Witness to History

Soapy Smith and Sam Bass’ last holdup.

Sam Bass and his gang were planning on robbing a bank in Round Rock, Texas on July 19, 1878. The attempt went bad even before they could get around to the hold-up. Several of the bandits—including Bass—were shot to pieces by lawmen. There was one bystander who would go on to infamy. Seventeen-year-old Jeff Smith witnessed the entire thing. He later became the most noted con-man in the West: Soapy Smith (photo). And throughout his life, he would recount that day in Round Rock.