Sam Bass

E. C. “Teddy Blue” Abbott, of Gilt Edge, Montana. Knew Sam Bass Before Famous Cowpuncher Became a Hunted Outlaw; The Capture and Death of Sam Bass at Roundrock, Texas in 1878. Roster of Delegates to First Stockgrowers’ Convention Includes Many of Famous Cattlemen

Originally published in the Hysham Echo on April 28, 1927

(by Dan. R. Conway)

(Cont. from last week)

With Collins Brothers

One version of Sam Bass’ career, as Teddy Blue remembers it, is that Bass and one of the Collins brothers, Joel, took a herd of longhorns north to the Black Hills, where the cattle were sold for meat at the then boom mining camp of Deadwood. After “blowing in” the money in riotous living, they started back for Texas in company with two other cowpunchers; and this quartet held up and robbed a Union Pacific train at Cold Springs, Nebr. According to this story, the companions of Bass and Collins were “Dad” Jackson, afterwards a notorious member of the Bass gang, and a man by the name of Pope. This robbery netted them $40,000 which they tied up in a pair of chaps and carried over a lead horse. This is said to have been their start on a career of crime.

Captain Dan W. Roberts, who commanded Company D of the Texas Rangers at the time Bass was killed, gives the following brief account of Bass and his exploits:

Bass Killed at Roundrock

“Bass was not a petty thief, but a bold robber. His biggest operations were not in Texas, but after operating north of the Lone Star state, returned to Denton, Texas, where Major Jones of the Texas Rangers located the gang. The major placed a few rangers on watch, without positively instructing them to invade the town, but to scout around and find out what they could about Bass and his men - to keep close under cover, and not to disclose their identity as Rangers.

“One of the Bass gang known as Murphy, was believed to have been approachable by the Rangers provided he could be promised immunity in case he betrayed the rest of the gang. Governor O. M. Roberts of Texas, agreed to free Murphy if he kept faith with the Rangers when he was captured by them. Murphy agreed to all the plans and wrote Major Jones where a planned raid was to be made. The gang had arranged to go to Roundrock and there rob a safe in a big store.

“En route to this place, the gang stopped at Belton, fifty miles from Roundrock. Murphy stepped into the postoffice at Belton and mailed a letter to Major Jones at Austin. When they left Belton, Bass put the matter of Murphy mailing a letter, straight to the band and they would have killed Murphy right there had it not been for “Dad” Jackson who intervened, stating that they would have to kill him first.

“The letter reached Major Jones and he at once sent a number of Rangers to Roundrock, where they arrived before the Bass gang reached that place. Major Jones was at the head of the detachment. The Major ordered his men to remain under cover in a livery barn with all their horses, while he went to a hotel.

“There was in Roundrock at the time, a man by the name of Grimes, who had been a Ranger, and was then a deputy sheriff. He and another deputy by the name of Moore heard of the plans and decided to beat the Rangers to the capture of the Bass gang, with a view to securing the reward that was offered.

“It was but a short time before Bass and his men arrived. In the group of desperadoes were Bass, Underwood, Murphy, ‘Dad’ Jackson and Seba Barnes. They tied their horses to a hitching rack at the rear of the store which they had planned to rob. Then they walked into the store where they casually surveyed the goods as any ranchmen might have done. Suddenly Grimes and Moore entered the place, and Grimes said to Bass, ‘I see you have a six-shooter.’

“Bass replied, ‘Yes sir, I have two of them,’ and jerking out one of the weapons, shot Grimes dead.

“Moore came up behind Grimes, ready to shoot, but Bass was to quick for him and shot him down, delivering a wound from which the unfortunate deputy recovered only after several months.

“The rangers heard the firing and came like a shot off a shovel. They reached the scene just as the gang were mounting their horses. The Rangers opened fire and one of them, Herald, shot Seba Barnes through the head. Sergeant Dick Ware shot Sam Bass, giving him a mortal wound; but despite this, Bass mounted his horse and fled with Underwood and Jackson. Murphy rode out with them a short distance, but dodged into a lane and returned to Roundrock.

“The fight took place in the late afternoon, and although the Rangers started pursuit immediately, they did not find the trail of the robbers until the following morning. Then Sergeant Neville found Bass lying under a tree and helpless. Bass had urged Jackson and Underwood to leave him there. He was taken back to Roundrock where he died the following night with lips sealed as to any detail of his history.”

Underwood and Jackson were never heard of any more in Texas.

Shortly after the killing of Bass, there arrived in the Little Rockies in Montana a slender young fellow, who closely answered the description given of “Dad” Jackson, Bass’ principal lieutenant. For years this man lived in that section of the state and became foreman of one of the great cattle outfits. He was said to be an associate of the members of the celebrated Curry gang. A few years later he left Montana and went south, where he again entered the cattle business. In Montana and in his later home, he was known by another name, but here is little doubt as to his identity.

Print this post