The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1892-07-14


znusty hoyhood days, but when he be-
zgn starring on the stage in play
Jailed 'On Hand" and used big six
zheet stands of bills for his country
zbffng, the center sheet having a big
lied hand and Thompson" emblazoned
thereon, they gave him his subsequent
little
/ His play was a marvel of astounding
Dramatic strength and with red fire ex-
lending from the wings like moisture
from well-pressed clay. The towns
afflicted by ION Hand" were mostly To-
8tated in central Illinois, even as far
Down as Egypt. Thompson had a
Charming wife and pretty golden
haired little girl that he frequently.
when her mother consented, farmed
#Out to Uncle Toms Cabin troupes to
play Little Eva.
These two formed his family gods,
and likewise his family goods, for he
bad no other property. With this little
literary overture allow me to introduce
The saddest episode in the Thompson
family.
The Rock Island & Peoria railway is
ashort feeder to the great Rock Island
route, and in the days speak of was an
Independent trunk line of ninety-two
miles in length, tapping a pretty rich
ecal country, but SO generally ''hard-
| up that receivers were as common as
Fotten ties, and every mile of the road
was staunchly supported by several
aole-bodied mortgages. Remember I'm
speaking of those days"
Well, one lonely spring day it was
discovered by the On Hand Dramatic
company that they were short of bill
ing matter, and John Thompson left his
Ihespians sheltered in the shadow of a
country hotel and started for Peoria to
feplenish his printing. He kissed his
pretty little wife good-by, and under
she somewhat unusual caress managed
70 borrow five dollars the poor little
woman had saved up and kept con-
eealed from her husband. Then John
aarted. He Speht the day in Peoria
meeting very convivial fellows, singing
OLD songs, practicing at the bar until it
was too late to take the evening passen-
ger train, SO he started out ''to make a
night of it."
1t was with trembling limbs, sick
stomach, but a fat bottle of whisky,
.nat 'On Hand" Thompson got on TO a
neight caboose early the next morning
away up in the yards" near the round
mouse. He was en- route for the town
where Mollie and the baby waited for
him.
Inc road winds about among the
mus and bluffs back of Peoria, thereby
giving continuous grade for nearly
DIX miles. The actor and his load lay
augglshly along bench in the caboose,
aha after the railroad wit of the brake
aen had ratified carelessly over his
"fln, ne was left in peace to sleep and
aud dream.
~ was against the rules. but they did
!. just the same. The conductor had
s's breakfast in a pail and sat on the
enans seat in the engine cab, and
le headbrakeman was idly swinging
'ound on the wheel of the second-car-
brake. Then the hind brakeman,
Nose place while the train is in
Ouon Is supposed to always be in the
poia OF the caboose, clambered out
;na nv started across the tops of the sway
reight cars for a confab with his
sais forward. That was a bad man
on Hand Thompson.
suddenly the engineer, conductor and
Nv ielt the part of the train they
l.s.sn s On make sudden leap like an un-
loai. greyhound, and with startled
49, a 'ne experienced engineer leaned
-"sy ont OF his cab and scid,