With Nancy J. Farrier
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Wells Fargo Stage |
“Please, throw down the box.” The bandit called out to the
driver, then glancing around at the rocks, he raised his voice to be heard by
everyone. “If he dares shoot, give him a volley, boys.” The stagecoach driver’s
heart thumped as he noted at least six guns pointed at him from the surrounding
rocks.
The driver grabbed the strongbox from underneath his seat and
tossed it down to the outlaw. He called back to his passengers to stay calm and
not panic. One of the women became so distraught she threw her purse out to the
outlaw. The hooded bandit crossed to the bag, picked it up and handed it back
in to the woman. He said, “Madam, I do not wish your money.” Thus, the robber
earned the name, Black Bart, the gentleman outlaw.
Charles Boles, (Black Bart, aka Charles Bolton) resided in
San Francisco in the 1870’s. He was an older gentleman in his 50’s with white
hair, a nice grandfatherly type. He preferred fancier clothes, walked about
with a cane, and enjoyed strolling about his neighborhood. No one who knew him
would have guessed he also had lived a life as a bandit. Not this refined
gentleman.
Black Bart was different than many outlaws. He worked alone
and didn’t rob every stage he heard about. He invested his money in small
businesses, and only robbed Wells Fargo stages when he needed more funds. He
loved stay in nice hotels and eat at fine restaurants.
Bart treated women with great respect, as he did all the
victims on the stages he robbed. On more than one occasion he refused to take
the valuables and money from a flustered lady passenger. He always tried to
assure them he meant no harm to them, but only wanted what Wells Fargo had to
offer.
Charles Boles knew of a popular dime store novel featuring a
feared outlaw dressed in black. When he took the name of Black Bart, he
capitalized on a known fear, even though
he never dressed in black and didn’t resemble the description of the dime store novel’s outlaw. The one thing all the stage drivers remembered about Bart was his clear, blue eyes, shining out from the holes in the flour sack. They couldn’t forget the color of those eyes.
he never dressed in black and didn’t resemble the description of the dime store novel’s outlaw. The one thing all the stage drivers remembered about Bart was his clear, blue eyes, shining out from the holes in the flour sack. They couldn’t forget the color of those eyes.
Black Bart began to write poems, which he left at the site
of his robberies. He signed them P o 8, which stumped the lawmen who were
trying to catch him. He always disappeared without a trace. Even the poems gave
no clue as to who Bart might be or where to find him.
Black Bart’s life of crime came to an end after a robbery he
committed in November 1883. The sheriff who investigated the robbery examined
the ground closely and found a handkerchief which contained a laundry mark. The
handkerchief was taken to San Francisco and a search began for the laundry that
used this mark. They found the correct laundry and as they were questioning the
owner, Charles Boles, the owner of the handkerchief came through the doors.
Boles spent over six years in prison, but the story has it
that after he was released, he disappeared. Another robbery occurred and the
bandit left a poem. Upon examination it was agreed this poem was a copycat.
Rumor has it that Bart was so successful in his efforts against Wells Fargo
that the company paid him a yearly stipend to cease from robbing their stagecoaches,
and he did.
Have you ever heard about Black Bart, the gentleman bandit? Can you guess why he signed his notes P o 8? Thank you for stopping by.
Nancy J Farrier is an award winning author who lives in
Southern California in the Mojave Desert. She loves the Southwest with its
interesting historical past. Nancy and her husband have five children and two
grandsons. When Nancy isn’t writing, she loves to read, do needlecraft, play
with her cats, and spend time with her family. Nancy is represented by Karen
Ball of The Steve Laube Literary Agency. You can read more about Nancy and her
books on her website: nancyjfarrier.com.
P for poet? 8 as a "brand" sign making use of two Bs?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, Nancy!
What an interesting thought, Debra. I hadn't considered the 8 as a sign using the two B's. Thank you for commenting.
DeleteP for poet? 8 as a "brand" sign making use of two Bs?
ReplyDeleteVery interesting, Nancy!
P, o, 'et' in the 8. Poet. Fun post, Nancy.
ReplyDeleteI like Po8try....fun fact, his second authenticated verse was found in my area of California:
ReplyDeleteThe second verse was left at the site of his July 25, 1878, holdup of a stage traveling from Quincy to Oroville, California:
Here I lay me down to sleep
To wait the coming morrow,
Perhaps success, perhaps defeat,
And everlasting sorrow.
Let come what will, I'll try it on,
My condition can't be worse;
And if there's money in that box
'Tis munny in my purse.
— Black Bart