Bass Blood Runs Deep (4)
call off the hunt for the bandits until Saturday morning. The Texas Rangers' Company "E" Frontier Volunteer Battalion consisted of Gillett, Connor, Wilson, Jones, Ware, and Harold (or Harrell) joined in the battle, according to The Frontier Times Magazine's February 1924 issue in article 'The Killing of Sam Bass' by Ranger Gillett. Huffaker said that even Sheriff Eagan had a posse of fifty of his own men out to capture Sam Bass and his gang. With Sam mortally wounded, he and Jackson rode off during the shoot out. When Sam could travel no longer, because of his injuries, Jackson left him lying against a tree where he could rest for a while before moving on. Sam rested through the night, then dragged himself one third to one half mile where workers were laying a new section of railway track. The "Navvies" gave Sam water enough to quench his thirst. Sam then, once again, lay up against a tree to rest. A young wood gatherer who was walking along the road heard moaning coming from
FOOTNOTE: Huffaker, Clair 'Profile of the American West' page#249 Pocket Books 1976 ________________________________________________________________________
someone in the brush. Upon reaching town he reported what he heard to the authorities. And this is how Texas Rangers knew where to look, and found him a couple of hours later. Haley states in 'Texas An Album of History' "Bass had been hit, once in the arm and once in the chest just beneath his heart. In a thicket near Brushy Creek, Jackson hid Bass in some undergrowth and made his escape." Sam was taken to where a cot was set up for him in a makeshift hospital room in an old one room shack near to their cemetery hideout. Very few were let in on the nursing and interrogation during the last hours of Sam's life. There was a Jim Chatman employed as a nurse, and Dr. Cochran was called in to tend to Bass' wounds. (*j-1) According to Huffaker's account of the interrogation proceedings that proceeded Sam's death on the 21st Sam talked willingly of all who were already dead, but as for telling Jones anything that might help catch those still living, he wouldn't tell. (*j-2) It took Major Jones a hundred days to capture Bass, and then only with the help of an informer. "The main street of Round Rock turned into a furious hailstorm of flying lead." And after the capture, on his 27th birthday, with his dying words "Let me go. The world is bobbing around..." Sam Bass died. (*j-2)
FOOTNOTE: (*j-1) Haley, James L. 'Texas An album of History' page#228 Doubleday and Company 1985 (*j-2) Huffaker, Clair 'Profiles of the American West' page#254 Pocket Books 1976 ________________________________________________________________________
"In less than a year some medicine meant for his eyes found its way into Jim's mouth, and the traitor died in convulsions." (*j-2)previous page It was said that Major Jones cared nothing of the notoriety that followed for bringing Bass to justice. (*c-12) A speaker at the State Democratic Convention in Austin halted proceedings to announce the capture of Sam Bass. And after his death, most people in attendance thought it a political trick, especially the delegates, and wanted his body brought back (by train) as proof. However, this was not possible due to the time of year, and lack of ice in which to pack his body for the trip. As can be seen copied in Webb's 'The Texas Rangers' a bill made out to the State of Texas for one pillow, one sheet, and a cot was presented by Richard Hart who was proprietor of the hotel. This led to some people's beliefs Sam actually died in the Round Rock Hotel instead. (*G-1) There was another document receipt presented to the State of Texas, paid by the office of W. Steele, charging forty dollars for the attendance of Dr. C. A. Cochran who attended to Sam on his deathbed. Sam Bass passed away at 3:58 PM on Sunday, the 21st. He died without giving up any gang members that may have survived him.
