The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-29
TWO FAMOUS DEsPERADoEs.
Exploits of Ben Thompson and King Fisher
Clearing Hall with RevOlvers.

Clearing a Hall with RevOlvers.
Dallas Texas Letter in New York Sun
If Ben Thompson had not been killed the other
night in San Antonio he probably would have
been finished hers. He intended to come to this
city to attend the convention of cow-Inen. and as
he was morally certain to get into trouble. it is
also certain that he would have had no quarter
Dozens of cattle mon and others now here came
with the expectation that they would have bat
tie with Thompson, and the word had gone
around that if he INDUCED in any of his custom
airy prauks he should be fought to the death.
The determined efforts of several unknown citi
zens of San Antonio who standing high over
Thompsons head, filled his body with bullets,
spared the w-men here the disagreeable duty of
killing him during convention week Since his
death and that of King Fisher there has been a
general disarming throughout Texas. Hundreds
of men who carried weapons for no other reason
than that they feared they might encounter one
or the other of these desperadoes have now put
away their six shooters. and probably will have
no occasion TO carry them.
Thompson well known to the cow-men of
Texas. He always attended their conventions.
and usually made himself obnoxious. When the
cattle raisers met in Austin two years ago, Ben
kept the entire crowd on the verge of battle for
three or four days. but no blood was shed. On
the last day of the convention he drank heavily,
and when the delegates were INDUCING in a
farewell banquet he jumped into the
dining hall with unearthly war whoop,
fiourishing a big revolver in each hand The
attack was so sudden that the cow-men stamped
ed, some jumping out of windows, others crawl
ing under tables, and still Others dashing madly
into the street Very few of them were armed.
and the well known desperation of the man
threw them into amomentary panic. Five min
utes later the banqueters were going around
with tears in their eyes bemoaning their luck,
and wishing they could have had seconds
warning OF the terrorS approach. When the
banquet hall was cleared Thompson stood at one
end with revolver in each hand and empted
his weapons, two shots at a time, at the glasses
on the table, breaking about half of them AT
ter this experience the cowmen determined to
be ready for him, and many of them came to
the meeting this year expecting to have trouble
with him, for he sent word early that he would
be here.
Ben Thompson had been border desperate
ever since the war, and his victims numbered
fully score. He was we'll known in all the
cities of Texas, in many Western mining camps
and along all the cattle trails His parents are
English people, who came to this country Just
before the war, when Ben was a lad of sixteen.
He served in confederate regiment during the
rebellion, and at the surrender crossed over into
Mexico, where he was a soldier for short Jime
under MAMMALIAN. On the fall of that monarch
he returned to Texas and entered on a career of
crime which has few equals even in this country.
Running gambling games of all kinds he
made his home with the cattle men. When
the drive occurred he and his brother
Billy always went along and always got into
trouble. In 1863 when Abilene was the ship
ping point for Texas cattle, Thompson arrived
there with herd, and the same night under
took to run the town." as he called it. William
Hickok, better known rs Wild Bill, was marshal
of Abilene. and hearing of Thompsons move
ments, he recruited party and attacked him.
Thompson had several hackers, and in the run
ming fire that kept up for more than an
hour, several men on both sides were killed and
wounded The next morning Wild Bill organ
lied a posse and chased Thompson and his
friends into the Indian Territory, keeping close
on their trail, and allowing them no time to rest
or sleep. Thompson finally escaped, but he
never appeared in Abilene again while Wild Bill
was marshal
The next year the drive ended at Ellsworth
Kan. where Ben and his brother Billy deter
mined to recover some of their lost prestige.
They captured the town Immediately on their
arrival and when the sheriff demonstrated they
shot him dead Finding the place too hot for
them, they left the town the next day, closely
pursued by posse but the brothers, who
magnidcentiy armed with WnGhssters and re-
volvers kept their pursuers at bay and escaped
in safety to Texas Although Billy Thompson
was arrested for this murder some time after
ward. and taken back to Kansas, he was never
punished for it
After killing a number of mon down on the
border Thompson appeared in Austin, in 1874
and. provoking quarrel with the owner of
theater there. named Wilson, shot him dead
This was desperate battle dozen men taking