123 Years Ago Outlaws & Buffalo Hunters Were The Newsmakers

123 Years Ago Outlaws & Buffalo Hunters Were The Newsmakers!! by Bill Shearer

Some of us may be aware that the early wagon road from Dallas to the capital of Denton County, Alton went through Copper Canyon and west to Indian Territory. Mercantile goods went west and buffalo hides went east. As the Peter's colony grew the capital of Denton County was moved from Old Alton to the City of Denton.

Copper Canyon Bandit Hideout!

You may not be aware, that on the northern border of Copper Canyon on Hickory Creek near Pilot Knoll, there was located one of the most notorious Texas Bandit hideouts. Sam Bass had other hideouts, one at Pilot Knob near 35W and one up in Cooke County on Clear Creek. But when he wanted to visit Denton he stayed at his Hickory Creek location. Of course back then there was no lake and the swampy bottoms and hilly thickets afforded much cover.

Sam Bass Born, Raised & Moved to Denton County

Sam was born in Mitchell, Indiana, on July 21, 1851. Orphaned at an early age he was forced to live with his aunt and her husband. Wanting the adventurous life of a cowboy he struck out on his own when he turned 18.

He drifted to St Louis, Mo. then to Rosedale, Miss. While there Sam met the Mayes family from Denton. When they asked him in the summer of 1870 if he was interested in returning to Denton with them he jumped at the chance to go west.

Sam worked on Bob Carruth's ranch just southwest of Copper Canyon for a while, and then he worked for the Lacy Hotel in Denton located on the Northeast corner of Town Square. In the summer of 1871 Sam went to work for Dad Eagan (Denton Sheriff) hauling freight. This was the last legitimate job Sam held. Sam worked for Eagan for four years ending his employment when given a choice to give up his horse racing and gambling or give up the job.

Sam had acquired a very fast mare Jenny (nick named the Denton Mare) reputed to be out of the famous stallion Steeldust. Back then they ran horses a straight quarter mile and there was none that could beat Sam's horse. Denton's track was located where the fair grounds sit today and another local course was at Saint Jo northwest of Denton. After an adventure at Fort Sill racing for some Indian ponies Sam headed for San Antonio. In San Antonio Sam met Joel Collins. Joel's family ran a ranch where White Rock Lake is located today. Joel however was the black sheep of the family. Joel took time away from his bar tending to run racing scams with Sam. As their reputation spread so their opportunities diminished. Joel used his family name to obtain cattle from the local ranchers to drive north.

Heading North to Ogallala & Shoot Out

In the summer of 1876 Sam headed north with a herd of cattle. Sam and Joel sold the herd in Ogallala for eight thousand dollars. Instead of returning to Texas to pay the ranchers the two headed for Deadwood. Unfortunately, their efforts at mining, freighting and bawdyhouse running failed. At this point Joel and Sam enlisting the help of some other desperados began holding up stages.

In the spring of 1877 the gang robbed the Deadwood stage killing the driver. In fact folklore has it that Calamity Jane stopped the runaway stage as it entered Deadwood. Deadwood was becoming a little too hot for the gang and needing money to leave the area, the gang planned to rob the UP train 100 miles South at Ogallala.

Gang Robs Union Pacific

On September 19, 1877 the Collin's gang robbed the Union Pacific Train. The haul of $60,000 in twenty dollar gold pieces and $10,000 in money and jewelry from the passenger's stands today as the biggest UP robbery. The gang split up and headed in different directions. Of the gang of six one escaped to Canada, two (including Joel Collins) were killed while trying to escape arrest, one was killed in Missouri avoiding arrest and Bass and a man named Davis made it to Denton.

Sam Bass - Robin Hood of The West

Bass became the Robin Hood of the West through lore and fact. He paid the locals in twenty dollar gold pieces for their hospitality. And even when taking horses to evade the law he left his spent horses. He frequented Fort Worth where he recorded the purchase of Colt 45s and Winchester rifles for the sum of $300 dollars. Also, it is documented that he made excursions to San Antonio where he spent some time in the company of Frank James.

Sam formed a gang from local talent and began raiding trains and stagecoaches. By April of 1878, he was the main topic of the legislator in Austin. Major John Jones of the Texas Rangers dispatched a troop of rangers under the command of J Peak to Dallas to give chase. The Pinkertons had a strong contingent present, Sheriff Eagan lead posse and Judge Hogg (brother to the famous Governor Hogg) also lead posse in the great chase.

Shoot Out at Old Alton Bridge

The Dallas papers were full of the events of the summer of 1878. Sam was referred to as the General and it seems that during the months of May and June he outmaneuvered over two hundred men searching the area around Denton and Copper Canyon. In fact one shoot out occurred near where Old Alton Bridge stands today. Unfortunately, for many locals the Rangers were not restricted by today's laws of arrest. Many locals known to befriend Bass were rounded up and imprisoned in Tyler.

Round Rock Robbery

By the end of June the gang wearied of the relentless chase decided to rob a bank to fund a move to safer territory. Jackson, Barnes, Murphy and Bass headed south towards San Antonio. Unknown to Bass, Murphy's father had been transported to Tyler and Murphy had cut a deal with Major Jones to secure his father's release. As the gang rested in Belton, Murphy sent a telegram to Jones warning of the gang's plan to rob the Round Rock Bank.

On the nineteenth of July the Bass gang rode into Round Rock. They were unaware the rangers were already there. At about four pm Jackson, Barnes and Bass entered a store near the bank to buy some tobacco. An over zealous deputy challenged the gang and was killed for his trouble. The three-gang members ran for their horses. Barnes was killed instantly and Bass was shot in the back. Jackson helped Bass to his horse and they made their escape. They only went a little way out of town where Jackson patched Bass's wounds as best he could. And then at Bass's insistence Jackson left.

Here Lies Sam Bass

The next day Bass waved down a passing posse and was transported to a shed near the town hotel. Despite medical attention Bass died from his wounds July 21, 1878 on his twenty-seventh birthday. His grave in Round Rock Cemetery can be visited today. Although not the original, a replica of the stone placed there by his sister stands over his grave. It is documented that Jackson went on to Tombstone. He later became a successful rancher and his family sued over the years for a pardon. Murphy branded a traitor by Denton County locals died a horrible death from poisoning about a year later. A song written soon after his death and sung at many a campfire over the years immortalized Sam Bass. As late as the 30s parts of the City of Denton were being dug up in search of Sam Bass gold.

Bill is a resident of Copper Canyon and served on the Town Council from 1998 to 2002.