Year: 1875

WHO WAS HE WHEN IN LHE?-HAs HIS InEN-


TITY BEEN ESTABLISHED ?-cuRIoUs MCI-


DENTS OF BLOCKADE RUNNING DURING THE
WAR


To THE EDITOR HERALD


From the editorials and communications in the
HERALD am led to believe that Thompson alias Thomas
alias Thomassen, is a person whose identity Is
not yet fully established. The writer was in Dresden
during the winter or ls69-70 The American Club
then in its second year, and OF It's chief sup
porters and leading members was Father Thomas,
short thick set genial person with full red beard He
lived well, entertained handsomely and was regarded
by the resident Americans liberal gentleman NO
subscription for the relief OF the poor was without
his name In one instance two young American ladies'
started school which proved unsuccessful He called
upon them handed them 81 900 TO furnish their rooms
and commence again saying that if successful they
could repay him and If they should regard II as
debt


Father Thomas told the writer that he was in the
Confederate service during the entire war; first as
blockade runner then a soldier in Lees army and
afterward again blockade His last service
caterer to Lees army when il should arrive in
Philadelphia He received instructions from the
government to 90 10 Nassau, n. F., thence to
New York and Philadelphia and in the latter
city make arrangements for Lee in his
Northern march. For this purpose he re-
ceived from the Confederate government draft
their English bankers for $35 600 In due time he ar
rived at Philadelphia and awaited Lees advance. The
battle Of Gettysburg convinced him that the rebellion
to end. He that the North was pros
porous while the South bankrupt AS he had lost
about ST. 900 in the Confederate service he thought
was not robbery TO repay himself in the best way he
could. He therefore came to New York and asked the
advice OF prominent banker, who told him 10 invest
in anything but United States government bonds After
further inquiries he sold his bill Of $5 900 and bought
United States securities and sailed for Europe Upon
the interest OF United States bonds he informed me he
was then living.


One day Commodore Worden in the club, when
''Father'' Thomas said TO him:-'Oommodore you
ruined me once. The Tennessee Il believe that was
the name OF the blockade runner) was loaded with
cotton in Mobile Harbor, ready out by the first
opportunity but you kept too strict watch and OF
your mortar boats sent she'll through her. which de-
sroyed her and the whole cargo Half that cotton was
mine" The Commodore listened attentively and then
replied d:--s'Thomas il | catch you in such bad
company again should take much pleasure in put
ting bullet through your heart as did in putting that
bomb through the Tennessee"


Thomas Strengthened himself and, throwing open his
coat, said:-"Commodore, If you ever do | shall
thereat open my coat thus and tell you to FIRE, for
should deserve IT then / now deserve it for what
rebel


St Petersburg His family we're spending the winter in
Dresden, and he came down and remained there seve
raj weeks Just before he left he gave dinner to the
members of the club At this dinner Father Thomas
seated Ex-Governor Curtinis right hand. Mr..
Curtin's speech delivered one Of his humorous
veins, and in paying high compliment to Thomas, he
proposed the toast of sour reunited country" and
called upon Thomas to reply Thomas rose cried like
baby, finally commanded himself, spoke like man
and won the hearts of all present.


The above incidents do not show him to be the devil
which the originator of this dynamite plot most as
suredly II is hard to believe that he sank so low
in six years. Yet from the descriptions gwen in the
HERALD, ''Father Thomas resembles him strongly in
everything but character