The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-19
THE ART OF STAGE ROBBING
ENENPLIEIEDI Nv THE LIET; IND UORKS
OF CALIFORNIA ROAD AGENTS.

stNke EODDtTS III tn8 Iupunt'tInS vi Ntlllolh'N
and the other Pacific coast States and Terri
tories for Wells. Fargo & Co. for tho past thir-
ty-nve years. Catching stage robbers is
regular business with him. but no moro so
than the robbinG OF stages Is with the men he
pursues.
Once stage robber always stage robbcr.
the Captain thinks. and he comes pretty near
proving 1t in little book he published few
years ago giving descriptions and records of
20o stage robbers. The tito Of the book is
Robbers Record" 1t is not for sale. nor
was 1t published for general circulation. but 1t
is diligently thumbed volume In possession
of all far Western Shcriffs. Chiefs OF Police. and
detectives. for whom 1t was issued.
Tho fact that Wells. Fargo Co have for
years been practically the only carriers OF
money into the Western mining CAMPS and
bullion from tho camps has made their stages
the pet regard OF gentlemen OF the road. and.
in turn. has COM eled tho company to main
tain special detective bureau at tho head OF
which for many years Capt Hume has carried
on the war with the robbers. 1t amounts toa
war; in fact. for during the comparatively brief
period covered by his hook tho compiler
shows that thirty-three mon and seven horses
have been killed In conflicts with the robbers
aud twelve men seriously wounded. Capt.
Hume was in New York few hours last Fri
day. not long enough to BIO interviewed. ho
said. but an Introduction secured n SuN re-
porter possession OF the Captains private copy
of his Robbers Record" from which some
interesting facts were obtained.
A glnnco through tho record first impresses
the fact that n stage robber never leaves
prison. even when he Is pardoned except to
make his way with astonishing promntnoss to
the nearest lonely mountain road. and there
rob a stage. John J. 1vey is convincing
,st "a; AL Ayf, u,,J
burglarics. eight times in prison. and six es-
canes from prison. Whether Mr. Ivey left
prison by discharge or escape. he lost no time
In returning to the road.
odd jim Smith" has varied prison record.
including about every known method OF get
ting from behind the bars. Three times ho
escaped and three times was discharged upon
expiration Of terms. and each time he re-
ernor Of y Gnfofnia tried the experiment Of
purdonng him. hut old Jim" was not to be
moved to righteousness by mid means ;s rs 1nr
| after two months liberty. upon conviction OF
fresh robbery. Having exaaTs NM, i al! other st
Worried the insanity dodge and was trans
fcrred to an asylum.
pro ron i iSilows the offence. Tor stage rob:
| bets generally. viii 10 daring to the point OF
death; ar" seldom clever at hiding or re, Gsr cap
| known to fame as " Black Bart. lie Is IN
Can't iumss .Eesori.'' From 1912 TO 1883
he is known to have committed twenty- seven
terror Of the stage drivers in tho mountain re-
| gions OF northern California. and although the
drivers and n n Ts rSre sar
fert. hands. and even his walk, no clue to his
actual identity was gained DIV dTrng :ort the
He was finally betrayed by a laundry mark on
cur which. had been wrenched from his
| wrist during his eXertions in opening trens-
| u.e box which no obtained from Wells
| Fu,go stage in san Joaquin county. c4l.
When he was IN 70 IN ma tnn e
| Black Bart to be slight quiet hammered man
Of 80. familiar In TACO TO nearly al inc San san
| qurnted a comfortable little restaurant near
Police Headquarters. where MANY OF the de-
detailed physical descrir:idn Of him. has this
to say OF his other characteristics:
| He is person OF great endurance. n thor.
ough mountaneer and great walker. and
cannot be excelled in making quick translts
ana sraaSs nc r Is c"S
gish tendencies. He is neat and tidy IN dress.
| highly respectable in appearance. extremely
E a%Esns sna E"h ss ."
| ble other than buying pools on horse races
| and SlnrulatinE in mining stocks.
Black Bart was able TO clude the officers SO
s ,Jei JAM marches over the mountains. Aiisr
holding, up II stage he would strike on from
| the road. stopping neither LOT Steep nor loou
| until he reached another cover ng. distance
| the officers would never dream he could make
in the time; stop another STAGE, repeat his
| wonderful tramp to another road, from which:
miles away from the spot where he was looked
Tor. he could return unm2lcsted to his leisurely
satriral, signed p. o. &" His intimate
seIe"t times and places for his work So as to
| secure freedom from intcrruptl"n by other
travellers. Black Bart is u native OF New York.
~ op ~ to lis quiet and lonely work the OK
EerSnces Of genial r1ad mgEmt k aontr,s rs
f fm"Wn i as fo WsbSssh Smith was rst con-
rnnt Of I" a tucE6onrd who was travelling be-
, hind n stage. allowing the stage to pass un:
Sr h d bnrs IS story
~" Jnne e - 1881. Robbed wclls Fargo & Co.'S
express on stage from Sierravil!e to Truckee.
rival rival OF the stage from Sierra Valley. So! ous-
s.nser.. The rohbcr stood them all up, out
sight of ttG fG Ia st l9r f from and s;arra
passensers. ali OF whom were compelled
get 70 Slsst %1 i faFss
90. s box. and hand out the contents. While
thi, WAS going on two other vehicles ar-
| proachr,l. and the driver in each was COM
PEELED to get down and mingle with the audi
encc., At ne lose OF tho afternoons perform;
|
four vehicles under tho control of his little
, shot gun.
| sawed Off for greater convenience in use.
| After another robbery in the same vicinity
In the following August Mr. Smith appeared
| further down tho mountain side for his third
robbery after pardon. and Capt. Hume tells
the story thus:
stage from, Milton to Sonora. Doc 2o, 1881.
| Also robbed United States mail. In this in
stance he held tho STAGE one and a half
| anIpuyOrinI to break open the iron
| box. During this time one passenger from
sonora and two from Milton appeared, al three
of whom he ,compe!!ed to halt while no was
cant Hume landed Mr. Smith in prison then.
| but in 1855 lie was discharged. He again toy
| al with express boxes and mall pouches. and
was sent to tho California State prison for life.
to the relief Of tho Captain and all mountain
| excursion parties.
As lesperate u character, as ever troubled
| Cant, llume was Il young Missourian named
NJ. \. SHARP; iie worked on the . stage road
from tho Bodie mines, in California. To tho
larson mint; in NEVADA In four months q
caught. and then he ESCAPED from jall. ON
his last Job he worked with rompan-
ion. for the stage they were to hold