The Lehi banner. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1891-1917, 1899-01-18

Denver and is there today. as content
as an innkeeper on the Rhine. HIS
deeds are now myth and he would
be. perhaps. the last person in the
world to rehearse them. because IL
would not be In accordance with the
spirit OF the times.
The genesis OF the bad man OF the
happy killing habit is not easily trac-
ed, and by this / don't mean the bor-
der ruffian or drink-crazed cowboy,
who killed for the same reason that
certain human beings with symme,rlc-
al craniums commit burglary and
other crimes This unique character of
American daring and the acutest sense
OF fair play, full OF sentiments easily
touched but rarely spoken. incapable
OF abandoning a friend who had the
law against him, and the bravest to
execute the law, when common sense
dictated the justice OF the decree; this
contrariety of mankiller and civilizer
must have issued from the traditions
OF the bloody ground" OF the Ohio.
where the sternest struggles OF Amer
lean pioneering occurred. for we trace
him along the line OF greatest resist
ance through Kentucky, Missouri and
Kansas to the whisky centers OF the
prairie cattle ranches and the ephemer-
al mountain camps OF the mines.
conspicuous example OF his type
was Bill Thompson. brother OF that
other Texas Thompson named Ben.
who made considerable OF record as
a pacifier at Austin before he was as
sassinated. Bill was laying of" up
In Colorado, after having had to slip
across the Texas border between suns,
when the historic double lynching OF
Frodsham and Stewart occurred at
Leadville. Obedient to a request more
imperative than polite, several hundred
thugs, footpads, lot jumpers, burglars
and assassins left Leadville the follow
ing morning and colonized 35 miles
away at Buena Vista, the new tenn
porary terminal OF the South Park rail-
road. They were soon Joined by their
kind in numbers from every quarter of
the state. Highway robbery and every
other sort OF robbery and murder in
the first degree became the pastime Of
the place.
But there was a happy bad man In
the town, and II was Bill Thompson.
He was elected mayor on the quiet
by the Darkroom oligarchy. After the
Texan had punctured the anatomy OF
few OF the worst bad men of Buena
Vista and satisfied everybody that he
really enjoyed good stand-up-and-
shoot fight the gayety OF the select So
cioty subsidized, and In few days he
was the unchallenged despot of the
town. Meanwhile robbery and crime
ceased.
Col. Amos G. Babcock was at the
time engaged In mining operations
within a few miles drive by buck
board. He was pleased greatly at the
nerve of the Buena marshal-like
others OF the law and order species
OF mankind in the neighborhood-and
took occasion some months later to
express his approval OF the Thompson
despotism.
Buena Vista vanished when the rail-
road was completed to Leadville, and
one day Bill Thompson, at that COM
mon crisis In his career known as an
empty pocket, received a letter from
his brother Ben, saying that the. in
dictment against him was quashed and
he might come home.
Col. Babcock CHANGED to hear OF
Thompson's plight and sent him $50
through hotel man at nearby town,
after the latter had promised not to
reveal the name OF the donor. II
seems that In spite OF his dilemma
Thompson would not accept the money
until he was told the name OF the
benefactor. Before leaving for Texas
he slipped into the little mining camp
TO "size up" his unknown friend, and
departed without making himself an-
quainted, according to the pledge he
had made when the colonel's name was
given to him.
Several years later Col. Babcock was
at Austin. Texas. organizing the state
capitol project. the successful issue of
which surprised even the partners
whom he enriched The opposition was
bitter, The syndicate represented by
the colonel were id yankees" and
no good could come out OF them or
their investment. The deal was in a
precarious state. II the colonel could
only have as an ally or a confederate
the positive and popular Ben Thomp-
son, then city marshal, the situation |
could be controlled But this very
same Thompson was OF the ugliest
temper toward the colonel. and TO win |
his friendship or assistance seemed
hopeless.
But the bread came back. As the
colonel was passing a saloon one after
noon he tried TO slip around a crowd
OF drunken, yelling plainsmen, who
were staggering out. From among them
rushed a burly Texan who grabbed the
colonel and hercely Rugged him, ex-
claiming Historically; On me, IL II
amt Col Babcock. Well. I'll be id"
When BIZ Thompson finally let 90
the cause OF his exuberanSe was made
clear to the colonel by the story told.
Next morning early Ben Thompson
walked up TO Col. Babcock's room in
the hotel. bit OF daring requiring OF
him a greater exhibition Of courage
than a pistol duel at twenty PAGES.
Colonel" said he. you were good
10 my brother Bill out in Colorado,
and have come here to tell you am