FOOTNOTE:(*c-12) Ruff, Ann 'Unsung Heroes of Texas' page#83 Lone Star Books a division of Gulf Publishing 1985 (*g-1) Webb, Walter Prescott 'The Texas Rangers' page#388 University of Texas Press 1935 ________________________________________________________________________ Sam Bass did not live to see any of his nieces and nephews back home even though some were born before his untimely death. Murphy identified the body of "Sebe" Barnes for Major Jones. *Barnes took a headshot, delivered by Ranger Ware's pistol, killing him instantly. *Sam Bass' fatal shot, according to an autopsy report, was expelled from the gun of Ranger George Harold (Harrell). This was reported in The Galveston News on the 21st day of July in 1878, the day Sam Bass died. No one person was blamed for the killing of Deputy Sheriff Grimes of Williamson County. And, as promised, Jim Murphy wasn't arrested for his part in the Round Rock dealings because of his cooperation with authorities. Henderson Murphy was released and sent home, per agreement. Murphy also asked for a reprieve on Frank Jackson's behalf prior to the Round Rock incident. This he did in a secretly mailed letter to major Jones stating, "Well, Mjr. Jones, I received a message from frank Jackson this morning, he wants to no of me if thare is any thing he can do to get himself repreved he ses that he will lay the plan to catch Underwood and all the rest of the crowd if I will have him turned loose- ses he was persuaded into it and is tired of that kind of life- if it haden bin for frank Jackson I would have bin killed shore and that is the reason I want him repreved." (*kk-1) (*kk-1)(Photocopies) Webb, Walter Prescott 'The Texas Rangers' pg#383 University of Texas Press 1935 _______________________________________________________________________ Frank Jackson continually took up for Murphy when others suspected his betrayal, wanting to do away with him. Murphy convinced Jackson that he sold out in order to fool Major Jones, and get himself out of a scrape. (*kk-2) Jim Murphy's sworn statement was taken on the 24th day of July, three days after Sam's death. Accompanying this was a memorandum dated the 31st of May, 1879 and signed by U.S. District Judge A. J. Evans, agreeing to protect Murphy's bondsmen and dismiss the case. It read, "I begged Major Jones to have the charges against my father dismissed also, as the old man did not have anything to do with Bass or his gang. He promised to talk to the District Attorney about it and have the case dismissed if he could. I then went to Denton and went to work to get in touch with them. When my father came home and told me his case was dismissed, but my bond was forfeited. I told him Major Jones had promised to try and get his case stopped and not to be uneasy about the bond, that Major Jones would attend to that." Murphy related that more than once he tried to betray Bass, and failed for one reason or another every time. (*kk-2) Only Frank Jackson got away. Planned? Probably. Evidence leads one to believe this was the case. FOOTNOTE:Webb, Walter Prescott 'The Texas Rangers' page#383 University of Texas Press 1935 ________________________________________________________________________
Once in a while, before he was forced to be on the run, Sam would splurge on a few card games, expensive whiskey, and an occasional lady- of-the-evening. If Sam Bass wasn't handing out money to those in need, it was because he wasn't coming up with enough of a take to share. Most of the time he lived off of the friendly handouts of others, and/or the generosity of his friends. He would have led a pretty pathetic existence on his share of most of those takes. He must not have valued his own life very much to give it up for such meager amounts of loot. He did always hope to make it good enough to, eventually, get out of the business of robbing. A legal battle of some sort ensued over the rewards concerning the Union/Pacific heist. Three messengers, two by the name of Thomas and one named Kerley (or Curley), were given gold pocket watches for their help in the capture of the Bass Gang. One thousand dollars was split among the Texas Rangers, under Major Jones, having a part in the capture. James D. Horan said, "Folklore pictures Sam as a smiling, reckless man who remained true to his friends to the last, shared his stolen gold with the poor, was a gallant with the ladies, loved children and horses, and was lured to his death by a Judas in his ranks- in brief, the classic Robinhood." (*b-11)
FOOTNOTE: (*b-11)Horan, James D. 'The Authentic Wild West (The Outlaws)' page#297 Crown Publishers, Inc. 1980 ________________________________________________________________________
