The outlaw, however, did get up and flee. Shaun Treat is a former professor at the University of North Texas and founder of the Denton Haunts historical ghost tour. Its speculated that he likely did not burn through his money so quickly, but rather he likely enjoyed the sport of thievery. This is the story of Bass and the treasure that may still be out there waiting to be discovered. Instead he went straight and started a successful cattle ranch in New Mexico.Subscribe to my youtube channelhttps://goo.gl/nbxyytdon't forget to hit the like button and bell notification.If you're looking for a new metal detector or equipment click this link and Give Kellyco a try. 373). Originally printed in the El Paso Herald. Heck, we honestly dont know, but hunting for secret treasure sure can be fun! Sam Bass was a Texas outlaw who died in 1877 in Round Rock, Texas at a fairly young age. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); After a few more robberies, including at least one more involving a train, Bass met his demise in Round Rock, Texas on July 19th, 1878. His face glistening with the sheen of sweat, he works faster and faster, listening all the while for distant hoofbeats. Historical Round Rock. Sam traveled down the Mississippi, to Rosedale, Mississippi, where he worked for a year in Charles Mill. Sam Bass and his outlaws also buried a treasure somewhere in the Pilot Point area. Sam Bass, an orphan from a young age, brought up a working man who earned success his way in horse racing, then tasted bitter failure and humiliation and probably a ton of self doubt because none . He was then shot in the chest, the bullet piercing his lung, and was forced to discontinue the chase (Webb Century of Frontier Defense 386). The end result would be the death and capture of Sam and the renewed faith and financial support for the Rangers (Centennial Commission). Lets get out of here. Undaunted, Sam was soon flashing his stolen gold pieces around and living it up in the North Texas towns (Smith 33). In 1877 at the Big Spring Station in Nebraska, a small group of banditsincluding Sam Bassforced the station master to halt an oncoming express train. Sam Bass and the Myth Machine. The American West. Several witnesses said Bass, even as he lay dying, said the man who shot him had shaving lather on his face. Working on the banks of Shoal Creek, a crew of eight men worked on a forty foot tunnel for over eight months. Another version of the story says the gold still lies hidden somewhere in the mountain. Why was he not true? This monument has long since been chipped away by souvenir hunters and has now been replaced with a granite tombstone erected by the Sam Bass Centennial Commission. To follow is an account of his 27-year life, focusing mostly on his final days in Round Rock. With his shave only half done, Ware had rushed out of the shop and fired at the fleeing outlaws. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. His money and good spirits attracted many people, some of whom would later become a part of the Sam Bass Gang when he took to robbing trains in Texas. Found this at a rev war site in SC, any idea what it may be? Bass did confess that if I killed him [in reference to Deputy Grimes], he is the first man I ever killed. On Sunday, July 21, 1878, the doctor told Sam that it would not be long; Sam supposedly said, Let me go, and a few minutes later opened his eyes and exclaimed, The world is bobbing around me and then died at 3:58 on his twenty-seventh birthday (Smith 35). Mary Matson, a black woman who had been employed by Sam Bass to cook some meals earlier in the week, observed the funeral from a cotton patch. The stolen bounty was part of the Mexican payroll in 1836 and its allegedly buried 5 feet deep, near an oak tree with a carving of two eagle wings on it, according to TexasHillCountry.com. Home Departments Planning and Development Services Historic Preservation The Historic Round Rock Collection The Story of Sam Bass. The Sam Bass Gang in Round Rock. True West. Think you can find some of the legendary hidden booty? This eventually took them to Nebraska, where they sold the herd and used the money to take up gold prospecting in the Black Hills. The Texas Rangers, sensing the threat to their organization implied in this, chose to respond by proving that they were still an effective deterrent to crime. The cave entrance is on the foreground in the left. Sam Bass' Treasure Texas' most beloved bandit, Sam Bass, was a train robber in the 1870's. It's said that he left a stash of loot when he was killed by the Texas Rangers in 1878, but it. One cave that is believed to have been frequented by