Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1878-07-26

raisers, and familiarized himself
with the routes and country from
Denison to the Black Hills, which
proved of great advantage to him
in his subsequent desperate under
takings.
In the month Of September,
1877, Bass got through successfully
with his first great train robbery,
that Of the Union Pacific train at
Big Springs, Nebraska. A full ac-
count Of the daring feat was pub
lished at the time, and the bandit
was assisted by Joel Collins, Bill
Hoatling, Thomas Nixon and jack
sou Davis, BY this exploit Bass
and his accompices made the snug
sum Of 100000, all in $50 gold
pieces Of California mintage, the
last tTpiece of which, according to
the detectives, was spent by Bass
and his companions at a saloon in
Waco, Texas, a few days before his
capture. A short time after the
Big Springs robbery, when Collins
and Hoatling were by a sheriff S
posse killed in Kansas and their
divide, $4,000, recovered, Jack
Davis was soon after killed at
Mexico, Missouri, and his share,
$4,000, captured by officers and
detectives. Bass and Nixon escaped
to Fort Worth, Texas, closely fol-
llowed by detectives, who have
shadowed the bandit ever since.
There the two separated and Bass
returned to his old home in Denton
county. From there he and one oI
the Texas gang, Underwood, went
to San Antonio, followed by one O
Pinkerton's men, 1t is charged
that Thomas Garran, deput,
sheriff of Denton, a warm friend 0
Bass, at this stage of the bandit
career warned him in time to escap,
capture. From San Antonio tn,
brigand returned to his residence
in Denton. y,
phe next heard of him was tht
startling robbery at Allen Station
above Dallas, on the Houston ant
Texas railway, and one of the grea
connecting lines between st. Louis
and the western shores of the Gulf
The atrocity was so unexpected
that the people Of Texas wer,
amazed at its boldness. A full
description Of the robbery appeare,
, in the Enquirer next day and wa
Z subsequently pictured in the New
York Illustrated papers, This rob
/. berry occurred on the 22d of Febru
AIRY last. Another robbery, equal,
+ daring and atrocious, quickly fol
lowed, and in the same part of th,
! State-that of the Texas Pacif,
!. Express at Eagle Ford, west 0
Dallas, on the 18th. None Of tn
J passengers were disturbed, and tn
, messenger saved most Of the con
| tents o., the safe by previously hid
ing them. ~
! The attacking of the expires
train at Mesquite followed Apri
, goth, after which Bass found him
self SO closely watched by detec
tiyes and surrounded by Texa
. Rangers that asuspension Of opera
tons was found necessary. Tn
Mesquite affair was his last robbery
, The entire three Texas robberie
5 only yielded him and his mel
! $500.
The money giving out, Bass, aC
oording to his account, started ou
to make a raise of the bank @
t Round Rock, intending then t
J, make his escape to Mexico. Tn
/ result Of the venture has been mad
\ known over the wires, AT the tim
!, the officers precipitated the fgh
/ with the bandit and his gang Bias
a was in tile general merehandis
7 store Of Henry Koppel buying som
i chewing tobacco. In the fight th
q counters and walls were riddle,
4 with the balls, Mai)r Jones empty
4 ing his shooter at tho outlaw, an,
having q bullet pass within a fe'
/. inches Of his own head in return
{ The robber, Barnes, met Deput
/. Grimes on the sidewalk and she
5 him twice after his exclamation
|. "Don't, boys"
d AT the commencement Of til
e fight Koppel, The storekeeper, wa
d standing outside the door, while HI
d clerk, Jude, was selling tobacco I
II Bass and his men Barnes and Jacl
l. son. The tragic death OF Barne
It and Deputy Grimes, and tho prol
II able fatal wounding OF Office
10 Moore by the bandits have alread
q been dispatched, After Aeein
l. from the fight in which the ode
N were so vastly against him, Ba'
ol hid in the woods, where he sper
s. the night, and endeavored to bril-
& a negro to take care of him in h
J. wounded condition. Az dawn Sc
ID geant Neville aud some range
ID found Bass lying under n tire
r three miles from Round Rock, l