Nick Nolte quoted a line in 'The Prince of Tides' that stated, "In families there are no crimes unworthy of forgiveness." Herbert Molloy Mason, Jr. (in his book 'The Texas Rangers' published by Meredith Press in 1967) stated "With the final taming of the Indians and the breaking up of large, organized gangs such as those masterminded by Juan Cortinas, the Texas Rangers were still not freed from bloody challenges. In the fading years if the century, during the era of the badmen and the gunfighter, such killers as John Wesley Hardin and Sam Bass were relentlessly stalked and eventually brought to bay." (*r-11) Approximately one year after the charges against Jim and Henderson Murphy were dropped, Jim Murphy was said to be accidentally poisoned by atropine drops prescribed for an eye ailment. They, somehow, ran into his mouth instead of his eye. Jim Murphy so feared for his own life he voluntarily locked himself up in the town's jail at night. This he did to insure his waking in the morning. This story of accidental death probably wouldn't stand up these days. These eye drops were used a drop at a time, and I'm sure it took more than a few miserable drops to do Murphy in. Atropine was used as an eye dilator and muscle relaxer. Murphy probably tired of the way he felt he was being forced to live his life, always fearing for his life, and decided to end it all by committing suicide. However, I'm sure he didn't expect to die violently. He was carried to his home, from the jail, in convolutions, and died later that same evening. The atropine drops were
FOOTNOTE:(*r-11) Mason, Herbert Malloy Jr. 'The Texas Rangers' by Meredith Press 1967 ________________________________________________________________________ prescribed by a Dr. Edward McMath. It can't be stated for certain if the death of Murphy was accident, suicide, or murder. Some speculated that Frank Jackson may have come back and murdered Murphy. This is unlikely due to Murphy's going out of his way to have Jackson reprieved. In Webb's words 'In personal appearance he was quiet of manner, slow gait, heavy cast of features, rather dull expression. Underneath all he carries a comfortable ease and looks as though it would be hard to rouse his 200 pounds of flesh. He wears a red mustache and chin beard and has small blue eyes.' Murphy led a miserable existence, writing pitifully ignorant and servile letters to Major Jones, and lived in constant fear of dying at the hands of Frank Jackson or some other friend of Sam Bass. So great was his fear that he often asked permission to sleep in jail. On June 7, 1879- less than a year from the date of the Round Rock fight- he died in great agony of poison administered by his own hand." (*r-12) Sam Bass was made a simple wooden casket, by a local man whom stayed up all night to make it, the night before Sam passed away. John W. Ledbetter walked over and administered Sam's last Christian rites at his funeral. Ledbetter only sought to save souls. Reverend Ledbetter now rests in the same cemetery as Sam. He resided across the street from the cemetery at the time of Sam Bass' death. Now Bass and Barnes sleep their endless sleep, side by side, in the Old Round Rock Cemetery. The cemetery where Sam Bass was laid to rest is located on Highway #79 West (now more commonly known as Sam Bass Road) across from the Sam Bass Circle Apartments and Sam Bass Professional Building. There is also the Sam Bass Ball Field. What more recognition could a fellow ask for? Sam Bass will never be forgotten. Long after people forget who he was, his name will live on in Texas. FOOTNOTE: (*r-12)Webb, Walter Prescott 'The Texas Rangers' page#390 University of Texas Press 1935 ________________________________________________________________________
Chapter VII After the Death of Sam Bass
In the advertisement of the Central Texas premiere of The Texas Rangers it states, "see Sam Bass shoot it out for a million in gold in the heart of Texas." staring George Montgomery and Gale Storm. (Josephine Cottle was born in McDade County, Texas and attended school in Houston. Her stage name- Gale Storm.)*insert The house George Sheeks built in 1816, just before bringing his family on to Indiana from Kentucky, is enshrined in Spring Mill State Park as a prime example of pioneer dwellings of its' day. This house, not chosen for preservation due to Sheeks' relationship to Sam Bass, but because it was one of the first two story houses in Lawrence County, Indiana's history. ________________________________________________________________________ *insert poem "Ballad of Sam Bass" ________________________________________________________________________ Irony- Recently a bandit known as The Tenderfoot Bandit was sentenced by a Judge Bass for bank robbery. This was reported in the Austin American Statesman on the 26th of July in 1992; one hundred and fourteen years after the death of the original Tenderfoot Bandit, Sam Bass. Sam's family, back in Indiana, was not forgiving. As late as my own maternal grandmother's (Hazel Marie 'Bass' Cole) years growing up talk of Sam was forbidden. Hazel lived most of her life in Evansville, Indiana, and died in 1945. Her father, Robert Kimbrough Bass, was distant cousin to Sam, probably through Sam's half brother, Charles. Another distant relative to Sam Bass living in Texas revealed to me the fact that his family is STILL pretty much hush-hush on their connection to Sam. He has an uncle, in his eighties, who will talk about Sam only if you are able to get him off alone somewhere. This person seems genuinely interested in finding the truths about Sam's life as well. Family members way back were afraid that if they revealed their connection to Sam Bass they might be ridiculed, shunned, or even run out of town for having bad blood in the family. Their fears were not entirely unfounded, so neither good nor bad was whispered about Sam Bass.
