Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-03-30
TWO FAMOUS Dt sPERADOEs.
Men Whose Death Has Led to General
Discerning in Texas.

Antonio he probably would have been
finished here. He intended to come to
this city 10 attend the convention of cow
men, and, as he was morally certain to
get into trouble, it is also certain that
he would have had no quarter. Dozens Of
cattle men and others now here came
with the expectation that they would
have a battle with Thompson, and the
word had gone around that if he INDUCED
IN any Of his customary pranks he should
be fought to the death. The deter
mined efforts of several unknown citizens
OF san Antonio, who, standing high over
ThOmpS0n'S head, filled his body with bull
lets, spared the cOwmen here the disagree
aOle duty Of killing him during cOnven-
tiOn week. Since his death and that Of
King Fisher there has been a general dis
arming 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 despe-
radOe5 have now put away their SIX
shooters, and probably will have no occa-
sion 10 carry them.
Thompson was we'll known to the cow
men of Texas. He always attended their
convention and usually made himself OBJ
nOXiOus. 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
Ast5A Netk VI int tJllF EllllOll lC uIdHk Otaf-
lily, and when the delegates were indulg-
ing in a farewell banquet he jumped into
the dining hall with an unearthly war
whOop. lOurishing big revolver in each
hand. The attack was so sudden that the
cOwmen stampeded, some jumping out of
windows, others crawling under tables
and still others dashing madlv into the
street. Very few of them were armed
and the well-knOwn desperation of the
man threw them into a mOmentary panic
Five minutes later the banqueters were
going around with tears IN their ewes, be-
moaning their luck, and wishing they
could have had a seconds warning of the
terrOr's approach. When the banquet
hall was cleared Thompson stood at one
end with a revolver in each hand, and
emptied his weapons, two shots at a time
at the glasses on the tables, breaking
about half Ofthem. After this experience
the cOWmen determined to be ready for
him. and many Of them came to the meet
ing this year expecting to have trouble
with him, for he sent word early that he
would be here.
Ben Thompson had been border despe-
radO ever since the war, and his victims
numbered fully a score. He was well
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 lust be-
fore the war, when Ben was lad of 16
He served in a Confederate regiment
during the rebellion, and at the surrender
crossed over into Mexico, where he was a
soldier for a short time under Macmillan.
On the fall of that monarch he returned
70 Texas and entered on a career of crime
which has few equals even in this cOun-
lry. Running gambling games of all
kinds. ne made his home with the cat
tie men. When the drive occurred he
and his brother Billy always went
along, and always got into trouble.
In 1868, when Abilene was the ship
ping point for Texas cattle, Thompson
arrived there with a herd, and the same
night undertook to run the town"
a he called it, William
HickOk, better known as Wild Bill.
was Marshal Of Abilene, and. hearing of
ThOmpsOn's movements, he recruited
party and attacked him. Thompson had
several hackers, and in the running fire
that was kept up for more than an hour.
several men on both sides were killed and
wounded. The next morning Wild Bill
organized posse and chased THOMPSON
and his friends into the Indian Territory,
keeping close on their trail, and allowing
them TO time to rest or sleep. Thompson
finally escaped, but he never appeared ut
Abilene again while Wild Bill was Mar
shall.
The next year the drive ended at Els
worth, Kansas. where Ben and his broth
or Billy determined 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 b. posse but the broth
ers, who were magnIficently armed with
Ninchesters and reYOlvers. kept their
QursUers 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 Il number Of men down on
the border. Thompson appeared in
Austin in 1874, and provoking a quarrel
with the owner Of a theatre there named
Wilson. shot him dead. This was a des-
pcTate battle, dozen men taking part.
and weapons Of every description, from
shotgun to a bowie knife, being used.
Much Of ThOmpsOn's deyiltry was com
mitted in a Spiri. of fun. Going by the
Raymond House in Austin one night, he
noticed number OF guests on the piazza
tanning themselves.
Lets have some fun" said he to his
companion, and, walking behind one Of
the strangers, he fired his revolver twice
IN rapid succession into his chair. The
man was hit by one Of the bullets. but was
not fatally hurt. In the excitement
Thompson escaped.
Once when in partnership with a man
named Lorraine il the gambling business
ut Austin, Thompson, who had drawn
more money from the bank than was due
him. was turned off when he asked for
more. Drawing his siX-shOOter, he put
one bullet through the check rack,
smashed the globe OF the hazard dealer
with another, and shot of a gas burner.
q. =
Kelly had spoken 0. him in uncOmpli-
mentary terms, he visited her at her
house and opened the interview by shoot
ing the keys ont Of her piano, SCATTERING
the mirrors. and shutting the lamps with
ails.
Only two weeks before his death he
wrote TO jim CourtTight, Of Fort Worth,
saying;
have got no place TO 90, and am coming
mp there to ran your town. / understand You
are running Do now.
To this Courtright replied:
am Deputy City Marshal here. can run
the town without your help. You need not
come
Ben had one or two fights with Court
right, and knowing his man pretty well,
les him and Foot Worth alone.
King Fisher was younger, slighter, and
more genteel than Thompson, although
the latter sometimes dressed elegantly
and appeared well. Fisher was quiet and
of pleasant address. An old admirer said
of him the other day that mo man was
ever wrapped up in a tougher hide than
Fisher" lie was run out of Mexico for
robbery. He lived on the border general
". lie had killed many men, his choice
being Mexicans. He had a deadly an
tipathy TO the ''greasers," and enjoyed kill
ing them. When Fisher lett Mexico the
last time he had several stolen horses in
mis- possession. His party was pursued.
When they reached the river he told his
men:
wait here till 20 back to the top OF
the bill. If they are so close that we
won't have time to get the horses across,
will ire my gun and you will shoot the
horses.'
He rode back, and soon the report Of his
Gun was heard. The Mexicans came up
soon after only to find a lot of dead and
diving horses.
Fisher was the man who was presented
10 Horace Greeley in 1870 or 1871, when
the venerable editor was in Brennan foI