LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – This is the chronicle of the infamous stagecoach bandit, Black Bart, who beset Wells Fargo and Co. with 28 documented robberies from 1875 to 1883.
The robberies took place in the mountains of California, two of which involved Lake County routes.
Black Bart also was known as Charles E. Boles, or Bolton.
Born in New York state, he served in the American Civil War.
After residing in San Francisco for several years he took up stagecoach robbing.
He lived a dual existence – one of a gentleman who sported fine duds, a diamond stick-pin and gold watch – and that of a shotgun-toting robber.
He always operated with an unloaded shotgun and never robbed stagecoach passengers or drivers.
During one of his robberies he yelled out, “If he dares shoot, give him a volley.”
His shotgun was trained on the stagecoach driver who surveyed the scene and found what looked to be a gang, with several gun barrels poking out of the bushes.
The driver begged for his life and complied with Black Bart’s request for the strongbox.
Later they found that there was no gang, and there were no guns – merely strategically placed sticks made to look like a menacing group of outlaws. In the strongbox was a poem.
Following is a poem found during one of his robberies:
“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,
But if there’s money in the box,
It’s munny in my purse.
Black Bart, the P o 8”
One of Black Bart’s robberies occurred on Nov. 23, 1882. This was the Lakeport-Cloverdale run.
As per his routine, he ordered the driver, Dick Crawford, and his passengers off the stage. Next, he had them unhook the horses and lead them up the road.
He waited until they were out of sight, then he pried open the metal express box and perused the contents.
It isn’t clear how much he got, as the rich and rewarding days of the Gold Rush were over. By this time, coin and currency were scarce as postal money orders became the norm.
Another robbery occurred on the Lakeport-Cloverdale run on April 12, 1883, when he garnered only $32.50 for his efforts.
He was captured in 1883 by Sheriff Tom Cunningham of San Joaquin County, who had been investigating his robberies.
Black Bart’s nemesis, Wells Fargo detective James B. Hume, relentlessly pursued Black Bart, which led to the arrest.
When Black Bart held up the stage from Sonora to Milton on Nov. 3, 1883, Sheriff Cunningham found a handkerchief.
They traced it to a laundry in San Francisco, as it was marked “FX07,” Bart’s laundry.
He served a little over four years in San Quentin Prison, then was not to be heard from again.
Kathleen Scavone, M.A., is an educator, potter, writer and author of “Anderson Marsh State Historic Park: A Walking History, Prehistory, Flora, and Fauna Tour of a California State Park” and “Native Americans of Lake County.” She also writes for NASA and JPL as one of their “Solar System Ambassadors.” She was selected “Lake County Teacher of the Year, 1998-99” by the Lake County Office of Education, and chosen as one of 10 state finalists the same year by the California Department of Education.
Lake County Time Capsule: Black Bart – poet-robber and folk legend
- Kathleen Scavone
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