Alexander Thompson Dawson Scam Artist
Character Sketch and Background
Name: Alexander "Scrawny" Thompson
Physical Description-
Alexander Thompson is 34 years old and is a 6' 2" male from Boston, Massachusetts. He has short brown hair, and dark green eyes. He only weighs about 130 pounds, hence the nickname "scrawny". He has a scar across his cheek from a knife fight back in Boston. He has been in many fights, and has many scars. There is one on his back from a sword fight he had with a man named Samuel Steele. He is now the sheriff of some town in Alaska. They have hated each other ever since. Alexander is not very big because his illegal business of a scam artist is slow, and doesn't pay good. Sometimes, he will go over a day without eating. This make him very small, but still a scrappy, fighting man with the heart of a true hero.
Brief Biography-
Alexander has two older brothers, and a twin sister. He lived with them and their mother on a small 5 acre farm. Their father left the family when Alexander was only 4 years old. Alexander has been dedicated to finding his father, and building a strong relationship between them. Alexander hopes to hire a private investigator to help him track down his father. He hopes to get the money by scamming the people from the gold rush. He also wants the money to support his mother's buisiness, small pharmacy back in Boston.
Name: Alexander "Scrawny" Thompson
Physical Description-
Alexander Thompson is 34 years old and is a 6' 2" male from Boston, Massachusetts. He has short brown hair, and dark green eyes. He only weighs about 130 pounds, hence the nickname "scrawny". He has a scar across his cheek from a knife fight back in Boston. He has been in many fights, and has many scars. There is one on his back from a sword fight he had with a man named Samuel Steele. He is now the sheriff of some town in Alaska. They have hated each other ever since. Alexander is not very big because his illegal business of a scam artist is slow, and doesn't pay good. Sometimes, he will go over a day without eating. This make him very small, but still a scrappy, fighting man with the heart of a true hero.
Brief Biography-
Alexander has two older brothers, and a twin sister. He lived with them and their mother on a small 5 acre farm. Their father left the family when Alexander was only 4 years old. Alexander has been dedicated to finding his father, and building a strong relationship between them. Alexander hopes to hire a private investigator to help him track down his father. He hopes to get the money by scamming the people from the gold rush. He also wants the money to support his mother's buisiness, small pharmacy back in Boston.
Alex's passport picture
Journal-
1. August 19: Today, I settled into my new house in Dawson, Alaska. It is a small, one story house with two bathrooms and two bedrooms. I moved in with my friend John Perta and his wife Betsy. The trip was horrible and only so many people made it. We set up our fortune teller machine, and put out the open sign. Then we set up our rooms. We are splitting the cost of the house, so everything is fair. My rent is a bashing $300 a month. We each pay $150, and then pocket the rest for food and other necessities. The food here is actually pretty good. They have pork, beef, and a lot of vegtables.
Quote#1
"Within six months, approximately 100,000 gold-seekers set off for the Yukon. Only 30,000 completed the trip" ( The Klondike...).
2. September 7: Today I had my first "customer." I put on my fortune teller costume and went to meet him. He said that he came to Alaska in order to provide for his family, in which he has 3 young children and a wife. I said that I could tell him with my knowledge if he was going to be successful. I hooked his arm up to the machine and we got started. I asked him some questions while a needle was jumping up and down on the recorder. I told him that this was good news, even though it really means nothing. The machine is fake. What can I say, I am a scam artist! The man thanked me to no end and payed me. My normal fee for a standard reading is $5.00. He ended up paying me over double, a crazy amount of $12.00, and added that he would have money to waste after his success. What a sucker!
Quote #2
"By the time the gold seekers reached the gold fields of Dawson City..." ("Klondike Gold...")
3. September 29: Today I had my 9th "customer." He was very important because his visit gave me the sum of $500 dollars total savings. I need at least $400 to hire the private investigator to find my father. I wanted to have a sum of at least $500 so I would have some left. I went to the Investigation Agency, and hired Agent Tom Hodds. The agency has him listed as the top agent on roster. He told me personally that he would find my father and not stop until he does. I gave him a picture and some general information about my dad. Then he left, and Told me He would be back with my father. I really hope he finds him for my sake, my mother's, and my sibilings. I want to meet him, and get to know him. I can't wait to finally talk with him. I hope he doesn't fail me.
Quote #3
"All through the summer and on into the winter of 1897-98, stampeders poured into the newly created Alaskan tent and shack towns of Skagway and Dyea" ("NPS Klondike Rush...")
4. October 14: Today I was making breakfast for John and I when there was a knock a the door. I quickly got on my fortune teller costume, and went to get the door. I opened the door and there stands the chief of police in Dawson. Samuel Steele! He took John and I into custody, and threw us into the slammer. I still haven't been read my miranda rights, and the prison conditions are horrible, and the food is awful. I asked Officer Steele what I was being charged with, and he stared me down. I looked at John and asked him. He began to talk talk when all of the sudden Steele interrupted- "You are a lying, dirty scam artist that takes advantage of people's hope!" Wow. I wasn't even sure he had feelings.
