Today in Texas History - July 21

[BigTex]

On this day in 1851, notorious outlaw Sam Bass was born in Indiana; his short and violent life also ended on July 21, in 1878. Bass arrived in Texas in the fall of 1870 and, after trying his hand at a number of occupations, began robbing stagecoaches and trains in 1877. In the spring of 1878, Bass and his gang robbed four trains within twenty-five miles of Dallas. They did not get much money, but the robberies aroused citizens, and the bandits were the object of a spirited chase across North Texas by posses and a special company of Texas Rangers headed by Junius Peak. Bass eluded his pursuers until one of his party turned informer. In Round Rock on July 19 Bass and his men became engaged in a gun battle in which he was wounded. The next morning he was found lying helpless in a pasture north of town and was brought back to Round Rock. He died there on July 21, his twenty-seventh birthday. He was buried in Round Rock and soon became the subject of cowboy song and story.

[grouchy]

Typical Hoosier?

[BigTex]

History and legend tie Sam Bass to my old church in Denton (named St. Andrew Presbyterian Church since 1959). Denton County had a indictment for robbery against Bass and after the courthouse mysteriously burned, court proceedings were moved to the newly built church. The church also suffered a mysterious fire, and while the speculation was that Bass was responsible, there was never any real evidence.

Ironically, there is a Presbyterian church in Round Rock on Sam Bass Road.

[grouchy]

I have always thought that it was strange for them to have a road named for him.

[BigTex]

Bass probably would have been able to make his escape from Round Rock if I-35 hadn't been backed up all the way to Temple.

[LibraryLady2]

Bass probably would have been able to make his escape from Round Rock if I-35 hadn't been backed up all the way to Temple.

BAWAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

That is really funny.