The Bandera Bulletin (Bandera, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 9, Ed. 1 Friday, September 1, 1950 Page: 6 of 8
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PAGE G
THE BANDERA BULLETIN
Friday, Sfiiteinbpr 1, 1930
Authentic History of
Sam Bass and His Gang
Bv a Citizen of Denton County
Printed in the Monitor Book and Job Printing Establishment
. at Denton, Texas, 1878
Continued from last week
CHAPTER 111
Death of Joel Collins, Bill Iloflrige anil
Jim Berry.
Collins and Heffrigc, after the dispersion of the
band at Ogallala, set out in a southerly direetion, aetoss
the plains of Kansas and Nebraska, 1 he billowing ac-
count of their subsequent capture and tragic death,
which appeared in the columns of the Denton Monitoi,
October 12th, 1S77, is considered to be a correct state-
ment, and as such we insert it:
•'The state authorities of Nebraska and the railroad
company by some means known only to themselves
learned that the leader of the robbers was Hunted Joel
Collins, and large rewards were offered by both the state
and the railroad company for the arrest of the robbers,
which induced a vigorous hunt to be at once instituted.
It was i an ' d •• hat the robbers alter leav ing the railroad
cTe -St ii
it at V
2:’rd uit
r fe river, in N'-brr-mi, and were next heard
A ranch on the Republican in Kansas, on the
(in .Monday last. Sheriff Bardslev of Ellis
. ..... :,i , ,| p) Hay> City, on the Kansas
D
th K.
■ 1 of bn cavalrymen and a de-
:nade his headquarters at But-
bs Pacific. This L> sixty miles
>r‘: (if a wild, drenv.v waste.
WE HA VE BEEN AUTHORIZED
TO HANDLE A COMPLETE LINE OF
Phiico Products
Among.Others We Have ....
RANGES RADIOS
REFRIGERATORS
All Small Electrical' Appliances
Bandera Electric Shop
Rhone 194
Contracting for House Wiring
Welcome To ...
FRONTIER HOTEL COFFEE SHOP
Band era, Texas
Nearby is a large ravine in which the sheriff and his
posse camped. While there about 9 o’clok last Wednes-
day; the 26th ultimo, Joed Collins, the chief of the train
robbers, and a single adherant rode up to the lonely
station."
The following account of the capture and subsequent
death of Joel Collins and his companions we take from
the Kansas City Times of September 28, 1877.
“They rode in from the North, coming in boldly
over a high ridge of open prairie They led between them
a pony loaded down with a load of something which,
j while not bulky, seemed to tax the strength of the pony
j to carry it. The men were dusty and travel stained,
i They appeared to bo and might have been taken for
Texas cowboys out on a hunt for cattle or on their way
to join a herd. Had they rode straight across the track
| and dontinur’d their journey w ithout stopping, no sus-
jpicion would have been aroused; but they were led in-
stinctively to their death. They rode their jaded horses
to the shady side of the principal building of the sta-
tion and one of the two dismounted, leaving his partner
in charge of the horses and the pack pony. The man
left in charge of the horses said they were Texas cattle-
men on their way home and inquired the way to Fort
Earned. The dismounted man walked up to the station
agent and inquired the way to Thompson’s store. The
building was pointed out to him. 'but as he stood convers-
ing he look out his handkerchief, which revealed a letter
in his pocket upon which was plainly visible the super-
scription, •Joel CoilmsA This was the name of the leader
of the Union- Pacini train robbers, and the brands on
the horses assured the station agent that these were the
men wanted by the sheriff and his soldiers, encamped a
few hundred yards away. Sheriff BardsTey was notified
at o'nee and. he came to the station, examined the horses
and made other observations. He conversed with the
.robber' -Chief for some time and asked many , questions,
which were freely answered.
