The herald., 1894-11-03
SOMETHING ABOUT BANDITS,
"reminiscences Indulged in By
O'd-Time Railroad Men.
The Union Pacific Looted for $780,
600 By Sam Bass Gang.
Misconception Regarding Western Des-
peradoes-Not Dark Brtgsnd-Like
Characters, But Blue Eyed
and Fine Appearing.

A group Of railroad men were gathered
ct the depot yesterday and were discus
sing the various feats OF derring-do per-
formed by men of their aquaintance in
the ordinary course OF duty.
"I'Il tell you what it lie. fellows" one
remarked, "the Tough Man from Bad
-Lande has had halo OF romance thrown
around him, until now every galoot that
can fan trigger is looked on as hero"
And have you noticed" INSTRUCTED
another, THAT the western desperate ia
always put down as q tall, athletic devil,
with black hair, heavy moustache and
piercing black eyes? AS matter OF
fac. every one oil the bad men I've
known-and I've known few-were of
fair complexion aud blue or gray eyes.
There was Sam BASE, that made the
Union Pacific robbcry west OF Omaha. in
1876; he had brown hair and dark-blue
eysa. Then there was Wesley Warden,
with record OF 80 men to his gun; he
was blonde with the soft blue eyes like
those OF a girl. Ben Thompson only had
killed nine men, but he bad brown hair,
but red moustache and blue eyes. King
Fisher, one OF the came gang, had
smaller record still, ne having only
killed four men, but he had sm-
liar hair and ewes, with sandy
mouetache. Jim Conroy, who had the
scrap with Ben Porter, the actor, and
pun ped lead into Maurice Barrymore by
mistake, was as mild locking as a school
girl, with light brown hair and blue
eyes. Then there was Billy the Kid,
who had record whe Pat Garrett Hhot
him in Mexico OF one man to his gun for
every year of his age-that made just
%. Well, he alao had blue eyes and WAS
a good looking young fellow but for his
teeth. They projected somewhat and
gave wicked. rat-like appearance to his
face. tell you what 1t ie, fellows," the
speaker concluded, ''it's all rubbieh
about the dark fellows being the hard
nuts; it's your blue-syed men, and
women, too, for that matter, that's
brimming over with devilty."
"Say, Billy" called out the most
youthful appearing of the crowd, tell
ns about the raid Of Bass' gang on the
U. p. in 49,"
"Well, boys," responded a rather
elderly man as he unlimbere his feet
from the chair upon which he had them
perched, and expectorated stream of
tobacco juice with perfect accuracy of
aim clear halfway across the room. 81
was braking in those dave on the Union
Pacific, but wasn't on the train that
Bass gang held up west of Omaha.
don't clean remember now who was all
in that robbery, Dnt know there WAS
Sam Baes, Frank Jackson. Henry I'm
derwood, Joe Collins and Charley Hef-
feridge, and others hired for the occa-
sion. They held mp the train in great
etyle and then scattered. A few days
after the robbery Joe Collins and
Charley Heff'eridge were shot by Uncle
Sam's soldiers in Nebraska. Collins orr
dinarily was a cattlemsn, and at times
posed as a gentleman gambler, and he
was recognized, with his companion,
when they passed guard OF troops sta
toned at a water tank. After they had
left one of the soldiers said he had seen
tho initiala j. c. on handkerchief
used by one OF the men who had just
ridden away. and as it atterward trans-
pired, the identity OF Collins had been
established with the authorities by
drummer who had seen and recognized
iust on suspicion. Upon overhauling
the couple the sergeant in command was
about to arrest Collins when he and his
chum drew their guns and tried to
make play. but they were both shot in
theil tracks for their paine. On the two
pack mules were found 100000 of gold
in that years. coinage. anu pretty good
coinage it was, for the '76 coinage was
almost pure gold"
Sam Bass and Jackson returned to
Texas and recognized the gang with
two OF Collins brothers. Henry was
killed later at Sherman and Billy Col
lins waa killed in North Dakata by Dep
uty United States Marshal Anderson. 1t
was rather hard linea that last shooting,
for Billy and Anderson were old shool-
mates and bosom chums. When Ander-'
son drew his gun Billy fred at the same
moment, and both men bit the dust to-
gether.
The king pin of the band-Sam Bass
was killed at Round Rock, Tex, few
years latter by the Texas rangers. He
died with his boots on, though, as did
Sabine Barnes and Arkansas johnson,
who were mem pers Of his band. They
were betrayed by man named Murphy,
who belonged to the outfit, but whether
it was conscience that reproGched or not,
I don't know. but he committed suicide
by taking poison.
II tell you what it is though, boys.
theIe is some good in those fellows,
tough as they are. When Murphy be-
trayed the gang, they had gone to rob
the R1und Rock bank. leaving Murphy
in camp. When the rangers opened
fire Jackson was the only one not hit.
He held Sam Bass in the saddle and
made off, leaving Barnes and johnson
dead in the street. Four miles out of
town he carefully laid Bass under tree,
after binding his wounds as we'll as he
was able, intending to get help and re.
turn. A posse Of rangers happening to
pass bs, Bass called to them and sur
rendered, dying soon after his capture"
"Ah those were days and no mis-
take" said the old railroader, in tone
OF regretful reminiscence. "That old
time Union Pacific robbery was worth
100000 to the gang" He hesved 3
sigh and the party adjourned across the
- for tny