The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1893-07-22
/ REMARKApLE poKEH GAME.



Black Bart, the notorious highway
man Of California, once during his ca
reer came across an American woman
who turned the tables on him very
cleverly. Bart was very eccentric
individual, and while holding up the
coaches in the Sierras he did the most
unnatural things. In spite of the des-
perate business that he adopted, he
had generous heart.
Many interesting stories arc told of
Bnrt's gallantry to women, but one of
the most interesting of them relates
how he played game of stud poker
with 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 valuablcs of the passengers
u Bart was worsted.
1t happened in the spring of ~. Bart
had bean doing a smashing business in
more senses than one in the northern
part of the state, and he had become
such n terrc. that double guard was
sent on with every coach that went from
Sacramento to Nevada City. Once he at
tempted to hold coach up against
such odds that he failed, and only es-
capped after long chase through the
mountains, during which he was
wounded severely, and the guards We're
confident that mortally hit by their
bullets, he had managed to crawl into
some one of his retreats and died. For
several weeks nothing was heard from
Bart, and, believing him dead. the eX-
press companies relaxed their vigilance
and the mails and strong boxes were
sent out once more with but one man
beside the driver to guard them.
Northeast of Sacramento, about
twenty-five miles, in the Sierra Nevada
mountains, is deep canyon, at the
head of which is a beautiful fall of
water known as ''The Maiden's Tears"
The Nevada City trail wound through
the canyon. Near the falls the trail
lay across fiat, open space with the
stream on one side and piles of huge
powders on the other.
A few weeks after the wounding 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 to keep his eyes open. In
side the coach We're seven passengers,
among whom was Il young woman
bound for Nevada to teach school. She
was good looking and pluclsy. 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 in the
midst of which she lived. The other
passengers were business men and
spectators, some of whom had re-
Gently come from the east to try their
fortunes in the ''diggings."
The coach had reached the center of
the open space when the moose of a
lasso flung from among the powders
overhead settled over the shoulders
and arms of the drowsy guard, and in
the twinkling of an eye he was
hauled to the ground. At the same
time a deep voice calling from
among the rocks, ordered the driver
to stop the horses and hold up 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 the rocks to step down
| and line up with their hands over their
heads. The order was promptly obeyed.
| When they were in line Black Bart,
| holding revolver in one hand and the
lasso in the other, stepped out from
| among the powders and came down to
where the coach stood.
After binding the guard securely, he
proceeded to relieve the passengers OF
| the money and valuables. tossing the
plumber into a big sombrero that he
had set crown down by the side of the
road. In the pockets of one of the
passengers he found pack of playing
cards. He threw them with the rest o1
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 awk
ward standin' in that position. I'm
sorry to put you to SO much trouble
but, you see, had to have money, and
i thought that this would be pretty
good crowd to strike. I'm kinde,
ashamed of myself to put so pretty q
woman as this lady is to so much trou
ble."
The highwayman smiled apologet
ically on the young school teacher
who astonished her fellow-passenger.
qy smiling back at the robber and say
ing:
Don't worry yourself Bart; it wa.
no inconvenience at ALL
"You know me?' said Bart inquir
ingly.
''I've heard you described so Otter
that fe:l pretty well acquainted will
you," replied the school teacher.
The highwayman appeared to fee
fiattered. 81 admire your spunh," h,
said; .'most women faint when the,
see me-"
81 never saw man yet that I'd fain
for,' replied the woman, to the horro
OF her fellow-passengers, who wer,
afraid she would anger Bart and driv'
him to some desperate end. A secont
or two later they were stricken duml
with amazement when she said: ''Bart
III bet you that ] can beat youson,
deal at stud poker. If don't, you may
kiss me. If do, you must let thi
coach and it's passengers go on will
their property without further trouble
Will you do it?''
The proposition staggered Bart fol-
IN instant, but he recovered himself
and laughing heartily said: "Waal
Miss, you beat any woman ever cam,