The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-03-19
THOMpSON'S BLOODY LIFE
THRILLING STORY OF A DESPER-
ATE TEXAS MARSHAL.

gamblers and desperadoes went with them,
and shooting affrays were common, every
day occurrences 1t was during these days
of lawlessneSs and recklessness that Capt.
ben Thompson, the city marshall of Austin,
came conspiciously before the public, and it
was not very long before lie became known
and feared throughout the whole South
west.
He had been a gambler by profession
during the greater portion of his life, and
while following that business had gained a
wide reputation for GOODNESS and courage
He was calm and calculating under the
most trying circumstances, and his reckless
bravery had been proven in many a bloody
encounter. When Austin became overrun
with hardened, dangerous characters, the
citizens almost unanimously elected him
City Marshal. believing him to he the only
person who could maintain any kind of
order in the town. The selection was
good one, for Ben started out at once to
subdue the lawless element, and after many
serious personal difficulties succeeded In
running out the desperadoes who had been
terrorizing the place.
Many stories are told of Ben ThompsonS
thrilling adventures and daring escapades,
and he was credited with having killed more
men than any one man in Texas His life
was border romance from beginning to
end, and long before he attained the age of
manhood he had become Injured to scenes of
blood
He was born in England and when 10
years of age came with his family to New
Orleans, where for several years he tried
to learn the printing trade. Later on the
family, consisting of the father aud
mother, one boy and a girl, moved to
Texas and made their home on little
farm close to the frontier town of Aus
tin. Once settled in Texas, a life of
thrilling events begun, for the Thomp-
Sous had only been in their new home a.
few months when a double tragedy oc-
CURED which did much toward shaping
Ben's future life. He was then a bright
light hearted boy, who had S EN- little of the
world and endured few of its hardshipS;
but the experience of a few days changed
his whole character. He was sent to town
one day, and on returning home in the
afternoon suddenly came upon the dead
body of his young sister close by the road
side, and almost within stones throw of
their home. She had been brutaly muir
dered. Almost frantic with grief and wild
with rage, Ben quickly spread the news of
the murder among the nearest neighborS,
and soon party was organized to go III
pursuit of the man who had committed the
crime. The trail was taken up and holly
followed until the murderer was run down
ard captured
He proved to be a coarse negro who lived
near the Thompson farm, and the proof
against him was SO conclusive that he made
q ful confession Of his crime
No time was lost Tue negro was securely
bound dragged back to the scene of the
murder and hanged to limb of the very
tree under which the dead girls body had
been found.
The memory of his sisters sad death fol-
lowed Ben through life, and he would never
mention the bject to even his most init
mate friends. The first tragedy in the
Thompson family was quickly followed by
another one Two months later Ben's ia
ther left home, saying he would be gone
few hours, but he did not return. After a
long search it was discovered that he had
been murdered while passing through
lonely forest several miles from home This
second tragedy threw Bel upon his own re-
sources, and he commenced at once to SUI
port himself and his widowed mother He
chose gambling as a profession and fol
lowed It most of his life; but he never neg
lected his mother or failed to provide for
her wants
Many were the desperate fights which
Thompson engaged in while following the
profession of gambler. but even his enc
mics admitted that he never killed man
IN cold blood or started difficulty with
any one.
On one occasion, while attending a fiesta
at Laredo, ON the Mexicae border. he be-
came involved III a dispute with a stranger
over game of cards. The man was very
insulting in his remarks. and finally called
Ben liar In an instant Ben was
on his feet and had drawn his deadly
six-shooter to take the life of to- man
who had insulted him, but the cool
ness of the stranger saved him. He APP
peared not the least bit excited, but re-
manned quietly in his seat. and, unbuttou-
ing bis coat, barred his breast and iuvited
Ben to take good aim. This was too much
for Ben's chivalrous disposition, and tn ow-
ing down his weapon he Offered to make
friends with the stranger, remarking as he
extended his hand:
II like your nerve, and / am not going to
shoot an unarmed man"
Just about the time of the closing of the
civil war matters were in a bad condition
around AustiA, and Ben. who had figured
in the partisan warfare of the border, was
in constant danger of beng waylaid and
murdered. One night he was called to his
door. and looking out saw a company of
men waiting for him. q, He knew that they
had come to kill him, but his GOODNESS and
daring did not forsake HIM.
Throwing open the door, be dashed out
in front of the men, shot the leader dead,
and before the others could realize what
had happened, had mount d horse which
stood saldlel in the stable and was riding
rapidly away. He was followed bv q lusi,
lade but escaped unframed, and afterwRr,i
run the gauntlet of company of mounted
men, Who pursued him many miles. In
this race for life nothing but the speed of
his horse saved him, and afterward he
prized the animal so highly that nothing
could induce him 10 part with L.
TIE fact that Ben Thompson was shot at
so many times during his life aud always
escaped unhurt, caused many people to be-
lieve that he wore Il breast-plate of steel.
but he was accustomed to laugh at sucn
statements as being highly ridiculous. He
often said:
There is no breast plate made which will
stop bullet from a 45-Caliber Colt, and if
one was made strongly enough it would be
too heavy for man TO wear il around"
Ben was gentlemaniy and polished in his
manner, aud he heartily despi>ed the border
ruffian, never missing al opportunity 10
teach one of them a lesson which would NOT
soon be forgotten. Olce b "a walked in-o n
baToom in Austin, stylish y dressed and
wearing a silk hat. A half drunken luiTa,.
supposing him to be stranger, rude.v ac-
costed him and demand d To be- told v hat
business he had in Austin.
Il am cousum tive from New York -"
remarked Ben. with an assumed air Of
subsection. Il came here for ny health.
eve l. Tn a hard man in this country.