Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-03-14
Extent of His Hold-Ups.

when Bart was finally arrested, he ac
knowledged having held up no less than
twenty-eight stage coaches, single handed,
in the northern counties in California
How many more he robbed, which he would
not acknowledge will never be known, but
1t Is believed to equal this number. His
nerve and daring was remarkable, and be-
ing man Of great endurance, thorough
mountaineer and a walker Of unusual pow
ers. he was unequaled in making quick
transits over the rough country and noun
tains, thus GLIDING capture for nearly eight
years. He evidently was In the business OF
stanG-ups for what there was in 1t, and
must have been a great schemer. 1t, no
doubt. afforded him keen delight. poet and
wag that he was, to pose as a gentleman In
San Francisco living on the gold captured
from the Wells Fargo express boxes. while
the detectives were hunting him every
where else during all this time.
While in that city he made but few
friends. and these were people of respecta-
hility. He WAS very neal and tidy in his
dress, respectable in appearance and ex-
and, strange as it may appear chaSte in
language, eschewing profanity. He was
never known to gamble, beyond buying
pools on horse races and speculating in
mining stocks the Frisco mining ex-
change.
Bart made a great deal Of money out Of
his robberies One of his largest hauls was
taken in a hold-up near Nevada City, in
which he secured gold. bar valued at
81 200. Within h fortnight he robbed a
stage in an adjoining county Of about 81 600
in gold coin The bar weighed III ounces.
He always conscienttously rf7ed the mail
bags and no doubt, secured thousands Of
dollars from the registered letters. Some
timee the company's treasure box had but
little in it, and again it would be we'll filled
with coin or gold bars OF gold dust, and
Bart would return to San Francisco to live
like gentleman. until his money was gone.
In all, his plumber is believed to have
amounted to a considera BILE fortune, and,
since he lived so quietly, Il Is a mystery
how he disposed Of it,
His Remarkable Nerve.
"Bart's wonderful nerve Ia attacking all
alone stage coaches driven, as q rule, by
rough. hardy men quick with their guns
and always ready to shoot, we'll knowing
that they were on the lookout for him, 1s
well illustrated in the. manner in which he
made one of his last robheries. At the
muzzle Of his rifle he compelled the stage
driver to unhitch his horseA Bart, with
seidge hammer was breaking open the iron
treasure box under the seat. By chance a
hunter came upon the scene near where the
driver was standing with the horses. The
driver took the hunters rife and opened
fire upon Bart just as he had completed the
job and was about to escape to the brush
with the contents of the box, some S. eco
den and disconcerting that he fed, leaving
in his haste a pair of opera glasses which
he used in deserving the approach Of
stages from distance, and a handker-
chief, upon the corner Of which was a
laundry mark, F. X. o. =. 1t was this
mark as related in The Star. which sub
sequently led to his detection and arrest.
"Barts real name was c. E. Bolton, and
he was a native Of New York state. At the
breaking opt of the civil war he lived at
Decatur. ILL.,, and he enlisted in the 10th
Illinois Volunteers, serving for three years
and attaining the rank Of sergeant His
prison life was model He was secluded
in his habits and avoided being seen by
visitors as much as possible. He did not
consider himseh an ordinary convict, and
in this eonceit he waAs esstainly correct
avoiding all intercourse with his fellow
prisoners. His one ehum In pfison was also
hishwayman. and the latter was also a
murderer. No crime other than that Of rob-
berry was ever charged against Bart. After
his release from San Quintin he committed
1T is believed. several other stage robberies.
but finally disappearedsS and is thought to
have died shortly afterward.'
As the winner of the bet completed his
story OF Bart's exploits he thoughtfully Or
dered another bottle of zchampagne-for the
other gentleman to pay for.