Tracking the Texas Rangers: The Nineteenth Century

Encomium: Bad Day at Round Rock

20 Encomium: Bad Day at Round Rock Bob Boze Bell and Rick Miller July 19, 1878 S am Bass has a bold plan. He and his outlaw band will case the bank in Round Rock, Texas, one more time and then strike tomorrow (Saturday) when the surrounding farmers make their weekly deposits. The air is hot and muggy as three of the gang, including Bass, rein up in an alley behind the bank, tie off, and walk around to the main street (Georgetown Ave.) for one more look around. A fourth outlaw, Jim Murphy, has stopped at a store on the way into town, supposedly to quiz locals about the presence of lawmen. He is actually an informant and has warned the Rangers of the gang’s plans. It’s about 4:00 p.m. as Bass, Seaborn Barnes, and Frank Jackson walk west along the north sidewalk, making mental notes as they survey the town. Two of the men carry saddlebags. Hoping to avoid suspicion, they cross the street and approach Koppel’s store to buy tobacco. Two local lawmen, “Caige” Grimes and Maurice Moore, spot what they believe to be concealed weapons on the Bass boys and start following the trio (although officials had received advance warning from gang-member Murphy, it is unclear whether these two lawmen suspected the trio of being members of the Bass Gang). Walking into Koppel’s, Bass and company step to the counter and engage the clerk. Seconds later, Deputy Grimes walks in and puts his hand on Sam Bass (feeling for the weapon), asking at the same Encomium: Bad Day at Round Rock ★ 21 time if he is armed. The outlaw actually says “Yes,” and the three bandits spin and fire as one. Hit five times, Grimes staggers to the door, calling out “Boys, don’t.” Standing in the doorway, Deputy Moore takes a bullet in the chest but jerks his pistol and fires into the smoke. As the shooting continues, he staggers backwards out of the hornet’s nest. Sam Bass grimaces in pain as he and his men scramble for the street (Sam lost the middle and ring fingers of his right hand in the exchange with Moore). Texas Ranger Dick Ware is in the barbershop when he hears the shooting and runs into the street to join the fight. He ducks behind a hitching post and fires at the fleeing outlaws as they cross Georgetown . The outlaws fire back, hitting the hitching post and sending splinters flying. At Highsmith’s livery stable, the owner and two Rangers run through the stalls to head off the outlaws as they come down the alley. Barnes, Jackson, and the wounded Bass enter the alley and make a beeline for their horses. A saloon keeper fires at the fleeing bandits from his rear doorway and the outlaws slow their advance, warily eyeballing every window and door. When the gang approaches the rear of the stable, the Rangers hidden there open fire (Highsmith’s rifle jammed), just as Ranger Ware and two others enter the alley behind the outlaws. Now Bass and company are in a crossfire, but in spite of the zinging bullets, Barnes and Jackson reach their horses unscathed and get ready to mount. Concealed in the back of the stable, Ranger George Herold steps out and points his Winchester at Sam Bass, ordering him to surrender. A mere fifteen feet away, Bass clicks his empty pistol (in his good hand) at Herold and tries to mount his horse. Herold cuts loose with his rifle and Bass is hit near the spine, the bullet exiting thru his cartridge belt and disintegrating. “Oh, Lord!” Bass cries as he sags and crashes against the stable fence. 22 ★ Tracking the Texas Rangers: The Nineteenth Century From the west end of the alley, Ranger Dick Ware peeks out and draws a bead on Seaborn Barnes, who is forking his horse. Ware fires and Barnes is hit just behind the left ear, the bullet exiting his right eye. Barnes topples from his horse, dead. Hit twice and in pain, Bass retrieves Barnes’ saddlebag and remounts with Jackson’s help. The two then spur their steeds and gallup north out of town. Incredibly, Jackson has escaped without a scratch. Even more incredible, the Rangers can’t find enough good horses for a decent posse. (They’re standing in a stable, but for some reason there...