El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-03-04

panies that more than S25, 600 was Of
fered for his capture.
For years he had followed the work,
and his fascinating personality held
men to him almost against their will
and Judgment and when they were
wiped out he would recruit others
In September, 1877. Bass led the great
robbery of the Union Pacific overland
train at Big Springs, Neb-, in which
$4,000 was secured by the robbers.
The money was all in twenty-dOllar
gold pieces and the robbers had diff
Guilty in carrying off their plumber.
In that robbery Bass was assisted by
Joel Collins. Tom HOalting and Jack
Davis The money was divided. A
sheriffs posse soon got on trail OF
Hoalting in Kansas and killed him At
the same time another posse got Col
Inns, and Davis was shot ana killed in
Mexico, No, shortly afterward-
Returns to Spend Loot.
Bass then returned TO his home at
Denton, Tex, lived under the protec-
ton Of the county sheriff. who was his
friend, and spent his $50, 900 in a win
ter OF riOtous dissipation and luxury.
In the spring Of 1873 he organized a
new band OF bad men. On February %,
that year they robbed a Texas & Pa
clfic passenger train at Allen station.
again, March i, they held up a train at
Eagle Fort and another at Mesquite,
Tex April %. Then they committed
series OF robberies on the Southern Pa
a. IeX2E
railroads, but obtained little money
Planned Attack on State Treasury.
In June, 1873, Bass planned to attack
the state treasury in Austin. where sew
eral hundred thousand dollars were on
deposit but his plans were fr1 strated
and he determined to hold up a train
on the International & Great Northern
IN Round Rock, instead.
Il was at Round Rock that Bass re-
ce1yed his fatal wound, on July 1s
q
pened in the town were scattered
around in the shade, trying to evade
the terrific heat when Bass and two
OF ms gang rode quietly up the street to
the general store. They were purchas-
Ing tobacco when deputy sheriff Grimes
discovered them armed. which was IN
lawful and he attempted to place them
unoeE arrest The firing which fol-
lowed brought the scattered Rangers
running 70 the scene. Grimes ssni to
me ground with a bullet in his brain.
ana deputy sheriff Maurice Moore v-as
snot down as the robbers attempted to
- IN lllelI norses- Captain Ware sue
ceeoeq IN Wounding Bass in the abdo-
men, but the latter darted behind build
ings ana eventually got awav.
Hours later, when c. I. NeviU ran
ger. ana deputy sheriffs Tucker and
Lane were riding three miles ont ~
Round Rock they came upon . +reSI of
blood ana followed II to where Pasz
lay Don't shoot" said Bass. ST ST1r-
render m the man you boys have
hunted 50 long i am Sam Bass"
Refuses to Confess
Bass died a. Round Rock the 1ext
day. They asked him for Confession
of his numerous roveries. but he de-
elined- Its against my profession 20
tell II man knows anything let 4
man die with II in him. IT womb b1,rt
too many good men II 1 told ali I
know" he said
Bass got his misdirected start he
said, by sporting on horses" and when
he lost $500 in that way. he resoI7-e5 20
get it back by robbery
He was p years old. four feet eight
inches tall and weighed 40 bounds
He robbed bullion trains In Mexico. and
Kansas. Texas. and often sought sa fefv
in the Black Hill country
Bass posed as a gentleman robber."