Bass and his gang is located in Longhorn Caverns State Park in Burnet County, about 63 miles northwest of Austin. We expect to re-stock our Prospector rounds very shortly, with plans to expand the line of products as well. "Oil workers actually picked up readings that metal was to be found at the bottom of the lake. Frank Jackson managed to keep from getting caught by the pinkertons and even tried to get a pardon but was denied. Why Are America's Food Processing Plants Suddenly Exploding. They have been replaced with an authenticated photo. Bass died from his wounds later on his birthday, July 21, 1878 at the age of 27, thus making him one of the original members of the 27 Club. Another pair, composed of James Berry and Nixon, was split up and Berry was captured; Nixon, it is assumed, escaped with his share to Canada. He was an orphan by the time he turned thirteen and spent some time working at a sawmill in Mississippi before he decided to head west to Texas. Found this at a rev war site in SC, any idea what it may be? The Texas and Pacific Railroad was hit on April 4th at Eagle Ford and again on the 10th at Mesquite. Seeking immunity, and with an interest in collecting the reward money, Jim agreed to rejoin the Bass Gang and betray Sam to the Rangers (Ibid. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. He soon formed a gang, robbed more stages and added to his caches. It was at this point that Ranger Harold believes that he inflicted the mortal wound on Bass (Ibid.). In modern days Jimi Hendrix, Curt Cobain, Janis Joplin, Robert Johnson, Jim Morrison, Brian Jones, and Amy Winehouse are renowned members.. But well get to that a little later in this tale. Glenmoril Wyrd Treasure Map: Bangkorai. Some say he squandered it on the notoriously costly vices of whiskey, women, and gambling, while others guess the notoriously generous outlaw had spread it around while on the lam from the law. Reconstruction had just ended and the state government was still weak. Context JavaScript is disabled. Aug. 12, 1902. It was at this point that Sam indicated that he was in too much pain to continue (Scarbrough 295-296). amzn_assoc_asins = "0882899090,0874831784,B00005A3L1,B01N0G34JP,B06X9Q16R7"; There are a number of legends and folklore pertaining to the lost treasure of the outlaw Sam Bass. You must log in or register to reply here. May the odds be ever in your favor. When Major Jones learned of Basss capture, he contacted the Attorney General in Austin, who then notified the State Democratic Convention that was meeting at the time (DiGesualdo and Thompson 114). I received a letter from Sam that she had a treasure map - said it could be a prank. Amazing Story of Sam Bass And Hidden Treasure West of Prairie Dell Told in Detail. Temple News. On the night of April 13, a box was lifted from the square cut chamber between the rocks, for the next day the workmen were gone and the blasting has ceased. One treasure story dates back to an ancient Spanish document regarding an old Spanish mine, located somewhere near Burnet. I will find later and give the titles and authors. Part of the inscription reads, A brave man reposes in death here. It gave citizens something to identify with and it gave the town something to distinguish itself. Even with a cache of $10,000 from the robbery, Sam began robbing trains again a few months later. Ware and Jones were also joined in the fight for a time by a one-armed man named Stubbs, who had picked up Grimes gun and opened fire on the bandits (When Sam Bass). Many people have believed that there was no way that he could have spent the money; so they have speculated that Bass hid his gold. He died on his 27th birthday, two days after he was shot and just eight years after he initially arrived in Texas. Lost Treasure of John Singer on Padre Island. Allegedly, the robber hid canvas sacks marked U.S. and filled with gold in a cave on Packsaddle Mountain. By this time, the bandits had made their way back to the alley and were attempting to mount their horses. In June, a posse challenged the gang to a gunfight in which Arkansas Johnson was killed and Henry Underwood rode off never to return to the gang (Centennial Commission). Jim Murphy, who had stayed behind in Old Town during the shootout, reported that he saw Sam and Frank come up the street on their way to their camp, which was near the Round Rock Cemetery. Round Rock Remembers Sam Bass. Austin American-Statesman. Over the following few months, they held up seven stagecoaches, but only fared small payoffs. An estimated $340 million. A tree similar to the one described on the map was spotted by treasure-hunters and chopped down-only