5. October 27: Today, John got released. I'm not sure where he will go next. I hope he finds what he is looking for. I, however was sentenced to jail time. about 5 years, actually. As for Steele, I was the biggest arrest of his career, and he was promoted. I don't know what it was, but I was kind of happy for him. My wife and my daughter are still living in Boston, and they come to visit me sometimes. It makes me so happy when they come. The private investigator I hired found my father and now is back at the agency. My father, however, disappeared again. I don't think I will find him again. I think I will just live out my jail time and then go from there. Probably go back to scamming people.
Epilogue:
Alex ended up dying in jail. After about 3 years he began to not eat. He ended up starving himself to death. It was found in his journal that he "didn't want to live without his wife and child by his side forever". He has left behind his old house in Dawson, about $1,000 dollars, and his scamming effects and costume. His wife came to visit when she heard he died. She collected the items, and moved into the house in Dawson.
1. August 19: Today, I settled into my new house in Dawson, Alaska. It is a small, one story house with two bathrooms and two bedrooms. I moved in with my friend John Perta and his wife Betsy. The trip was horrible and only so many people made it. We set up our fortune teller machine, and put out the open sign. Then we set up our rooms. We are splitting the cost of the house, so everything is fair. My rent is a bashing $300 a month. We each pay $150, and then pocket the rest for food and other necessities. The food here is actually pretty good. They have pork, beef, and a lot of vegtables.
Quote#1
"Within six months, approximately 100,000 gold-seekers set off for the Yukon. Only 30,000 completed the trip" ( The Klondike...).
2. September 7: Today I had my first "customer." I put on my fortune teller costume and went to meet him. He said that he came to Alaska in order to provide for his family, in which he has 3 young children and a wife. I said that I could tell him with my knowledge if he was going to be successful. I hooked his arm up to the machine and we got started. I asked him some questions while a needle was jumping up and down on the recorder. I told him that this was good news, even though it really means nothing. The machine is fake. What can I say, I am a scam artist! The man thanked me to no end and payed me. My normal fee for a standard reading is $5.00. He ended up paying me over double, a crazy amount of $12.00, and added that he would have money to waste after his success. What a sucker!
Quote #2
"By the time the gold seekers reached the gold fields of Dawson City..." ("Klondike Gold...")
3. September 29: Today I had my 9th "customer." He was very important because his visit gave me the sum of $500 dollars total savings. I need at least $400 to hire the private investigator to find my father. I wanted to have a sum of at least $500 so I would have some left. I went to the Investigation Agency, and hired Agent Tom Hodds. The agency has him listed as the top agent on roster. He told me personally that he would find my father and not stop until he does. I gave him a picture and some general information about my dad. Then he left, and Told me He would be back with my father. I really hope he finds him for my sake, my mother's, and my sibilings. I want to meet him, and get to know him. I can't wait to finally talk with him. I hope he doesn't fail me.
Quote #3
"All through the summer and on into the winter of 1897-98, stampeders poured into the newly created Alaskan tent and shack towns of Skagway and Dyea" ("NPS Klondike Rush...")
4. October 14: Today I was making breakfast for John and I when there was a knock a the door. I quickly got on my fortune teller costume, and went to get the door. I opened the door and there stands the chief of police in Dawson. Samuel Steele! He took John and I into custody, and threw us into the slammer. I still haven't been read my miranda rights, and the prison conditions are horrible, and the food is awful. I asked Officer Steele what I was being charged with, and he stared me down. I looked at John and asked him. He began to talk talk when all of the sudden Steele interrupted- "You are a lying, dirty scam artist that takes advantage of people's hope!" Wow. I wasn't even sure he had feelings.
5. October 27: Today, John got released. I'm not sure where he will go next. I hope he finds what he is looking for. I, however was sentenced to jail time. about 5 years, actually. As for Steele, I was the biggest arrest of his career, and he was promoted. I don't know what it was, but I was kind of happy for him. My wife and my daughter are still living in Boston, and they come to visit me sometimes. It makes me so happy when they come. The private investigator I hired found my father and now is back at the agency. My father, however, disappeared again. I don't think I will find him again. I think I will just live out my jail time and then go from there. Probably go back to scamming people.
Epilogue:
Alex ended up dying in jail. After about 3 years he began to not eat. He ended up starving himself to death. It was found in his journal that he "didn't want to live without his wife and child by his side forever". He has left behind his old house in Dawson, about $1,000 dollars, and his scamming effects and costume. His wife came to visit when she heard he died. She collected the items, and moved into the house in Dawson.
Alex's friends and family join him in Dawson, Alaska.
Works Cited:
"The Klondike Gold Rush." NPS.gov/retracethesteps. Web. 17 April 2013.
"The Klondike Gold Rush." NPS.gov/historyandculture. Web. 17 April 2013.
"NPS Klondike Rush." NPS.gov. Web. 17 April 2013.
"The Klondike Gold Rush." NPS.gov/historyandculture. Web. 17 April 2013.
"NPS Klondike Rush." NPS.gov. Web. 17 April 2013.