f00417 !ilk &Yodel% offiptr, *blob wee 0 e of the most
4681,41rate affrays In whiah he was ever *mowed, as it wee hantetin•
hand, and his autogoniss get in a 'mire thrust before Bon eould
use his pistol, whioh he did most offeetually, pulling four loads
into the Nonleen. It had its origin in the Wiser =attesting Dome
of Ben man while they were in the guard Aousee
14141 I TrIsulliale
The third mounter In *gob Ben was engaged was at Laredo,
with a Mem:lean lieutenant named martino Gonsalee. He hid wen senor
Blographleal ..,ketelk of Ben Thomsen
and pistols of sem. !lexica* soldiers at Neste, end the lieutenant
and Bon hadlot words about it, whieh resulted in a fight with
pistols, in vhiot the lieutenant received a ball through the
breast that proved fatal. ;'robably one of the most soled spooled.'
in the history of Be Thompson opeourred after his return from
Leadville. and eamc near resulting in a UMW Battle betwn the
fore.* employed by the rivel roads. The war between the Atehinson
Topeka and sant* re and Denver and Rio Oviedo railroad* was than
at taggare point. Thc managtmeats of both were determfne4 to
sorry their respostive points, even if blood elm3 was the result.
7oroes were marshaled and preparations made for the eeisure end
holding of the property is dispute, Poe oheraeter of Ben Thompson
being well known he was approashed to enlist his **vetoes in hoe.
half of the first named company. !:TO see not disposed to interfere in
the matter. vhile ready to take up arms against the pnblis enemy
or in. private quarrel, when sonselous of being in the right, he
hesitetel to take part between sorporetionse when the right on the
one side or the oth,r was susceptible of easy s lution by having
reeourse to thc your** of the sountry; but he was ovtr pursueded by
several of the prominent men interested. At agreed, or the sum of
t 9yingtd dollrisa, to take the action d sired, viz; to hold e
certain round house until. ovirpowored by auperior force, or until
the officers of the low, should the law be appealed to, show fore*
enough in his front to rrobably make a serious fight. Thompson mato
the %cgs, "I vill die unless the law relieves me.*
piographiael iikotoh of' Den Thom -son
All efforts to dislodge him failed. °Moors finally sew,
Hen walked out and surromdeved tho round bolls* to the sheriffs Ho
then dOmandod of the trein dispatches a sroolal train to took* him
end hie men out or the abets. It use at fire% refuse- but whoa
!en proclaimed that he would kill "tory °Meer of the ()oniony if
it was not furnishee, the train was forth ooming, and putting his
men on the train and seloorteining that there was a 010ar
he oplerod the eonduotor to "turn her loose", end landod safely in
Dodge Jity. Hon. before morning.
gia
The diffloulty between ThompOon and MasitSilson, 'blob resulted
in the 'loath of ilson and the serious wounding of Charley Lletthews
is too fresh in the lands of our readers to °all fOr rohomrsal.
ink Bina
The some moons exist with regard to the difrioully between
him and Jaek Harris, in this same gdeville Thest-r as bon Antonio,
4
whore Ilem Thompson. Tuosday night, met his death. The incidents or
the homielde and the subsequent trial end asquittal of Thompson are
still fzesh in the minds of people of both rmintin and .-en Antonio.
But these two Imagedios are both out growth of the same amiss, it
is deemed best to reoapitulate the two homloidos end their causes.
Thompson, while in ,),an Antonio went into a gambling ho se owne1 by
Jeok riarris. Joe Apster, Billy 6immo, end probably some others.
Hen had lost heavily and had ple4od his jewelry to the gambling
house. Thc Jewelry eonsistod of some very valuable, diallonds.
aubsequontly Thompson was told that a Job had been fixed upon hi-
9 Blographleal StSh of Ben Thompson
and that he had been robbed, wit oat say ehanse of winning and
being in the mood that losers generally get into under aueb eir*
eumstaneos, he went to the gambling house and took his diamonds
again into his possession at the point of his pistol, sling lang-
tugs that was pretty foreible, in feet surest ths whole house, and
desoueeed them as theires. Jack Harris, one of the firm, was a
man of violent temper, and Tbompson's action irritated him to suds
an extent that he was reedy at any time for a difficulty with
Thompson.
'bus matters stood when Ben went to den Antonio, and he and
Jae* Harris met fese to fees, Bu* on the sidewalk in front end
Harris inside the vaudeville theater, with a shot gun in his hands.
Harris was killed in the set of getting his gun in position to
shoot Thompson. :he main witnesses for the prosecution in the
:Inrriam.Thompeoa east were Billy 31mms and :oet 70ster, and whet
money was needed in the prosecution was said to have been furnished
them. Tbe trial was long and hitter, and intensified the feeling
on both sides. ,=onse uently the parties to the tragedy of Tuesday
night in .',en Antonio bed every reason to believe that fresh trouble
would arise should eireumetanses present the opportunity. The
delvish opportualty was preoented, and our readers are already swaps
of the result.
In the early life, death end Ina/dents in the history of Ban
Thompson -re presented some of the strangest ammolles of wh,sh
human nature is asp able. Blended with afferent reekleseness was a
compact end will amassed minds the prinelpal aster is scenes where
rage 10 !11ogzephiosl *,keteh of an Thompsoa
lavlessness was a leading feature, whim pissed in position as an
Offisor of lsw and preserver of Ord's. no one could tre more striet,
farseeing and suomposful. A terror hi-Aself to the otflsers of the
law in :uetin, when, in the position of eity nershel, hi wee like.
wise tfrror to evil doers, end made one of tho best °Mears
the eity e'er had. -11ful, passonster at times when exalted he
les yet petient, mild end just..
While living ben Thompson entertained a holy horror of report.
oriel ineesureey, end was more apt to beeoms Offended with a
nahemlan for felling to state the most Miming ?sets, than for
magnifiag his exploit. ;be truth he *Dula stand what ever that
was, but its he hated end could not talents the slightest
misrepresentation as to his forays and wer.plays. If the poor
fellow could reed tPle world's newspapers this m raise his breve
sould would probably shrink from the hereuteen task of puaishing is
slanderers. rush that hes been printed about the dead man is
doubtless very hig ly solored, but there is an average vein of
truth runnlig through it all that photogrephe one of the most
remarkable men of the limes end upon ebose like a generation may
not 100k again. powessed nany good trite of ohs:aster if
bed ones, let them sleep in the bloody grave .ere rest the
immortal Meths.
The in 17 4apitele march 15. 1504.