The Republican journal., 1876-03-09
Thompson, Alias Thomas.

The report presenting the result of the inves-
tigation into the Bremerhaven explosion, pub
lished by the German authorities, adds little or
nothing to the information previously convened
to the public through the press, and absolutely
| nothing to conflict with the theory that 'Thomp-
SON. of st. Louis and Thomas of Dresden We're
one and the same person. True, the autobiog-
raphy given by 'Thomas' in his deposition is
not that of Thompson J" but he had before told
the story of his life in many conflicting ways,
and Il man who had so hong concealed his iden-
tty even from his wife, would not be likely
when at the end of his career to reveal himself
in his true colors.
The real name of Thompson was Alexander
Keith Jr., and he was native Of Halifax, n.
5. His tather was Il brewer in a small way in
that city, ana his uncle the Hon. AleXa nder
Keith. had grown rich in the same business.
The breWeries of the two brothers were on
Water street, Halifax, the one II dilapidated
wooden building, the other spacious and sub
stantial granite structure. The Hon. AleXan-
der Keith came to Halifax from Scotland and
was at first employed as a Waterman in the
brewery Of which he later became sole owner.
AS he grew in wealth, he ascended the social
scale, and filled various public positions. Fe
was Mayor OF Halifax, Il member of the Legs-
| latNc Council of Nova Scotia, and the head OF
the Masonic fraternity in that province His
brother the father Of Alexander Keith, ,Jr.,
moved in Il far humber sphere.
Sandy, As a. k., lr., was usually known,
was employed when quite a young man in his
uncie'S brewery. lie was very popular with a
certain set of fast young fellows. and though of
gross tastes and habits was generally liked in
the community. He was rarely without money
in his pocket and was ever ready to help his
less fortunate companions out Of their frequent
pecuniary difficulties. He was Of an easy-going
temperament, and | never heard HIM accused
of being hard creditor. Indeed. one would
have said at the time that rood nature was one
of his most prominent characteristics.
When the volunteer movement extended to
Nova Scotia from England, Sandy joined what
proved to be the crack company of Halifax,
and which was singled Out for commendation
by the Prince Of Wales on his visit to that city
the Chebucto Greys. |. was the boast OF
this organization that every member Of it was
a gentleman, and physically it was certainly a
splendid body of men, the rank and file aver
aging six feet i'll height 1t was Il wild lot OF
fellows. however
The outbreak of the war in this country
found Sandy occupying a responsible position
i'll his uncles brewery. Later, | believe, he
was given an interest in the business. The
citizens of Halifax soon after the var began
became, almost without exception, ardent SYM
pathZers with the COneGeracy. and Sandy
was among the INST pronounced of those who
e>pousetl the Southern cause. think he took
some part in fitting out the first blockade rum
ncr (>teamer), which cleared from Halifax.
She WAS the Gen. Banks, Sida-Wheel boat
concerning lne sale Oh Nhlcn Dy Htt NOrIheln
owners the American press had Il good deal to
say ut the time. This steamer was brought to
Halifax from Boston, and her name changed to
Fannie and Jennie. Size WAS then loaded with
a cargo of shOp-Worn goods, the disposal OF
which ut a large advance upon their real value
saved certain Halifax merchant from bank
ruptcy. After several trial trips the Fannie
and Jennie steamed away SouthWard. but was
wrecked and became a total loss before reach
ing the port of her destination
After time Sandy took UP his residence nj
the Halifax Hotel, which had then become the
Confederate headquarters. His room was on
the ground loor fronting on Hollis street, near
the private entrance, and was the resort OF all
the fast Young fellows in town, is we'll as OF
blockade runners and other Coufederates
Here. night after night. wines and liquors
flowed without stint, fragrant l!avanas We're
smoked and cards We're dealt. Not least
among the attractions Of this bachelor apart
ment Were two pretty servant girls, whose
duties seemed 10 he merely to wait upon table
and who spent much Of their time in the com
pany of Sandy and his friends. They Were
known lis the two MarVs. one WAS OF Irish
parentagc. with dark hair and eyes, and 4 me
dunn figure; the other rosy and robust Nova
Scotia girl, with handsome face and Splen-
didly developed form. Il perfect type in fact, Oi
physical beauty. She was not, rs will be
shown hereafter, Il light o love, but Il woman
of deep feeling and real devotion. Even at the
=
nitv about her, and though unculturcd, she
was preposse>sng in hcr department.