The walked together to the station and took a drink,
and conversed upon various 'inconsequential topics. Collins
made - no effort to conceal his real name, lie had no sus-
picion whatever that ."the '.telegraph had given his name
and description-.at .that little station in the. middle' of the
buffalo-plains. Bardslev then left his prey and started
lately to the camp of the soldiers, who .were under the
eomtnand ef Lieutenant Ail n. ami orflereu them .to saddle'
up and' follow him. and he would bring back the Texans.
In the n ear time the tw,. i rsemeii. with Hn ir heavily
burdened pony, had started out on the open plains south-
\v:o'd. Sheriff Bardsley., and las party started out in
pursuit. YVh N: Collins and his companion saw the sheriff
and his blue-coated posse-of cavalry appear-oil their trail,
they manifested no excitement. They did not even, at-
tempt to run. On the contrary, they rode on leisurely
on the Texas trail until Sheriff Bardsley rode up and
halted them. Keen then they gave no sign of trepidation
or excitement. Collins looked at Bradsley with the cool-
est effrontery and demanded his business. Said Sheriff
Bardsley:
“I have a description of some train robbers which
answers well to your appearance. I want you and your
partner to return with me to the station. You need fear
nothing if you are innocent, but if you are the men I
want, then I am $10,000 better off. Please come back
to the station gentlemen.”
“You are mistaken in your men, gentlemen,’ replied
Collins, laughingly, ‘but of course there is no use to
object. We will go back and have the mistake explained.
We are Texas boys going home, that’s all.”
They then turned their tired horses back towfcrd
the station. As they turned they exchanged a few brief
words which were undistinguishable even by the nearest
trooper. They rode a few hundred yards over the level
plain toward the solitary station, when suddenly the
leader, Joel Collins, broke the silence. Turning to his
companion, he said:
“Pard, if we are to die, we might as well die game.”
Then he.drew his revolver. His partner followed his
example, but before either could fire the troopers had
fired a volley into them, and they fell from their horses
riddled with bullets. The robbers died instantly and
were taken to the station for burial, but afterward taken
to Ellis Station, where ah inquest was held and where
the bodies were buried. About 825.000 in $20 gold pieces
were foqnd upon the pony. The coins were of the mint-
age of 1877- The wealth weighed nearly 100 pounds,
and was tied up ip a pair of old trousers with* the lower
ends tied together and thrown over the pony’s back, with
blankets spread over all. A small piece of paper was
found on Collins’ body, upon which was written * poetical
effusion by a lady, and dedicated to Joel Col ins.
“Collins’ companion was a young man named Ileffrige,
who is supposed to have formerly resided m Texas. e
learn today that the brotherr’of JOTt will start
! from here today to take charge of his remains and pro-
bably bring them to Dallas.”—Dallas Hvrald.
It seems that Nixon and Berry separated alter they
! left Ogallala, the former making his way -to Florida, and
[the latter to the neighborhood ot Mexico. • nieison
|County, Missouri, where he had lived. He seems to ave
[been a very unwary caracter, and doubtless thoug 'R1
I self safe at this great distance from the theater ot hi?
crime. Ho made no secret of his possession ot >1
igold, which he claimed to have acquired by making specu-
lations in the Black Hills. This tale was regarded as
very doubtful if not unreasonable by those who had known
‘him for lie was notoriously wild, and thri1tlo». h< net i
was not long before he began to be suspected strongly
as being one of the V. P. express robbers., 8hmtl> atyi
his arrival he exchanged with the hank ot 5 t xito - •
of his gold for currency. On the same day he K'
at a tailor's an elegant -suit of clothing a ^
'Continued next week)
I
NOTICE
(albert and Itli i M e. a ; in
vite all their old and new friends
hack to their Itoek II" me Cafe in
Pipe Creek, \eiir patro: aye -will
lie sincerely appreciated. -)t|
pos 11 i) viii n r
The Frank M w
Is posted No
or ire ;• am
ITevk ir I" !■■■ it.-.
Jt,' UK
-4-
, ranch
-: i-ping
allowed,
.0 Red.
■ ,.;ue Sr.
