Black Bart

Black Bart: The True Story of The West's Most Famous Stagecouch Robber (1992) by William Collins & Bruce Levene

A fascinating chapter of American history.

Black Bart was a gentleman and a poet. He apparently held a grudge against Wells Fargo that has never been explained. Various hypotheses include one where Wells Fargo swindled him out of a mining claim.

He also repeatedly stole from the U.S. mail, although he was never prosecuted for the mail crimes.

Unlike vicious criminals like the Younger gang, Black Bart never shot anyone in his numerous holdups.

His poetry has stayed in my own memory every since I was a small boy.

"I've labored long and hard for bread,
For honor and for riches,
But on my corns too long you've tread,
You fine-haired sons of bitches."

The book contains detailed descriptions of 29 stage robberies.

One of the most incredible things about Black Bart was his extraordinary skills as a long distance hiker. He repeatedly eluded horseback posses, himself on foot, often after being tracked by them for many miles.

He was ultimately apprehended due to his own carelessness with a laundry mark. He reached a plea agreement and served prison time for a single Wells Fargo robbery.

Black Bart disappeared without a trace after he paid his debt to society.

I will always wonder what happened to him.