to come up empty. As they were casing the bank and finalizing their course of action, they were recognized and a gun fight broke out. The location was said to be in a hollow tree on what is now the Sam Bass Road, about two miles west of Round Rock. Sam was found still alive the next day, forced to stop due to his injuries. Bass is also tied to legends of treasure buried treasure in Burnet and Llano counties as well as Packsaddle Mountain, Lone Star Treasure reports. Yet this fast turnaround led to future stories of Sam hiding his stash in various places around Texas while he went out and committed more robberies. It was at this point that Frank held the charging Rangers and citizens at bay with his gun as he helped Sam back onto his horse, and they rode off with Frank steadying Sam (ONeal 61). One was hit and killed as he mounted his horse, but another got away. Once in Denton, Sam explained his new found wealth from a strike he had made prospecting in the Black Hills. Jim was taken to Tyler to face charges of robbing the U.S. mails. Whatever the reason, Grimes decided to investigate the strangers intentions. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas: 1965. One of Sam Bass hideout caves near Pilot Knob, amongst hundreds of purported spots scoured for hidden gold. After the Mesquite Robbery, a cry of indignation went out from the people of North Texas. Sam was being held in the saddle by Frank while he put new bullets into his pistol (Webb Century of Frontier Defense 387). Sam clasped onto his saddle horn but was unable to stay on his horse and fell to the ground. Sam Bass was born in Indiana, as everyone who has ever heard the Ballad of Sam Bass knows. Anyone have a suggestion or other help? Rumor has it that some of the money is hidden in Cove Hollow, near Denton. Today the main opening of the cave is called the Sam Bass entrance. Its said that John Singer discovered a wooden chest containing $80,000 in Spanish coins and jewelry on the Texas coast and buried it in the sand dunes to protect his treasure from looters. Heading west, back into the heart of the Hill Country, lie a number of treasure sites. The hunt revolves aroundlocal trivia about Denton's most notorious outlaw, Sam Bass. In Denton, Sam was considered to be a hard worker and was known for his thriftiness. One tale involves who else but Sam Bass, who allegedly used the cavern as a hide-out following nearby robberies. Six men robbed the southbound Houston and Texas Central Railroad passenger train when it stopped at the Allen station. Feb. 1989: 61. The Rangers, under the direction of Captain Lee Hall, were able to take the gang by surprise while they were resting at Jim Murphys house. Since his death, a lot of rumours have been circulating about treasures hidden by Bass in Texas - treasures that he never got a chance to retrieve again before he was mortally wounded by a .45 calibre Colt's long-barreled six-shooter in July 1878. We appreciate your readership and knowledge, David. Glenmoril Wyrd Treasure Map: Reaper's March. Bassalso took a bullet, but was still on his feet. Texas is estimated to have $340 million in buried treasure, more than any other state . Also Read: Metal Detecting in Texas Coins, Relics & Buried Treasure, And: 7 Things to Consider When Searching for Buried Treasure Caches. A map was found that were said to lead to the alleged treasure. This websites also uses 'cookies' to give you the most relevant experience while browsing. The bandits forced the station- master to signal the coming express train to halt and then boarded. The firing had also attracted the attention of Major Jones, who was at the International and Great Northern Telegraph Office at the time of the initial shooting. Longhorn Caverns, outside Burnet, is said to be the home of more than one treasure trove. Born on a farm two miles from Mitchell, Indiana on July 21, 1851, he was soon orphaned and he and his brother and sisters moved to a nearby farm to live with their uncle and his nine children. Snavely of Taylor, who had hunted treasure for 60 years, found a ruby arrowhead weighing 15 karats, along with many other gemstones. Raregoldnuggets.com participants in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. After 1875, Sam never again held a permanent job, living instead on his gambling proceeds and eventually on thieving (Webb Century of Frontier Defense 372). Legend has it that that Sam Bass used Longhorn Cavern as a hideout and that he left stolen money there. The Rangers hoped to take Basss body down to Austin in order to convince the Congress that he had finally been caught and to justify their worth as a law enforcement