________________________________________________________________________ To hear Texas tell it, Sam Bass was a misguided youth from Indiana who was the next best thing to running water. Sam was always a responsible, upright, law abiding, and respectable citizen until all of his heartbreaks and stepped-on honor got the better of him. He couldn't hide his disappointed feelings or expectations any longer. In his lifetime he confessed to taking part in one killing, that of Deputy Grimes. This on the same day Sam received his fatal wound. Sam was an introvert most of his years growing up. The summer following Sam Bass' burial in Round Rock his sister, Sarah ("Sally") Hornbrook, came and personally placed a stone at the head of Sam's grave. She could not, regardless of what Sam did, leave Sam buried out there alone without a proper stone and farewell. It would appear "Sally" and her contractor husband, John Hornbrook, returned to Cincinnati to live when his work was completed. I visited Sam Bass' grave in July of 1992. We drove up, parking close to where Sam was reported to be buried. I noticed the name Barnes on a stone just up the hill, and knowing "Sebe" Barnes was buried to Sam's right, proceeded to walk towards the graves. A cousin and my two sons accompanied me. There was a newer, more dramatic headstone for Sam, compared to the one for Barnes. The original, was chipped away by tourists, as was a second. In the 1920's concrete slabs were laid across the graves to ward off anyone's notion to dig them up. The
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town's people wished to also have a fence built around the graves for safekeeping, but couldn't come up with the additional funds. The second monument was placed at Sam's head in the 1950's, and newest in 1990. When Sam was buried , there was a large tree shading the grave that no longer exists. The remains of a fence stile are evident directly behind. The entrance to the slave portion of the cemetery, near where Sam rests, is overgrown from neglect. Broken and fallen tombstones frequent reminders of a whole cemetery in need of repair. Relatives of families represented there have long seen died out, or moved away. There were reports of Sam's ghost wandering around, looking to claim what was rightfully his. This ghost haunted the woods of Denton County. People listened to, and believed, so much of the tales being passed around that they cowered behind closed doors, pulling the curtains closed at night. The most likely story has Sam Bass handing over his gun and holster to Ranger Bannister, or Ranger Milt Tucker, at the time of his capture. These two were part of the company of Texas Rangers who joined in the battle after the sound of guns woke them. They were staying in the Round Rock Hotel at the time. After their death (Bannister or Tucker) in 1918 they were turned over to The Texas Memorial Museum.
________________________________________________________________________ According to the Round Rock Planning Commission the most likely 'real McCoy' is in the hands of "Red" McCombs who is a Sam Bass historian. But, according to Clair Huffaker in 'Profiles of the American West' the years following Sam's death thousands of "authentic" Sam Bass revolvers, gun belts, rifles, hats, boots, and spurs turned up all over the state of Texas. And as the legend came to pass there wasn't one house he hadn't visited, one fireplace he hadn't warmed his feet by, or one old man who hadn't sheltered him while he was on the run from Texas Rangers. (*v-1) After his death occurred numerous good luck charms surfaced, and were sold, said to have had something to do with Sam in his lifetime. A man from Synder nailed a horseshoe to the lid of his toolbox said to have been worn by "Jenny". G. W. Allen of Round Rock wore a cowboy hat said to have been given him by Sam himself. Even horns of cattle Bass was suppose to have shot were sold as souvenirs. Major John B. Jones, whom Richard Coke appointed to command in northwest Texas, was the lesser known of the Rangers in charge. His feats were not even more spectacular than McNelly's, but he was the type west Texas was less likely to take to heart. Major Jones was a fanatic about keeping accurate records, regularly informing Governor Hogg of the happenings of the Bass Gang. Jones kept his own counsel, made deals, and worked through spies and informants. And the Texas Rangers were ruthless, finding killing casual due to their living through a rough society.(*k-13) FOOTNOTE:(*k-13)Fehrenbach, T.R. 'Lone Star' pg.#586-89, Macmillan Publishing co., Inc. (*v-1)Huffaker, Clair 'Profiles of the American West' page#255 Pocket Books 1976 _______________________________________________________________________
Wayne Gard was the author who tried hardest to write the truth concerning Sam's life, and his family in his books 'Texas Robinhood' and 'Sam Bass'. He could have chosen to spike his books with blood curdling tales of horror in order to boost sales, but chose to stick to the truth as he saw it. In a 1953 newspaper article, 'Burnet Veteran Saw Shooting Of Sam Bass', J. B. Warden, father of Clara 'Warden' Poffard, gets facts and names mixed up , exaggerating the truth. Telling his story at the age of eighty-five he had seventy-four years to let the story simmer, and grow, with every recital. He and his wife raised five children, and retired in Burnet. Mr. Warden was blind the last six years of his life. One of his daughters suffered the same fate. Sam Bass' wax likeness that was paraded all over in exhibits, scaring unsuspecting spectators, after his death is now housed in Madame Tussuad's House of Wax on Marylebone Road in London. Point of interest- Records in the possession of The Lawrence County Historical Society state that Sam Bass went to Texas and rode under Joel Collins. Stage robberies reached epidemic proportions between the years of 1876 and 1883. Sam Bass had a hand in helping to make this trade fashionable.
