Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-09-02
THOMPSON, OF TEXAS.
..sessaoo WHO DID SOME SHOOT
,ne AND WAS SHOT AT.


a.. Absolutely Fearless
~.o most notable Englishman who
~. .,n,e 10 Texas was Ben Thompson.
c y, no arrived there vt so early mn age
y h,came so thoroughly western In
~ y ,,ode of life that Texans claim him
,heir own. | imagine, however, he
..ys retained some Of the traditions
W. hirihplncc, rs there is story OF
n Standing with his hat OIL 70 talk 10
.r,riah noblcman whom Thompson
..ns time was the most feared aud
~ known man in all Texas. Tho
80 -. of his rocl;lessncss and Ignorance
',t',r and utter disregard Of the value
Fathers lives, rs well 40 his own, are
rbamp,on killed eighteen men in diff
toni PARTS Of Texas, and was for this
,..se marshal of Austin, on the princi-
.sthat II he must kill somebody 1t was
E.,er to give him authority TO kill other
s.nradocs than reputable citizens. AS
,,rhal Il was his pleasure to pull mp
n buggy across the railroad track just
sthe daily express train was about to
~. and covering the engineer with his
SOLVER bid him hold the train until no
,,s ready TO move on. llc would thon
an some trembling acquaintance from
M crowd on the platform and talk with
lnlelsurcly, until hc thought no had
e,oc.sfully awcd tho engineer and
ntablishod his authority. Then ho
vould pick up his roins and drive on,
nying toesihp engineer, "You needn't
mink dga thy corporation can hurry
me- -
Ono day q cowboy, who was n well
lnown bully and u would DO desperate,
40, several bullet holes through tho
hsh hat Of an eastern traveller who was
fsnding at the bar Of an Austin hotol.
Thompson heard of this, aud purchasing
ahigh hat entered the barroom.
alhear," no said, facing the cowboy,
athat you are shooting plug hats hero
.,lay; perhaps you would like TO tako
asho, at mile Ho then raised his re-
yOlycr and shot away tho cowboys ear.
slmcani," he said, "to hit your ear; did
Idol IT, Tub bully showed proof that
b had e%ell, thon," said tho mar
,hal, get outof heres" and catching tho
nan by his caVtridge belt, he threw him
sai into tho Street, and so put an end to
LsTcpuiatiot ms a desperate character
forever.
Thompson was naturally unpopular
with a cert,in class in the community.
Two barkseiers, who had a personal
ruigc against him, with no doubt ex-
sellCnt reason, lay In ambush for him
behind the two bars Of the saloon, which
stretched along either wall. Thompson
catered the room from the street, In ig-
loraneo Of any plot against him, until
he two men halted him with shotguns.
They had him so surely at their pleasure
tat he made no effort to reach for his re-
wlyer, but stood looking from one TO
tie other and smiling grimly. But his
equation was 70 great and tliair fear
q him so actual that both men missed
LIN, although not twenty feet away
and with shotguns In their hands. Then
thompson took out his pistol delibcrate-
!! and killed them.
A few years ago ho became involved
n San Antonio with Jack Harris, tho
iseper of gambling house and variety
heater. Harris lay in wait for Thomp.
VA behind tho Bwinging doors Of his
nloon, but Thompson, as he crossed tho
Military plaza, was warned Of Harris
hiding place and shot him through the
Cor He was tried for tho murder and
hluitted on tho ground Of self defense,
md on his return to Austin was met at
he station by u brass band and all tho
NJ companies. Perhaps inspired by
ais he returned TO San Antonio, and
Eng TO Harris theater, then in the
lands OF his partner, Joe Foster, called
pom the gallery for Foster to come up
Easpeak to him. Thompson hp' with
I'm desperate named King Fisher,
Ha against him every man Of his class
San Antonio, for Harris had been
wy POPULAR. Foster sent his assistant,
NeTy young man named Bill Sims, to
ss Thompson to leave tho place, as no
ainot want trouble.
Il have come TO have n reconcilia-
sl sad Thompson; III want TO shake
anus with my old friend, Joo Foster.
~, MN won't leave till l see him,
M l won't make u row."
ems returned with Foster, and
'a'inpson held out his hand.
1oe,' no said, II have come all the
N irom Austin to shake hands with
W. Lots mako mp and call it off,
can't shake hands with you, Benz
.S'sr said; "you killed my part..or,
you know well enough am not the
70 forget 1t. Now 90. won't you,
=. Don't make trouble
4MMpson said ho would leave In n
4a'e, but they must drink together
~ Fisher and Thompson stood quito
.ons beside the bar The inaryhel of
S ~aun looked up md saw Fosters glass
,a'hed before him, and said:
aren't yon drinking with me, Jooy'
Foster shook his head.
"ell' then, "criod Thompson, "tho
S .a VINO won't drink with me nor
- ny hands with mo fights me-
Yr NY Ieachhd back for his pistol. and
~. ~ ohe-a jury Of twelve intelligent
SH -'us decided It was not young Bill
aS -snot him three times In tho fore.
1 a They say You could have covered
p ev 'a'ee bullet holes with a half dollar.
Shi great was the desperate courage
NV, s's rnillan That even as he fell ht
ana nlss'alng his revolver Mt his hip
IN hi sulh'g Foster, and then, as he lay
.go as PACK, with every nerve jerking 10
say, ho emptiod his revol,,ar int III,