Death Valley Days – Sam Bass. 360826 (retro453)

A long running series from the oldest days of radio. Death Valley Days was based on real stories, and dramatized for radio. Despite itslong run, not many shows still exist today. Stories might include everything from the famous outlaws, to the llives of a common pioneer.

A clean up story of one of the worst men of the Old West, and how the Texas Rangers put an end to his career of crime. In our drama, we learn about Sam’s train robbing, and ruthlessness. Though Sam’s gang was rich from the gold they stole from the Union Pacific, they left behind clues for the Texas Rangers to follow them.

Witnesses helped to get word to the lawmen, and a trail of dead gang members paved the way along the trail. Gang members killed at the hands of the others in the gang. Before being caught though, Sam was out of cash after flashing it around in salloons, and more robberies had to be planned. Sit in as the hard men do some drinking, and impress the salloon girls.

Comotion breaks outwhen the local sherriff is gunned down. Bugle callssignal that a hard riding, gun shooting horse chase is afoot. The aftermath f the brief gun battle is given as our narrator offers details that might have been lost in the confusion. Has the gang all been caught or killed? Did Sam, or any of hem get away?

Bonus Track:
Texas Jim Lewis and his Lone Star Cowboys 1942 Big Bad Bill (From The Badlands)
The Carter Family – Wildwood Flower