Officer Down Memorial
Name: Guard Powhatan Dance Bass
Date of Incident: 16 Jun 1936
Death Location: Virginia
Department: Virginia Department of Corrections
Department State: Virginia
End of Watch Date: 16 Jun 1936
Cause of Death: Gunfire (Accidental)
Weapon: Rifle; Machine gun
Notes: Guard Powhatan Bass was accidentally shot and killed by other guards who were firing a machine gun at a truck carrying eight escaping convicts from the Virginia State Penitentiary in Richmond, Virginia. During an escape attempt, the eight convicts suddenly attacked Guard Bass and another guard in the prison yard. They tied them up and put them in the back of a nearby truck. The eight prisoners then got into the truck and sped towards the prison gate. The gate guards, not knowing that two guards were held hostage inside the truck, opened fire. Five of the convicts were shot and wounded. Guard Bass was mortally wounded and the other guard was wounded. The convicts were all taken into custody and charged with murder in connection with Guard Bass' death. Guard Bass was a Spanish-American War veteran. He was survived by his wife and two children.
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1900 census
Name: Pawhatan D Bass
[Powhatan D Bass]
[Powhatan Dance Bass]
Age: 18
Birth Date: Aug 1881
Birthplace: Virginia, USA
Home in 1900: Manchester, Chesterfield, Virginia
Street: Hull Street
House Number: 9
Sheet Number: 10
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 161
Family Number: 177
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Son
Marital Status: Single
Father's Name: William Bass
Father's Birthplace: Virginia, USA
Mother's Name: Bettie C Bass
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia, USA
Occupation: Butler Shirt Factory
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Can Speak English: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members Age Relationship
William Bass
53 Head
Bettie C Bass
53 Wife
Irene H Bass
28 Daughter
William A Bass
24 Son
Pawhatan D Bass 18 Son
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Marriage record

Name: Powhatan D. Bass
Gender: Male
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Age: 24
Birth Date: 1881
Birth Place: Powhatan Co., VA.
Marriage Date: 20 Dec 1905
Marriage Place: Manchester, Virginia
Father:
Wm. E.
Mother:
Bettie E.
Spouse:
Fannie A. Campbell
FHL Film Number: 2048491
Reference ID: it 2 p 2 n 63
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1910 census
Name: Powhatan D Bass
[Powahatan D Bass]
[Powhatan Dance Bass]
Age in 1910: 26
Birth Date: 1884
[1884]
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1910: Danville Ward 1, Danville (Independent City), Virginia, USA
Street: Colquhoun St
House Number: 841
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Fannie C Bass
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: Shirt Cutter
Industry: Overall Factory
Employer, Employee or Other: Wage Earner
Home Owned or Rented: Rent
Farm or House: House
Attended School: Yes
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Years Married: 5
Out of Work: N
Number of Weeks Out of Work: 0
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members Age Relationship
Powhatan D Bass 26 Head
Fannie C Bass
24 Wife
Powhatan W Bass
3 Son
Floyd A Bass
0 Son
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World War I draft card
Name: Powhatan Dance Bass
Race: White
Birth Date: 29 Aug 1881
Residence Date: 1917-1918
Street Address: 1215 Decatur St.
Residence Place: Richmond, Richmond, Virginia, USA
Draft Board: 3
Physical Build: Stout
Height: Medium
Hair Color: Brown
Eye Color: Grey
Spouse: Fannie Agnes Bass
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1920 census
Name: Powhatan D Bass
[Powhatan Dance Bass]
Age: 38
Birth Year: abt 1882
Birthplace: Virginia
Home in 1920: Richmond Madison Ward, Richmond (Independent City), Virginia
Street: Decatur Street
House Number: 1217
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Fanny A Bass
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Draftsman
Industry: Clothing Co
Employment Field: Wage or Salary
Home Owned or Rented: Owned
Home Free or Mortgaged: Mortgaged
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members Age Relationship
Powhatan D Bass 38 Head
Fanny A Bass
34 Wife
Powhatan W Bass
12 Son
Floyd A Bass
10 Son
Della L Payne
24 Boarder
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1930 census
Name: Powhatan Bass
[Powhatan Dance Bass]
Birth Year: abt 1880
Gender: Male
Race: White
Age in 1930: 50
Birthplace: Virginia
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Head
Home in 1930: Richmond, Richmond (Independent City), Virginia, USA
Map of Home: Richmond, Richmond (Independent City), Virginia
Street Address: DecAture Str
Ward of City: Madison
Block: 872
House Number: 1217
Dwelling Number: 137
Family Number: 161
Home Owned or Rented: Owned
Home Value: 3, 750
Radio Set: Yes
Lives on Farm: No
Age at First Marriage: 24
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Virginia
Mother's Birthplace: Virginia
Able to Speak English: Yes
Occupation: Garment Cutter
Industry: State Prison
Class of Worker: Wage or salary worker
Employment: Yes
Veteran: Yes
War: SP
Household Members Age Relationship
Powhatan Bass 50 Head
Fannie Bass
44 Wife
Powhatan Bass
23 Son
Floyd Bass
21 Son