Big Springs, Nebraska Train Robbery
The evening of September 18, 1877, witnessed an audacious act of banditry that etched itself into the annals of Wild West lore. On this date, the notorious Sam Bass and his gang orchestrated a daring train robbery at Big Springs, Nebraska. This event became the single largest heist in the history of the Union Pacific Railroad, forever linking the name of Big Springs with a tale of cunning, greed, and ultimately, demise.
Big Springs: A Frontier Outpost
In 1877, Big Springs was not a town in the conventional sense. Instead, it was a remote railroad station and a smattering of homesteads dotting the vast Nebraska landscape. However, the location held historical significance, predating the arrival of the iron horse. For generations, it had been recognized as a vital spring, a source of life-sustaining water for nomadic Indian tribes who traversed the plains. Later, this same spring became a crucial resource for the waves of pioneers and travelers making their way westward along the arduous Oregon and California Trails.
The area that would eventually blossom into the town of Big Springs in 1883 was initially known as "Lone Tree." This moniker was derived from a solitary, ancient cottonwood tree that stood sentinel against the backdrop of the seemingly endless prairie. Estimated to be around a century old, this lone tree served as an unmistakable landmark, a beacon guiding emigrants, stagecoaches navigating overland routes, and even the legendary Pony Express riders as they raced across the continent.
The year 1867 marked a turning point for the region. The Union Pacific Railroad, a symbol of progress and expansion, relentlessly pushed its tracks westward, forging a new era of transportation and commerce. Recognizing the value of the existing spring, the railroad established a water station at the site, utilizing its life-giving waters to fuel its steam-powered locomotives. It was the Union Pacific that christened the stop "Big Springs," a name that would ultimately be adopted by the town that gradually grew around it.
Sam Bass: From Cowboy to Outlaw
Several years later, during the summer of 1876, two Texas cowboys, Sam Bass and Joel Collins, arrived in the Big Springs area. They were driving a large herd of cattle destined for the lucrative northern markets. After successfully selling the cattle for a substantial sum of around $8,000, the cowboys faced a critical decision. Instead of dutifully returning to Texas and handing over the profits to the ranchers who had employed them, they succumbed to temptation. They used the money to embark on a gold prospecting venture in the fabled Black Hills of South Dakota.
Unfortunately for Bass and Collins, their dreams of striking it rich in the gold fields quickly faded. Devoid of luck and rapidly running out of money, they made a fateful turn towards a life of crime.
Together with a band of other desperados, including individuals like Jack Davis, Tom Nixon, Bill Heffridge, and Jim Berry, Bass and Collins formed a gang and began to target stagecoaches. Over the course of several months, they successfully robbed seven stages, earning them the infamous title of the "Black Hills Bandits." A particularly audacious aspect of their crime spree was their repeated targeting of the same stage line – the Deadwood Stage.
Tragedy struck on March 25, 1877, during their fifth attempt to rob the Deadwood Stage. In a moment of violence, the outlaws fatally shot the stage driver, Johnny Slaughter. The sound of the gunshot startled the horses, causing them to bolt and race towards Deadwood, located approximately two miles away. Legend has it that the runaway stage was brought to a halt by none other than the iconic frontierswoman Calamity Jane as it careened into Deadwood.
The Big Springs Heist: A Bold Move
Realizing that the profits from stagecoach robberies were relatively meager, the gang decided to escalate their criminal activities and focus on the more lucrative target of trains. They set their sights on the isolated station at Big Springs, Nebraska, meticulously planning their first train robbery.
On the fateful night of September 18, 1877, the gang put their plan into action. They successfully captured the station master, a man named John Barnhart, and disabled the telegraph, severing communication with the outside world. Under duress, Barnhart was forced to signal the approaching eastbound express train to stop.
At approximately 10:48 p.m., the six bandits boarded the train, their hearts pounding with anticipation and greed. They began by searching the mail car safe, but their initial efforts yielded a disappointing sum of only $450. Undeterred, they turned their attention to the larger safe, hoping to find a more substantial reward. However, they were thwarted by a time lock mechanism that prevented the safe from being opened until the train reached its final destination.
Despite brutally beating the express messenger in an attempt to force him to open the safe, the messenger was unable to comply. Frustrated but not defeated, the outlaws continued their search of the train car. In a stroke of incredible luck, they stumbled upon some wooden boxes that contained a treasure trove: $60,000 worth of freshly minted $20 gold pieces. The reason why this vast sum of money was not secured within the safe remains a mystery to this day.
Emboldened by their discovery, the bandits proceeded to systematically rob the train passengers, relieving them of their valuables. In the end, the gang made off with the $60,000 in newly minted gold coins, the $450 from the mail car safe, and approximately $1,300 and four gold watches pilfered from the unfortunate passengers. The Big Springs, Nebraska Train Robbery was a success for Sam Bass.
Division and Downfall
Following the successful Big Springs, Nebraska Train Robbery, the gang gathered beneath the lone cottonwood tree that had long served as a landmark for the area. There, they divided the spoils of their crime six ways, each member receiving a substantial share of the loot. After the division, the outlaws split up into pairs, each heading in a different direction in an attempt to evade capture.
Sam Bass and Jack Davis, cleverly posing as farmers, rode south in a one-horse buggy, concealing their share of the stolen money beneath the seat. Upon returning to Texas, Sam Bass attempted to explain his newfound wealth by claiming to have struck it rich in the Black Hills. He soon formed another gang and resumed his life of crime, robbing trains in Texas. However, his criminal career was cut short the following year. On July 21, 1878, his 27th birthday, he succumbed to gunshot wounds sustained in an ambush by Texas Rangers at Round Rock, Texas.
Meanwhile, Jack Davis, who had urged Bass to flee with him to South America, vanished without a trace and was never seen again.
Within a week of the Big Springs, Nebraska Train Robbery, Joel Collins and Bill Heffridge met their demise at the hands of a sheriff’s posse near Buffalo Station (now Gove), Kansas. Authorities recovered approximately $20,000 of the stolen money. Jim Berry was captured and wounded in Mexico, Missouri, and died two days later. Tom Nixon disappeared, reportedly carrying $10,000 of the stolen loot, and was never seen again. Speculation suggests that he may have fled to Canada. The Big Springs, Nebraska Train Robbery was a curse for the gang.
Legacy of the Big Springs Robbery
The Big Springs, Nebraska Train Robbery remains a significant event in the history of the American West. It stands as the single largest heist in the history of the Union Pacific Railroad, a testament to the audacity and ambition of Sam Bass and his gang.
Today, the site of the robbery is marked with a historical marker, serving as a reminder of the dramatic events that unfolded there. Big Springs, located just 10 miles east of the Nebraska-Colorado border, is situated near the junction of I-76 and I-80, making it accessible to visitors interested in exploring its rich history.
Intriguingly, some accounts suggest the involvement of another individual in the robbery. Author and former North Dakota State Trooper Jim Benjaminson wrote about a shootout at the Pembina Post Office involving William Collins, Joel’s brother, whom he claims participated in the Big Springs robbery.
The Big Springs, Nebraska Train Robbery continues to captivate imaginations and serve as a reminder of the turbulent times and colorful characters that defined the American West.