Albert Herndon – Member of the Sam Bass Gang – Legends of America
The American West, a landscape of vast horizons and untamed spirit, has long been a canvas for tales of adventure, rebellion, and the relentless pursuit of fortune. Amidst this backdrop of rugged individualism, the legend of the Sam Bass Gang emerges, a band of outlaws whose exploits have been woven into the very fabric of Texan folklore. Among these figures of notoriety stands Albert Herndon, a young man whose brush with infamy offers a glimpse into the allure and perils of life on the wrong side of the law.
Herndon’s association with the Sam Bass Gang marks a pivotal chapter in his life, one that would see him transition from a seemingly ordinary youth to an accomplice in a daring train robbery. To truly understand Herndon’s journey, we must first delve into the context of the gang itself, its motivations, and the environment that fostered its rise.
The Sam Bass Gang: A Band of Outlaws in the Wild West
The Sam Bass Gang, led by the charismatic Sam Bass, was a notorious group of outlaws who roamed the Texas landscape in the late 1870s. Their story is one of ambition, desperation, and the pursuit of wealth in a time when the lines between law and lawlessness were often blurred. Bass, a former farmer and cattleman, turned to a life of crime after facing financial hardship. His gang, composed of men from diverse backgrounds, became known for their audacious robberies of banks, stagecoaches, and trains.
Driven by a desire for quick riches and a disdain for authority, the Sam Bass Gang captured the imagination of the public, both through their daring exploits and the romanticized image of the "Wild West" outlaw. Their actions, however, brought them into direct conflict with law enforcement, including the formidable Texas Rangers, leading to a series of dramatic confrontations and manhunts.
Albert Herndon’s Entry into the World of Outlaws
Albert Herndon’s path crossed with the Sam Bass Gang at a time when Bass sought to expand his operations and increase the stakes. After facing limited success in targeting smaller railroad lines, Bass decided to recruit new members, specifically targeting young men from respectable families who were lured by the promise of adventure and wealth.
Herndon, along with his friend Sam Pipes, fit this profile perfectly. Hailing from Dallas, both were described as young farm boys with a penchant for excitement. Herndon, one of five sons of John W. and Mary E. McCommas Herndon, had a reputation for being "wild," though he had never been involved in serious trouble before.
Despite warnings from friends who tried to dissuade him, Herndon was drawn to the allure of the Sam Bass Gang. The promise of adventure and the opportunity to break free from the monotony of rural life proved too tempting to resist. This decision would set him on a course that would forever alter his life.
The Mesquite Springs Train Robbery: A Fateful Decision
On April 10, 1878, Albert Herndon participated in what would become one of the Sam Bass Gang’s most infamous exploits: the robbery of a Texas & Pacific Railroad train in Mesquite Springs, Texas. The gang, armed and determined, stormed the train, terrorizing passengers and demanding valuables.
However, the robbery did not go as planned. The gang managed to seize only $152, a meager sum compared to the risks they had taken. Unbeknownst to them, a hidden shipment of $30,000 was on board, a fortune that would have significantly changed their fortunes.
The failed heist marked a turning point for the Sam Bass Gang. Law enforcement, spurred by the audacity of the crime and the potential threat to public safety, launched an aggressive pursuit of the outlaws. The Texas Rangers, renowned for their skill and determination, joined the hunt, determined to bring the gang to justice.
Capture, Conviction, and Imprisonment
The long arm of the law soon caught up with Albert Herndon and Sam Pipes. On April 22, 1878, just twelve days after the Mesquite Springs robbery, the two young men were apprehended by Texas Ranger June Peak. They were taken to the Dallas County Jail, where they awaited trial for their crimes.
The trial, held on July 17, 1878, resulted in a guilty verdict for both Herndon and Pipes. They were convicted of robbing the United States Mail, a federal offense that carried a severe penalty. The judge sentenced them to life in prison, a sentence that seemed to extinguish any hope of returning to their former lives.
Initially, Herndon and Pipes were sent to prison in Austin, Texas. There, they found themselves briefly sharing a cell with another notorious figure of the Old West, John Wesley Hardin. This encounter, though brief, offered a glimpse into the criminal underworld and the harsh realities of life behind bars.
However, their time in the Texas prison was short-lived. Both men were soon transferred to Sing Sing Federal Prison in New York, a notorious institution known for its harsh conditions and reputation for housing some of the country’s most hardened criminals. The transfer marked a significant shift in their lives, as they were thrust into a world far removed from the familiar landscapes of Texas.
An Act of Redemption: Pardon and Return to Dallas
Years passed, and Herndon and Pipes languished in Sing Sing Federal Prison. The harsh realities of prison life took their toll, but amidst the despair, an opportunity for redemption emerged. In 1886, a plague broke out within the prison population, overwhelming the medical staff and creating a desperate need for assistance.
Herndon and Pipes, despite their own circumstances, volunteered to serve as nursing help, tending to the sick and dying. Their selfless actions, performed at great personal risk, demonstrated a capacity for compassion and a desire to atone for their past mistakes.
Their efforts did not go unnoticed. Word of their bravery and dedication reached President Grover Cleveland, who, recognizing their transformation and the extraordinary circumstances, granted them complete pardons in the same year. After spending years behind bars, Albert Herndon and Sam Pipes were finally free men.
On January 5, 1887, both men returned to Dallas, their hometown, as changed individuals. They were greeted by family and friends, who welcomed them back with a mixture of relief and hope for the future.
Life After the Gang: Disappearance and Tragedy
Upon his return to Dallas, Albert Herndon disappeared into history. Unlike his compatriot, Sam Pipes, Herndon avoided the spotlight, choosing a path of anonymity.
Sam Pipes, on the other hand, attempted to rebuild his life. He married Sallie Caton Collins, the widow of Billy Collins, another former member of the Sam Bass Gang. He worked as a bartender, trying to make an honest living. However, tragedy struck when he accidentally dropped a pistol, which discharged and struck him in the upper leg. He died a short time later, on February 16, 1889, from complications of the wound.
Conclusion: A Cautionary Tale of the Wild West
The story of Albert Herndon serves as a cautionary tale of the allure and perils of the Wild West. His brief but consequential association with the Sam Bass Gang led him down a path of crime, imprisonment, and ultimately, a life shrouded in obscurity. While his act of redemption in prison earned him a pardon and a chance to start anew, his subsequent disappearance suggests a desire to leave his past behind and seek a life far removed from the notoriety of his outlaw days.
Herndon’s story, along with that of the Sam Bass Gang, remains a captivating chapter in the history of the American West, a reminder of the complex interplay between ambition, desperation, and the consequences of choices made in a time of lawlessness and opportunity.