CHICKEN PICKINS by ^iIra
r?r
At Pickin' Food
I'm a Cracker Jack
You Can I*et Your
Boots
* On the Chicken Shack x, a 4
We Dress the West Pest
Woody’s Toggery
STYLE CENTER FOR THE WKsYEE
Phone lot
WOULD
Handera
A Cordial
INVITATION
is extended to the people of Bandera
■as well as visitors to the city to come in
jand eat with us.
We Handle.
Steel Ifntse Shoes, Nails. Hasps and Nippers
Yeut.vlef.ie and Oxygen and W elding Supplies
Steel Bolts and Iron
WI: BULB ...
Cattle Guards Gates, Trailers and do General Repair
ST RICK FITS BLACKSMITH SHOP
"ttftO. flRIN W- V JOE HARVEY
-V b’Spain Radio
smv/a
p CAN l DEOEnO'’ ’ WELL IP I. DOESN'T, fyilF YOU IL STOP JUST ONtE AT ]
| vtopo!® ®.AT ; , rv'Cxxoivx Rodin
r-----« a, ii
■M ^ T.1
VOu'LL OI5COVER ThEiR-
. _ REPUTATION
OF-’.
D’Spain
86
din HHPhone
LOOK DELAINE MEN
I W ill Have Some Hornless Yearling Ihlaine Hams at the
LABOR DAY SALE
Will Also Have Lams in Sale Pen
SEPTEMBER 3,1950
MANSI IELJ) I'.Utlv
LAWRENCE ROEDER
FREDERICKSBURG,
TEXAS
^CHICKEN ?4sHACfc
<llle s/aecurfiae u\,y*UAd Chickm,
Sieats $ \
HWY. 16 a MULBERRY PHONE 187
‘tsr ■
RIO VISTA DANCES
Tin: STOMPFDFRS
Bandera's .Own Band
W ill Furnish Music and Entertainment
Sundav and Monday
SFPTFMPFIt :i and t
And Other Popular Bands During'
the Week
Dance Under Texas Skies
When It Rains—Dance Inside the
Pavilion
Your Friends 'Will Be Mere
Reservations — Call AM or 9509
flood Food and ('old lit frt shments
Open at Id noon on Sat... Sui .. a: -•! M<m,
Wild Bill’s
(
Cowboy Bar
’Boju^LcJla.TTcxaA_
I
AS
Qu (ilith
PAW*
The Choicest Product
of the Brewers’ Art
I
I
\*
|
i
/
Plummer Funeral Home
Phone 33 Bandera, Texas
For Hunters Only
lly Stack
O-
AfcASE DON'T A h
shoot mgr -.w'-yAn
Bird is on a ' ..A
. TELEPHONE WIRE 4/-\
A
f—I
L / v
^1
7
V"Wk I
V\ \ x )
OH-OH/ A
A ST72AY
-SHOT BLOKE W
THE WIPE- .... yvL/B
-—7----- yrU
60ERNB
Brevkbvfl Corporation, $f. Louh, Omoho, New Qrt*
• * >•> A « ivvv|
HUNTER MILLER
DISTRIBUTOR TEXA»
r ] OPERATOR
YO\C. Ay )OPERATOQ
C t;r t 7—
AND HERE S' WHAT HAPPENS*
A TELEPHONE CALL IS CUT Off
THAIS'WHY WE ASK
HUNTERS NOT TO SHOOT
AT BIRDS ON TELEPHONE
WIRES OR POLES.
THANK YOU
DANCE SCHEDULE FOR
Labor Day Week-End
FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 1
BILL BOYD AND HIS COWBOY RAMBLERS
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
ADOLPH HOFNER AND THE PEARL WRANGLERS
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
f
LITTLE MARGE TILLMAN AND FLOYD TILLMAN'S BAND
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The Bandera Bulletin (Bandera, Tex.), Vol. 6, No. 9, Ed. 1 Friday, September 1, 1950, newspaper, September 1, 1950; Bandera, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth642684/m1/6/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; crediting Bandera Public Library.