Tom Nixon – Making Off With the Cash
The annals of the American West are rife with tales of daring outlaws, audacious heists, and elusive figures who vanished into the mists of history. Among these shadowy characters is Tom Nixon, also known as Tom Barnes, a member of the notorious Black Hills Bandits. Though his name may not be as widely recognized as some of his contemporaries, Tom Nixon’s participation in the Big Springs train robbery and subsequent disappearance have cemented his place in the lore of the frontier. This is the story of Tom Nixon.
The precise origins of Tom Nixon remain shrouded in some mystery, though it was believed that he hailed from the vast expanse of Canada. Prior to his foray into a life of crime, he was known to be working as a blacksmith in the bustling town of Deadwood, South Dakota. Deadwood, during this period, was a magnet for fortune seekers, adventurers, and those hoping to strike it rich in the gold-rich Black Hills. It was within this vibrant and often volatile atmosphere that Tom Nixon’s path intersected with a group of men who would forever alter the course of his life.
These men were none other than Sam Bass, Joel Collins, and Jack Davis, figures who themselves would later become infamous in the chronicles of the Wild West. The trio had recently driven a herd of cattle north from Texas to Nebraska, seeking to capitalize on the high demand for beef in the rapidly growing settlements. Flush with the profits from their cattle drive, they arrived in Deadwood with dreams of accumulating even greater wealth.
However, their fortunes proved to be as fleeting as the gold dust that swirled through the streets of Deadwood. They soon squandered their earnings, finding themselves in dire straits and facing the prospect of returning to Texas empty-handed. It was at this juncture that they turned to a more illicit means of acquiring wealth: robbing stagecoaches. Forming a gang that would become known as the Black Hills Bandits, they recruited Tom Nixon and two other individuals, Jim Berry and Bill Heffridge.
The newly formed Black Hills Bandits embarked on a spree of stagecoach robberies, targeting routes throughout the Black Hills region. Within a mere couple of months, they successfully plundered seven stagecoaches, making off with whatever valuables and cash they could seize. While these robberies provided them with a temporary influx of funds, the gang soon realized that the profits were not substantial enough to satisfy their ambitions, especially when divided among six members.
Driven by greed and a desire for a more significant score, the Black Hills Bandits set their sights on a much more lucrative target: the Union Pacific Railroad. On September 18, 1877, they executed their most daring and audacious heist at Big Springs, Nebraska. The details of the robbery itself are sketchy, but the result was not. The gang successfully intercepted a Union Pacific train, making off with a staggering sum of more than $60,000. In today’s money, that sum is well over 1 million dollars.
With their pockets overflowing with stolen cash, the Black Hills Bandits knew that they had to disperse quickly to avoid capture by law enforcement. They divided the loot amongst themselves and split into pairs, each heading in a different direction in an attempt to evade detection. The hope was that by separating, they would decrease the chances of being caught.
Tom Nixon partnered with Jim Berry, and the two men traveled together to Missouri. It was in Missouri that Berry made a critical error that would ultimately lead to his downfall. He attempted to exchange some of his gold coins for paper currency, a transaction that aroused the suspicion of local detectives. Law enforcement officials soon apprehended Berry, who was wounded during the arrest. He succumbed to his injuries a few days later.
Meanwhile, a reward of $1,000 had been offered for the capture of Tom Nixon. Wanted posters circulated, describing him as a man of approximately five feet seven or eight inches in height, weighing around 150 pounds, and 25 years old. He was further described as having blue-gray eyes, light hair, and light whiskers. It was hoped that these details would aid in his apprehension and bring him to justice for his crimes.
Before Berry breathed his last, he provided authorities with information regarding Tom Nixon’s whereabouts. He revealed that Tom Nixon had left him soon after they arrived in Missouri, carrying with him approximately $10,000 of the stolen loot. This revelation intensified the search for Tom Nixon, but despite the efforts of law enforcement, he remained elusive.
The trail of Tom Nixon grew cold, and his ultimate fate remains uncertain. According to some accounts, it was believed that he returned to his native Canada, using his ill-gotten gains to start a new life far from the reach of the law. Whether he successfully evaded capture and lived out his days in anonymity, or whether he met a different end, remains a mystery lost to the sands of time.
The story of Tom Nixon serves as a reminder of the tumultuous and often unpredictable nature of life in the American West. It is a tale of ambition, greed, and the allure of easy money, set against the backdrop of a rapidly changing frontier. While his name may not be as prominent as some of the more celebrated outlaws of the era, Tom Nixon’s role in the Big Springs train robbery and his subsequent disappearance have ensured that his legend will continue to be whispered in the annals of the Wild West.