Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-05-12
TEXAS EDITORS NEEDED
NERVES IN GAINS DAY
Death Of Famous Journalist Re
calls How He Faced Guns
Without a Tremor.

Austin, Texas. April 20 Col William
PendIeton Gaines. who died In New York
CITY recently. belonged - thc old school
of Texas newspaper men IN the early
eighties. when Colonel Gaines was editor
Of the Austin Statesman. courage and the
ability to shoot quick we're part n hls Job.
Ben Thompson, d notorious glnman who
was credited with 25 nofcbes on bis pistol,
was tArrorizing the town Thompson
vlid career ended IN San Antonio when
Billy Sirnns, a gambler, shot him ln
variety theatre
Tie death of Colonel Gaines recalled
some interesting "reminiscences to ! II.
Farusworth. who was q hookkeeper % the
Statesman Office. and i now vice-pYesident
Of the Southwestern Telegraph and Iele-
phone Company
ATTAcK WITHOUT pRovocATiON
0One night in February, 81 s3 or a.
I saw Thompson, without the slightest
provocatlon, attack William "a. Bowen
now proprietor and editor of the Arling-
ton Texas journal said Mr. Farms
worth Mr. Bowen and many other
gentlemen and ladies were coming out II
the old Willet Opera House after per-
fornance Colonel Wing, then city editor
0f the Statesman, was in the crowd surged
in between Thompson and bis intended
victim Colonel Wing went immediately
to the Statesman office and wrote up
Thompsons : brutal attack On Bowen,
ending with these words.
/" The time has come when the citizens
IF Austin must protect their wives and
daughters from such happenings az 2
desperado attacking q respected citizen N
their presence.
Thompson passed the hours until early
morning in the saloons and gambling
houses of Austin. Between and ;
q. clock he rushed into the pressroom ot the
,sfnan and drove ont the employees at
the pistol poiIt. Colonel Gaines swOre
out warrant for Thompson, vino was
arrested and put under bonds. That
evening about Z. 80 o clock | was working
on my books in the Statesman office when
Ben Thompson entered and walked into
Colonel Wing little Office. Colonel Wing
was writing and did not even look up.
l could see everything and hear every
word.
Colonel Wing, did you write that
article about me Ii rms morning paper
asked Thompson, threatenmgiy
Yes, / did, answered Colonel Wing
calmly.
. We'll. l have come to kill YOU, re-
torted Thompson.
GUN1AN NONPLussED.
" Very well, Mr.. Thompson, am
ready
Thompson was astonIshed.
What, he exclaimed, don't you
want to say a prayer or write TO some one!
YOU have told what brought yoF
here. Colonel Wing said, warmly.
Kill me, bat l win tell you this much
I have consumption Of the lungs. HopIus
to recovery my health, | came to Texa.
from Chicago several months ago. l am
verv much worse now; in fact, ] am dying
by inches face nothing but pain auc
suffering until / 90. The sooner It Is Owe
tue better If YOU kill me | shall have dlet
in a good cause, for your neck Will b
broken. have seen to that. All Of you
killings have been done on the plea Of self
defense. On the bodies Of those YOU have
murdered weapons have been found
have none on my person, not even pen
knife | left mine on my dresser as / cams
out OF my room. l don know any bettel
way Of DIVING than that which will ellmt
nate YOU from the community, ana nave
got to die anyway. Go ahead and let is b
through with this scene.
THOMPSON TAhEN ABACK.
Thomson. taken aback. stood ln.
certain Mr.. Faruworth continued. "Al
this time was directly across the passage
way. | had no weapon. aud, teuderfoor
hoy. | don't know whether / would hav,
had the courage to use one. But at tha
moment Colonel Gaines came in from th,
street. He walked directly up to the TIVE
men. Colonel Wing seated, Thompson
standing. and said most politely
Good evening, gentlemen. May | ask
the subject ol your conversation
II have come to Xiii your city editor
and I'm gong to 10 il, Thompson hrok,
out,
Thompson, am responsible for any.
thing i'll this paper, Colonel Gaines said