While doing my genealogy research on Katie *I KNOW she will be appreciative, I mean who wants to discover the secret jewel that is genealogy? Lame! That is why I am undertaking an epic genealogical project.
Here is one of the more interesting things i've discovered about Katie's ancestors. She had an ancestor named Sam Bass who was a train robber in the early 1800s.
He lived from July 21, 1851 to Jult 21, 1878. He died on his birthday, ain't that a bitch?
I think it is. Anyway, he was known for his exploits in the Old West…. for my international readers I mean the West of the United States of America. I think he and Katie have similar eyes!
After failing at a series of legitimate enterprises, Bass turned to crime. He formed a gang and robbed the Union Pacific Railroad gold train from San Francisco, California. Bass and his men intercepted the train on September 18, 1877, at Big Springs, Nebraska, looting $60,000. To date, this is the single largest robbery of the Union Pacific.
Bass and his gang staged a string of robberies, yet never netted over $500 at any one time. In 1878, the gang held up two stagecoaches and four trains within 25 miles of Dallas, Texas, and became the object of a manhunt by Pinkerton National Detective Agency agents and by a special company of the Texas Rangers headed by Captain Junius Peak.
The Sam Bass Shoot Out!
Bass was able to elude the Texas Rangers until a member of his gang, Jim Murphy, turned informant. Mr. Murphy's father, who was very ill at the time, was taken into custody and held for questioning. He was not allowed to see a doctor and was prevented from receiving medical treatment causing his condition to rapidly worsen. Law officers then sent a message to Murphy informing him that they had his father in custody, and that if Murphy did not agree to meet with them, they would continue to withhold medical treatment from the father. Knowing how sick his father was, Murphy agreed to the meeting where he reluctantly agreed to turn informant. John B. Jones was informed of Bass's movements and set up an ambush at Round Rock, Texas, where Bass planned to rob the Williamson County Bank.
On July 19, 1878, Bass and his gang were scouting the area before the robbery. When they bought some tobacco at a store, they were noticed by Williamson County Deputy Sheriff A. W. Grimes. When Grimes approached the men to request that they surrender their sidearms, he was shot and killed. As Bass attempted to flee, he was shot by Texas Ranger George Herold and then by Ranger Sergeant Richard Ware. Near Ware, were Soapy Smith and his cousin Edwin who witnessed Ware's shot. Soapy exclaimed, "I think you got him."
Bass was found lying in a pasture west of Round Rock by a group of railroad workers who summoned the authorities. He was taken into custody and died the next day on July 21, 1878, his 27th birthday. Bass was buried in Round Rock in what is now known as Round Rock Cemetery on Sam Bass Road. Today, his grave is marked with a replacement headstone as the original suffered at the hands of souvenir collectors over the years. What remains of the original stone is on display at the Round Rock Public Library in downtown Round Rock.
WILD! I KNEW KATIE WAS THE DECEDENT OF COOL HISTORY PEOPLE! I think I know where I am going on my next vacation, Round Rock Cemetery in Texas!
Wizardly,
P.S. Maybe I should think about being a historian, my mom says I'd be good at it, alas, I do not have the time!
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