Friday, 19 June 2009 00:43

Black Bart Hold-Up Days

slide1.pngAmador County – There will be stagecoach robberies, and 40-minute closures for horseless carriage traffic on Sutter Creek’s Main Street, next Saturday, June 20th. Recently retired former Councilman Bill Hepworth, a member of the Sutter Creek Promotions Committee, donned a shaggy wig and cowboy hat, boots and duds to announced the upcoming Third Annual Black Bart Hold-Up Day all day long next weekend in Sutter Creek. He said instead of closing Main to vehicle traffic all day, the street will be temporarily closed for 40 minutes, during each of the stagecoach robbery reenactments. Hepworth said those mini-dramas, the stagecoach robbery reenactments will take place at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Otherwise, the coach, a remake of the final Wells Fargo coach robbed by Black Bart, will sit out in front of the American Exchange Hotel on Main Street. He said “actually that’s where the stage did leave when Black Bart robbed it” for the last time, 126 years ago, on June 23, 1883. Hepworth said it was Black Bart, or Charles E. Boles’ last successful stagecoach robbery. Black Bart was injured in the robbery and in his escape dropped a handkerchief, with a San Francisco launderer’s mark, which was traced to Boles, leading to his capture and conviction of that final robbery. He said Black Bart served 5 years in San Quentin Prison for that robbery, then was never heard from again, leading to rumors that Boles was given a pension by Wells Fargo. The 3rd annual Black Bart Hold-Up Days will feature robbery reenactments by the Kit Carson Mountain Men, Sierra Six Guns, and Doc & The Foothill Vigilantes. It will also feature tomahawk throwing and local artists featured, including writers Larry Cenotto, Loretta Armstrong and Caroline Fregulia; and work by Ron Scofield, a reenactment participant and an old-time blacksmith. Events will be featured at Amy Peterson’s Garden Shop and around the Brignoli home. For information, call the promotions committee at 267-1344 or 1-800-400-0305, or e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go online to www.suttercreek.org. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.