Sandy never had any official relation with
the Confederate Government and indeed
when they sent funds to Halifax for the pur-
pose Of aiding the Contederatcs who escaped
from Northern prisons To return to thcil
homes and the army the firm Of Il. Weir 4
90. received the money, Sandy felt this to be
unjust, rs he had been Instrumental in for.
Wdrding many an eN-COntederate to Bermuda
where Opportunities for running the blockade
were lrcVueut. W hen the raptor of the Chesl-
peakc brought his prize upon the Nova Scotia
coast, it was TO sandy he tclegraphed for coal
and Il >ehooner-oad was promptly despatched
from Halifax, but il was too late to be of ser
Nice, tor the Federal gunboatS sWOopcN down
upon the Chesapeake aud captured her, u She
was coang, near Sambr0.
| The successful ventures Of 4 Halifax mer
! chant who ran Il small schooner in and out OF
Port Royal several times, carrying III salt and
bringing out naval stores, invited others to try
their lot in blockade running. and when an I'm.
wedlv >dewhcel steamer from the Canadian
lakes put into Halifax for y market, Sandy pur
cAl>ed her, loaded her with an assorted cargo
and cleared her for Bermuda and Nassau, hcl
real destinations, however, being Il Southern
port. Ibis proved losing speculation; fOl
She was wrecked the first night out on the
coast Of Nova Scotia, and that, | believe. wa,
| the end Of her. In other ventures Sandy mus
mand of large sums i'll ready cash. aud hi
credit was good for any amount in the banks o
| Halifax. He lived freely at this time, spent
his money layi>hly, and his contributions tc
| destitute ContederatcS must have amounted tt
no inconsiderable sum
| The breaking out Of yellow fever at Nassau
! and Bermuda, in lS6t, transferred the blockade
business Of these ports to Halifax. Then en-
sued flush times for the bue-no,eS. The hotels
and boarding houses were filled with men who
| placed no value upon money. and who gratitiet
| their tastes without consulting the cost. Hal
| a dozen or more akish-l00hing, lead-coloret
| steamers might be seen any day in the harbor
and wharves were piled high with cotton, to
| baccc, aud naval stores. Sandy now withdrew
| from his unce's brewery and took a small oc,
on Hollis street, where he displayed on a mod
| est tin ign only the name of y. Keith, Jr. re
trace his career at this time would be to write
| up all the transactions in connection with the
blockade-runnn9 business. together with vari
| Gus other enterprises in the Confederate inter
| est Of which the public need not be informed
now. In all the merrymaking Of this date
1851, the trial trips of the fleet blockade run
| ners. when Wine flowed like water, and delica
ces from the four quarters of the globe wer,
| set before the guests; the drives to and dinner.
at Bedford, and the suppers at the Halifax Clut
and Halifax Hotel, Sandy bore a prominen
part. lie was the embodiment of ,jollity ant
good cheer. and was equally distinguished il
| his capacity for eating and drinking. Nc
amount of liquor affected his head or his legs
and no party Of jolly good fellows was com
| plete without him.
| SO ran the current of events to the winter o
| lS64-5. Sandy was now considered Il rich man
and many Confederates whom business OF
| pleasure had brought to Halifax placed thei
funds in his hands for safe keeping. Late il
| 1864 it was known to Sandy's most intimat,
friends that he contemplated a visit to New
| York on business, one object of his mission be
| ing the purchase of a cargo Of pork for tie Con
tederate agent at Bermuda. The dangers of tn,
| trip were freely discussed, but Sandy was con
| tident Of success. and at that time faith in san
| dv's abilities was strong. He started, and OF
| arriving at st. John, New Brunswick, en- rout,
for the States. telegraphed back TO Halifax to
gentleman with whom he had certain busines
| transactions:
"Drink glass Of wine with me at Il O'clock"
| A party of mutual friends were congregate,
| in a room on Brunswick street when the tele
gram was received and all united in drinkin.
success to Sandy. They little dreamed that h
had turned traitor, and was abscondng witt
| their funds. But such was the fact.
Day after day passed and there were no It'd
ings of Sandy. Then it was ascertained that th
| buXom and rosy Mary, who had been for som,
time the mistress of the missing man had lef
| the city also. She had not accompanied him