Foreword

Robert K. DeArment

Introduction

Ramon F. Adams

I The Boyhood of Bass He begins life for himself--His early adventures away from home--He progresses in hoodlumism--His entry into Texas

II His First Robbery Trading in ponies--Horse racing at the Alamo City--Sale of the race mare, and on the cattle trail

III Deadwood Dare Devils Teaming for a living don't pay--Stage robbing is not much better but then it is livelier--A frontier home and gay girls to share it

IV The First Big Steal Going through a Union Pacific train--A successful haul and the end thereof--Personelle of some of the actors in this stupendous robbery

V The Texas Gang Formed Bass and Davis separate--Jackson and Underwood enlist under Captain Sam Bass--A rollicking bout in San Antonio--Capture and escape of Underwood, suspicioned of being Nixon

VI Allen Station Stage robbing--The inception of the train robberies in Texas

VII Two More Trains Stopped Hutchins and Eagle Ford made to figure in history--Little money but two men shot--The thing is becoming monotonous

VIII Eagle Ford The Texas-Pacific Road comes in for a share of the fun--A recruit in the ranks of Captain Bass does service--The slimmest haul of all--The express car guarded but no fight made

IX Mesquite The last train robbery--A gamey fight and several persons wounded--A small amount of money obtained but a hornet's nest raised--Brave Conductor Alvord does his whole duty--The state and federal authorities aroused

X The Band Short sketches of the members--A description of their fastness in Denton County--An account of some of their friends

XI Bass First Suspected The first steps taken to ferret out the robbers--A funny fiasco near Denton--Hot on the trail, and lively times in the Cross Timbers--Running fights and death to horse flesh

XII Opening of the Campaign Various arrests--Hard work in the saddle--A good deal of gunpowder burned--Bass proves himself to be a wily fox and an adroit general

XIII The Robber Campaign Goes On The pursuit in Stephens County--They purchase provisions and leave a defiance for their pursuers--They take in a party of farmers--They return to Denton County

XIV Efforts to Capture the Robbers Continued The most daring feat of the robbers--They enter the town of Denton by night and recapture the horses they had lost--The indignant officers pursue them but in vain--The Salt Creek fight, and death of "Arkansaw" Johnson--A Dallas County Ranger fires the deadly missile--Three more of the gang here leave Capt. Bass to return no more

XV Jim Murphy's Narrative Murphy joins the gang--They leave their old stomping ground--On a wild hunt for a bank to rob--Murphy leads them into a trap

XVI Fate Does Its Work The death of Bass and Barnes at Round Rock--Nurphy redeems his promise and wins his reward--Jackson alone escapes

XVII The End Cometh Death of Henry Collins--Billie Collins and Deputy United States Marshal Wm. Anderson kill each other--Some reflections

Index