The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-03

assisted him in this depreciation They got
Sol, OOo. all In $50 gold pieces. A short time
after the robbery Collins and Hoatling were
killed by sheriffs posse, and the $50, 900 that
came to them out of the booty recovered.
jackson Davis was also killed and the $40, 900
he had received the pursuers found upon his per-
son. Bass and Nixon went to Fort Worth, Tex
Swallowed by detectives During the next few
months Bass participated in three express rob-
berries but the spoils amounted to nothing com
pared with the Big Springs affair." In July, 1878 he
planned an attack on the bank at Round Rock,
Tex. While on the eve of accomplishing this
robbery officers in pursuit of Bass and his gang
corralled them in Henry Koppel's store, where
Bass was buying some tobacco. A fierce firing
ensued, resulting in the death of Barnes, one of
BASES men, and Deputy Sheriff Grimes. Bass fed
to the woods, wherein, at dawn the next day.
his pursuers found him lying under tree, fatal
ly wounded. Sergeant Neville and his rangers
approaching him, were saluted with Don't
shoot | am the man you are looking for. am
Sam Bass" On being taken to Round Rock and
questioned, he said: II am Sam Bass. / am
shot all to pieces and it is no use to deny it."
He died about the 10Th Of July, 1873, just before
his last breath saying "The world is bobbing
around; let me CO."
That was an exciting night in January 1876,
for Messrs. Cone, Chaplin and Tim Hart. Of the
Limited Express Company and two officers of
the Cleveland police" came in turn from
hitherto interesting listener There had been
trains Of the Lake Shore road, and night
about the middle of January the people named
went west to Wauseon, 0. just before reach
ing that place they saw a campfire around
which were several men. At Wauseon
they changed to the east-bound Chicago express
due in Cleveland at 230 A. NJ. There was no at
tempt that night to rob the train. But the next
night the guards and detectives repeated their
journey, taking for their return trip the east
bound express at Archibald. In the express car
hat ,irxlf a,,I
600 in bullion. Ed. Lacy was the messenger in
charge At Wauseon four former en-
ployes of the road got on board. They
were L. FL. Hartwell an exfreight conductor,
alias Sophus. 1t was this party the guards and
officers noticed about the campfire the night be-
FORE There they perfected a plan to rob the
rich train. The plan was to board the train at
Wauseon, cut hole in the door Of the express
car, undo the fastenings, enter, seize and
and throw off the safes somewhere
near Swans Crossing where others were ready
to receive the wealth. In anticipation of this
attack the officers had made arrangements also,
and when the robbers had carried out their pur-
pose, so far as TO bore holes in the door, and
reached a read less to break into the car, Cone,
who was in the express car with the messenger,
and Chaplin seized the bell-rope with one hand,
while the latter stood ready to grasp the arm
of the robber when it should be put
through the holes to unfasten the door, Cap
tain Purdy, with others of the guard and officers,
were in the baggage waiting the signal from
Cone. Near Swanton Crossing Hartwell, who
led the robbers inserted his arm through the
hole he had bored, and, while feeling for the
key, Chaplin seized him with iron grip. Cone
gave the signal, and at that instant the baggage
car door opened and out rushed upon the
amazed robbers Captain Purdy. Sergeant Noble,
Detective Cavanaugh and Tim Hart. On
the narrow platform Of the car desperate strug-
gle took place between eight men. The night
was dark and stormy, the rain had rendered the
steps and platform slippery, and desperation
drove the robbers to attempt to jump from the
train. dragging their captors with them. Every
one of the gang was captured tried and SEN
fenced to long terms in the penitentiary. A
wife of one of the robbers gave the express COM
pany clew to what was being planned, and this
led to the results narrated"