Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1884-03-24
A TEXAS COW BOY.
auw nE DIED WITH ns BOOTS ON
Bcn Ihomposn's Bloody Career Hts Adven-
lures with the Cow Boys-His
Ent.

Tragic End.
II Ben Thompson had not been killed the
other night in San Antonio, Texas, he
probably would have been finished in Dal.
las, Hc intended to 60 there to attend |
the convention Of cowmeu, and, as he was |
morally certain to get into trouble, 1t is
also certain that he would have had no |
quarter. Dozens Of cattle men and others |
now in Dallas, came with the expectation |
that they would have battle with |
Thompson, and the word had gone round |
that il he iudulyed in any of his custom-
ory pranks he should be fought to death. |
The determined efforts of several unknown
citizens of Antonio who, standing high
over Thompson's head, filed his body with
| bullets, spared the cowmen the disagree
able duty of killing him during conven-
tion week. Since bis death and that of
King Fisher, there has been general dis.
arming throughout Texas. Hundreds Of
men who carried weapons for no other
reason than that they feared they might
encounter one of the other of these desper
ADDE'S have now put away their six shoot
ers, and probably will have no occasion to
carry them.
! Thompson was we'll known to the
cowmen 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
iudulgiug in n farewell banquet he jumped
into the dining hall with an unearthly war
whoop, tlourishing 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 madly into the
street. Very few of them were armed,
aud the we'll known desperation of the
man threw them into momentary panic.
, Five minutes later the bauquetcrs were
going around with tears in their eyes,
bemoaning their luck, and wishing they
could have had seconds warning of the
terror's approach. When tho banquet
/ hall was cleared Thompson stood at one
, end with revolver in each hand, and
emptied his weapons, two shots at time,
at the glasses on the tables, breaking
about half of them. After 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 there.
Ben Thompson had been border des
psrado ever since the war, aud 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 just
4 before the war, when Ben was lad of l6.
r tie served in a Confederate regiment
q during the rebellion, and at tho surrender
y crossed over into Mexico, where he was a
soldier tor a short time under MaXimilian
On the fall of that monarch he returned K
Texas and entered on q career of crim
/ which has few equals even in this country
II Running gambling games of all kinds, h
l. made his home with the cattle men. Whe
ii the drive occurred he and his brothG
- Billy alwal 3 went along, and always go
- into trouble. In 1868, when Abilene wa
g. the shipping poiut for Texas cattle
is Thompson arrived there with herd, an
the same night undertook to run IL
town. as he called it. William Hickol
te better known as Wild Bill, was marshal (
80 Abilene, and hearing of Thompson's NOV,
y ments, he recruited q party and attacke
III him. Thompson had several hackers, an
in the running fire that was kept up f.
more than an hour, several men on bot
OF sides were killed and wounded. The ne!
on morning Wild Bill organized posse al
be chased Thompson and his friends into II
"a Iudian territory, keeping close on the
- trail, and allowing them no time TO re-
le or sleep. Thompson finally escaped, br
r he never appeared in Abilene again viii
Wild Bill was marshal.
The next year the drive ended at ELL
"a worth, Kansas, where Ben and b
u" brother Billy determined 10 recover SON
'E- of their lost prestige. They captured Ii
cd town Immediately on their arrival, a.
a when tho sheriff demonstrated they sht
~ him dead. Finding the place too hot Il
- them, they left the town the next da
'n closely pursued by posse, but Il
brothers, who were magnihoently arme
with WincheSters and revolvers kept the
Ve pursuers at bay, and escaped in safety
,to Texas. Although Billy Thompson W
mt arrested for this murder some time afte
bo ward and taken back 10 Kansas he w
never punished for it.
u' After killing number of men down
TO the border, Thompson appeared IN Aust
y's in 1874, and, provoking quarrel with Il
,v owner of a theatre there named Wilso
shot him dead. This was despera
battle, dozen men taking part, al
weapons of every description, from
shot gun to bowie knife, being used,
Much of Thompson's deviltry was cor
mitted in q spirit Of fun. Going by Il
Raymond house in Austin one night,
noticed uumber OF guests on the piaz
launlnB themselves.
Let's have some fun" said he 10 l.
companion, and, walking behind one
the strangers, he fired his revolver twi
in rapid succession into his chair. III
man was hit by one of the bullets, but W
not fatally hurt. In the exciteme
CIV Thompson escaped.
lta Once when in partnership with a rai
of named Lorraine in the gambling busine
at Austin Thompson, who had draw
VI more money from the bank than was d
ms him, was turned off when he asked (
in. more. Drawing his six shooter he p
rk one bullet through the check rae
I' smashed tho globe of the hazard deal
'"e with another, and shot off a gas burner.
INT Hearing that a woman named Fam
ho Kelly had spoken of him in uncomplme
of tary terms, no visited her At her hon
.ho and opened the interview by shooting d
'No keys out of her piano, shattering the m
ng rors and snufting the lamps with pist
Ise balls.
mt Only two weeks before his death
wrote to Jim Courtrght, of Fort Wort
. saying
IN, IL have got no place to go, and q
10 coming up there to run your town. | u
'h' derstand you are running it now."
rry To this Courtright replied
do II am deputy city marshal here. | ci
red run the town without your help. "