Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-07-23


holding up the coaches in the sierras he
did the most unnatural things. In spite
of the desperate business that lie adopted
he had generous heart.
Bart was q MISUNDERSTANDING chap.
Somehow he had picked up smatterlng
of education and he frequently turned MS
hand 10 the writing OF poetry. whenever
he robbed a mail-pouch he told the story
OF his success IN q rhyme or two whlch ne
ulaced in the pouch to be read by the OH
GERS when they picked it up. In the penl-
Tertiary at San Quentin. where the nlgh-
wayman finally landed. there are several
specimens of his poetry. Two OF tnem
are worth giving as a sample OF MS Work
in the line of verse-making. They run as
follows:
I'm sorry | spent my time
Ripping up this matt
didn't ind money enough
10 buy n meal for quail.
distich later Of better fortune. 1t
reads as follows:
Such bauls as this arc very rare,
They soon would make me millionaire.
When the rich man fell into Bart's hands
he invariably suffered. To the poor he
was always generous. When riding the
mails and he found letter containing
money that had been sent to person
VIII 10 the letter showed was In needy cir
cumstauces, Bart would shove the money
into the torn envelope and make the
driver promise TO enclose IL IN strong
envelope and send II along at the next
office.
In the early sixties Bart held up stage
running between Marysyllle and Carson
City. Among the passengers was Young
man who had come out from the East ana
oone into the mountains for the beneht or
b.. IL
cial temporarily, but the unfortunate
Young man finally turned his face nome:
ward 10 die. He had about 500, and
when Bart took 1t from him he asked the
sick man where he was gong.
Home, to Massachusetts" replied the
young man.
us this all the money that you've got?"
inquired the hIghwayman.
Every cent. 50 help me God" answered
the sick man. fearful that Bart suspected
him of having more money concealed upon
his person. Bart unbuckled belt from
ms waist and, counting out $500 III golu,
handed il 10 the amazed consumptlye, and
told HIM to get the best accommodations
on the trip that he could find.
GALLANT TO WOMEN.
Many interesting stories are told OF
! Barts gallantry 10 women, but one OF the
most interesting of them relates now no
PLAYED a game of stud poker with q young
woman passenger on coach that he had
stopped, the stakes being kiss from the
young woman If she was beaten and the
return of the money and valuables OF the
passengers if Bart was worsted.
Ii happened IN the spring OF ~. Bart
had been doing smashing business IN
more senses than one In the northern part
of the State, and he had become spch q
| terror that double guard was sent out
with every coach that went from Sacra-
mento to Nevada City. Once he attempted
! To hold a coach up against such odds that
he failed, aud only escaped after long
chase through the mountains, during
which he was wounded severely, and
the guards were confident that, mortally
hit by their bullets. ne had managed to
| crawl into some one of his retreats and
died. For several weeks nothing was
heard from Bar: and. believing HIM dead,
the express company relaxed their vigil
lance and the mails and strong boxes were
sent out once moro with but one mau be-
side the driver to guard them.
Northeast OF Sacramento, about twenty
five miles in the Sierra Nevada mountains,
is a deep canyon Al the head of which IS a
beautiful fall OF water known as The
Maiden's Tears" Inc Nevada City trail
wound through the canyon. Near the
falls the trail Law across fiat, open space,
I
huge powders on the other.
GOOD-LooKIsG AND PLUCKY.
A few weeks after the woundlng OF Black
Bart a coach was crossing this open space.
The guard on the seat by the side of the
driver was doing IN the heat of the sun,
and the driver was struggling 10 keep his
ewes open. inside the coach were seven
passengers, among whom was young
woman bound for Nevada to teach school.
She was goOd-looking and plucky. She
had been teacher four years IN the
mining districts of the West, and she was
thoroughly acquainted with the customs
of the rough element i'll the midst Of
which she lived. The other passengers
were businessmen and spectators. some
! of whom had recently come from the East
to try their fortunes in the " digglngs."
! The coach had reached the centre or the
! open space wnen the moose OF lasso hung
| from among the powders overhead settled
| over the shoulders and arms of the drowsy
guard. and IN the twinkling of an eve
! lie was hauled TO the ground. At
| the same time deep voice call
ing from among the rocks ordered
| the driver TO stop the horses and hold mp
| his hands. The driver obeyed without a
protest. The passengers stuck their heads
| through the coach doors just In time TO
| receive an invitation from the voice among
| their hands over their heads. The order
was promptly obeyed. When they were IN
! line Black Bart, holding a revolver IN one
! hand and the lasso in the other, stepped
out from among the powders and came
| down 10 where the coach stood.
After binding the guard securely he
| proceeded to relieve the passengers or
| their money and valuables, tossing the
plumber into a big sombrero That he bad
he ba "a nf
| In the pockets of one OF the passengers he
| found a pack or play ins cards. lie threw
| them with the rest of his booty INTO his
hat. When he had finished searching the
passengers he SAID
You can put your hands down now.
| gentlemen. 1t must be kinder awkward
| standln in that position. I'm sorry to
put you to so much trouble, buS you see,
| | had TO have money. and j thought that
this would be pretty good crowd 10
| strike. Pm kinder ashamed of myself to
put so pretty woman as this lady Is to so
| much trouble"
SHE WASN'T AFRAID.
The highwayman smiled alphabetically
| on the young school-teacher, who aston
Ished her fellow passengers by smiling
| back at the robber aud saying:
Don't worry yourself, Bart 1t was no
inconvenience at ALL"
| You know me SAID Bart. lnqulrlngy.
"pve heard you described so often that
/ feel pretty well acquainted with you"
replied the schooi-teacher.
The highwayman appeared to feel fiat
tered. " | admire your spunk," he said |;
most women faint when they see me-"
never saw man yet that I'd faint
! for" replied the woman. to the horror of
! her fellow-passengers, who were afraid
she would anger Bart and drive him TO
some desperate end. A second or two
later they were struck dumb with amaze
ment when she said Bart. I'll bet you
| that l can beat you one deal at stud
poker. II / don't you may kiss me. If
do you must let this coach and its passen-
gers go on with their property without
! further trouble. Will you do it?"
The proposition staggered Bart for an
instant, but he recovered himself and,
| laughing heartily, said: "W0al. Miss. YOU
beat any woman ever came across before.
| i never kiss woman unless she is wlllin'
but If you want TO take them chances I'll
play you, but | reckon you're gIvin' me
| the best of the bargain"
The woman minated that she was
really anxious TO play for those stakes.
and preparations were made for the game.
1t was agreed that the driver should deal
i n - l.-lf