agency, being that the Congress was discussing the Rangers appropriation at the time. However, instead of returning to Texas to pay off the notes, they headed to the gold-filled hills of Deadwood, South Dakota. Back in Round Rock, the Sam Bass legend was memorialized beginning in 1964 with the establishment of the Frontier Days Celebration. You will need to inform the landowner of what you are going after, so a written agreement that lays out any potential discovery and how the treasure is to be split up is a necessity. However, you walk in and disappear, but you don't really go anywhere. So how knows what could be hidden around this area. Monday they went into the town to case the bank and get a shave. If you believe everything you Google, the location of Sams gold is definitely hidden somewhere different across three states, depending upon which treasure hunter you believe. During the night, Sam mentioned that he had become extremely thirsty and had walked to Mr. Shermans house in an attempt to get water; his bloody appearance, however, had frightened the family away. During the four months of the Bass War, the gang became the stuff of legend; they led the Rangers on long chases with narrow escapes. Dentons second courthouse, rebuilt in 1876 after the first was allegedly burned to the ground by Sam Bass neer-do-well pal Henry Underwood. The Historic Round Rock Collection is a project documenting Round Rocks history, funded in part with a grant from the Texas Historical Commission. Cove Hollow outside Sanger, caves at Pilot Knob,near Grapevine Lake, and Dentons Crosstimbers thickets have long been rumored locations. They had plans to rob a bank there. One of the most common tales is of a loot hid in an old tree by the outlaw. amzn_assoc_linkid = "54db5936512207da701677b94f458116"; There are also local legends that Bass used a cave located near Grapevine Lake. You will find things that don't add up, plus some surprises. Bass is tied to several legends of treasure being buried in Texas, including one that involves Burnet County. This resulted in the arrests of both Jim Murphy and his father Henderson. I found this and wanted to share. He then returned to where he now was and was eventually given some water by an old man (Scarbrough 296-298). He and his siblings went to live with their uncle and his nine children, where they received no formal schooling. Sam insisted that Frank leave him here and try to save himself. It is entirely likely that there were several treasures, likely buried in several different areas. Whatever the reason, the Sam Bass Gang stood up the Texas Central train at Allen Station on February 22, 1878. Oct 8, 2004. Ranger Ware claimed that he later saw him in the Arizona State Prison, using the name of Downing (Centennial Commission). amzn_assoc_ad_mode = "manual"; He arrived in Denton, Texas in 1870 and Bass took work on a nearby ranch. Many believe that Bass hid out in a cave south of Denton. Some of the loot has been recovered, but the rest of these hidden treasures in Texas have mysteriously disappeared. During his short time as an outlaw, Bass and his gang stole quite a bit of money and according to legend he hid a good deal of loot in several remote caves throughout Texas. A small monument was erected over his grave by a sister in1879. In 1877 at the Big Spring Station in Nebraska, a small group of banditsincluding Sam Bassforced the station master to halt an oncoming express train. Frank left his horse with Sam and hid his saddle in the brush nearby; after a tearful farewell Frank rode off. Published by the Sam Bass Centennial Commission, Round Rock, Texas. A tree similar to the one described on the map was spotted by treasure-hunters and chopped downonly to come up empty. This plan was axed due to the summer heat and the inability to locate ice in which to pack his body (Centennial Commission). The treasure has never been recovered and is said to be in a hollow tree. However, the most convincing evidence that the Sam Bass legend continues was the publication of yet another meticulously documented book on Sam, The Tenderfoot Bandits by Paula Reed and Grover Ted Tate in 1988. Optimistic treasure seekers still wondercould earlier searchers have chopped down the wrong tree? Legendary outlaw Sam Bass is said to have buried his bounty from stagecoach, train and bank robberies near Round Rock. The legend of Sam Bass has grown way out of proportion in relation to his actual deeds. Here, outlaw Sam Bass hid from the law until a final shootout with the Texas Rangers on July 19, 1878. Creation Information Creator: Unknown. 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