the union paper is a story written by an attorney who has made up a character called barthol mew graham, or black bart. to get what he believes is owed to him, charles bowles transforms into black bart. his robberies are not only bold. they re executed with style and flair. that was the behavior, the demeanor. did he threaten you or take any of your personal belongings? no. left what s left of the cash box over there. bowles enjoys the challenge of the heist, and he s good at it. becoming confident in his skill and elusiveness, he leaves playful messages for wells fargo s detectives. labored long and hard for bread, for honor. but on my corner too long
just days after he receives an offer for his claim, the water supply dries up. bowles is convinced it s no coincidence. what wells fargo did is divert the stream from which bowles was panning the gold where he was forced to abandon his gold mine. for charles bowles, montana claim is likely his best chance for success. but when the water slows, his claim becomes worthless. many historians believe this is the moment he set his sights on wells fargo, making the company out to be responsible for his misfortune. the hard working miner and former union soldier with dreams of striking it rich has just
bowles was thrilled. his plan for retribution against wells fargo was being carried out the way he intended. there was probably a level of bravado here such that he often looks forward to his next attempt. bowles makes his getaway over 120 miles through rugged terrain over the mountains, back to san francisco. where a transformation begins. charles bowles is a truly audacious criminal. after committed highway robbery, he returned to high society to hide in plain sight. he has the ingenuity to avoid capture by developing an alter ego and living within blocks of the target of his crimes. bowles plan is a brilliant piece of criminal strategy. but it s also a risky one.
hume has him tailed. bowles was a smart guy. it is likely he knew that hume was following him. hume perhaps had a hunch that maybe bowles might return to his nepharious ways. black bart may be a notorious criminal, but far from the typical violent men of his time. his polite manner and witty poetry set him apart as a gentlemen bandit. in the streak of 28 stagecoach robberies, he never harms one person. awe yes. couldn t stay away, huh? the mask you are wearing now. despite his plane to be avenging a wrong unto his family, charles bowles never sends one dime home. revealing the truth about the
offer for his claim, the water supply dries up. bowles is convinced it is no coincidence. what wells fargo did is divert the stream from which bowles was panning the gold to where he was forced to abandon his gold mine. for charles bowles the montana claim is most likely his chance for success. when the water slopes his chances become worthless. this is the moment he sets his sights on wells far go making the company responsible for his miss fortune. the soldier with dreams of