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A Western magazine 'The Frontier Times'(Volume 1, No.5 from Bandara, Texas) came out with an issue in February of 1924 which referred to Jim Murphy as a six-gun Judas., and this term has stuck to present day. This article 'The Killing of Sam Bass' came on page 28 of the issue. The first paperback biography on Sam Bass was published, with author listed as anonymous, approximately three years after his death. J. MARVIN HUNTER published The Frontier Times, author of 'The Trail Drivers of Texas', First and Second Editions. Sam Bass' uncle, David L. Sheeks, died at the age of sixty-nine. Charles A. Martin wrote the most negative version on Sam Bass, to date. Clair Huffaker's 'Profiles of the American West' states on page #235, "two of Sam's brothers, who went off to fight in the Civil War, were quickly reported killed. His father never recovered from these shocks or the death of Sam's mother the year before. And with failing health, died with a broken heart after the death of his wife and after his son was killed. (*jj-1)
Two other older brothers died young before Sam's birth. Sam's father felt well enough to remarry, and sire another son, after Elizabeth's death. FOOTNOTE:(*jj-1)Huffaker, Clair 'Profiles of the American West' page#235 Pocket Books 1976 ________________________________________________________________________
In 'The Best of the True West'states, Small states "In the hands of these gunmen- Curley Bill, Sam Bass, Hickok, Ben Thompson, John W. Hardin, B. Tilgeman, Wyatt Earp, Doc Holliday, Bat Masterson, Frank and Jesse James, the Daltons, the Youngers, and a host of others- the Peacemaker did things, according to writers on the Old West, that were astonishing to behold." The book was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Walter Prescott Webb.(*jj-3) The last long chase of the Texas Rangers was made even longer by people who were willing to risk their own freedom to warn, or hide, Sam Bass. Sam had many close friends who didn't have anything to do with his gang. One such friend was a man by the name of J. E. Gardner. These friends kept Sam regularly informed of the latest happenings and whereabouts of Texas Rangers. Sam Bass went too far into the robbing Business to turn back. Any hopes Sam had of being forgiven and starting A ranch of his own were dashed by the fatal shot in the Round Rock Shootout. Though he was warned of Murphy's betrayal, deep down he refused to allow himself to believe it. This would, ultimately, drive a nail in his coffin. Now Bass' blood runs deep under the streets of Round Rock where they make a point to have a reenactment of the shootout every year, in July, during Frontier Days. FOOTNOTE:(*jj-3)S,all, Joe Austell 'The Best of the True West' page#128 Julian Messner, Inc. 1964 ________________________________________________________________________
'The Quality of Courage' by Walter Prescott Webb (page #315) of 'The Best of the True West' by Joe Austell Small "The readers of the True West must be people who admire courage, whether it is exhibited by the bad man or the good man. The Old West of which many like to read was filled with brave men. Some of them were good, and some were bad, some within the law and some without. But the good man and the bad man by western standards, and that was courage, bravery, intrepidity."
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References Used
Texas Robinhood, by Wayne Gard The Trail Drivers of Texas, by J. Marvin Hunter & George Saunders Sam Bass, by Wayne Gard The Best of the True West, by Joe Austell Small The Texas Rangers, by W. P. Webb Texas Tears and Texas Sunshine, by J. E. Powell Exley The Authentic Wild West (The Outlaws), by James D. Horn A History of Central Texas, by Mary Starr Barkley People and Places in the Texas Past, by June Rayfield Welch The Time/Life Civil War Series Why Stop? (2nd edition), by Dooley & Dooley History of Travis County and Austin (1839-1899), by Mary Starr Barkley Texas an Album of History, by J. L. Haley The National Archives Lone Star, by Fehrenbach Wild West Magazine (Dec/'89), article by J. F. Wakovits Profiles of the American West, by Clair Huffaker Lawrence County, Indiana Historical/Genealogical Society in Bedford
Copyright © 1999 Linda Marie Brainard |