The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-01-20
CARDS, THEN DEATH
A DOOMED oEsgRTER WHO PLAYED
 POKER AND WON.

He Had His winning- Diatributed
 Among the Members of the squad
 That shot Him Co Death.
 "It Is a curious fact" said a mem. ber Of Company A. Third Maryland, "that military execution had a peculiar fascination for men who were daily accustomed to see hundreds slaln In battle Men who shovel a breastwork in on a trench full of slain comrades and chew hardtack or eat salt pork while at the Job with a callousncss which only such frequent scenes or oc. currences would make possible in the human heart became peculiarly sensl- tive and alive to the solemn parade and formalitles of a military execution.
 'In our regiment we had a private soldier sentenced to be shot for desert. ing to the enemy. His name was Thompson. and he belonged Co Com pany K. This man Thompson had de- serted O6 vedette post one night and some two months afterward came Into our lines. where members of his own company happened to be on picket duty. Thompson did not calculate on this. Ills Idea in coming in was to sur render as a Confederate soldier and be sent north. It happened near to the Weldon railroad. where our division of the Ninth corps was then posted. or course. on being recognized, be was taken to headquarters and a court martial was immediately convened lt leaked out somehow that Thompson was not the humble soldier he seemed, but a Confederate officer and spy. He had been an officer In the United States navy before the war. He resigned and went south, where he secured the com mission of colonel of Infantry.
 Being a Marylander of family, ef forts were made to save his life, but ln a quiet way. as his relatives feared to disclose bis real identity for fear be would be hanged as a spy Instead Of shot as a deserter. Friday, Che day set for execution in the Army of the Potomac. came around too soon for Thompson and bis relatives. The night previous be had been informed that an efforts had failed at Washington. ! was on guard duty over him, and my brother was one of the detail of twelve men selected as the firing squad. My brother didn't like the job, and came Co the tent where l was on guard to consult with me bow Co get out Of it. Thompson overheard our conversation. and. knowing my brother by name. he broke in: Say, Tip, you must not back out. I want you In the squad, as ] know you are a dead shot and will save me from the sergeant
 1t was the practice for the sergeant 1T the firing squad failed to kin the. doomed man with a volley Go place the muzzle of bis rifle against the temple of the prisoner and blow out his brains.
 After Tip bad co~scg.cd the officer of the guard permitted .s to play cards with the prisoner He had roll ot bills. and we were soon in a stin poker game. Two guards. including myself. my brother Tip aud Thompson, com posed the quartet We played until gray daylight. and ThomI son skinned the party of every dollar. He bad phenomenal luck and watched the game closely.
 "In the afternoon he was to die, and about noon hc asked to see the hcuten- ant Of the firing squad. Handing the officer $500. he asked him Co divide it equally among the men detailed to shoot him.
 "The division was drawn up and formed three sides of a square, the fourth side being open, where the grave og Thompson was freshly dug The band played the dead march in Saul and Thompson, at the head of the ur- ing squad. marched around the three sides Of the square. with the coffin in which be was to be lnclosed carried im- mediately behind him. Reaching che open space. the coffin was set down. Thompson seated himself on the end of it. facing the firing squad, about twelve paces distant. The death warrant was read. and the chaplain tied bis hand kerchlef over the prisoners eyes. l watched Thompson. curious to note if he would hear the reports of the mus kets that killed him. Presently l heard the neutenants low voice: Ready! Aim! Firen
 'Tn the next instant Thompson top. pied back into bis coffin a dead man. The reports of the muskets be never heard. as I saw him swiftly fall over before I heard the guns crack. and SO | settled this disputed point to my own satisfaction. and to that extent the eX. ecutlon of Thompson interested me and no more e"-Washington Post.