Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Pearl Hart For Western Wednesday...!

In keeping with stories about women in the Wild West, here is another story about one of them. I don't remember if I did a post about her before or not, but here is another look just the same.

Pearl Hart



Born in Lindsay, Canada in 1871, Hart attended an exclusive school. However, she enjoyed adventuring more than school work. At age seventeen, Pearl eloped to Chicago with gambler, Frederick Hart. But, Frederick was abusive and Hart left him at age Twenty-two. She made her way to Arizona where she met miner, Joe Boot. When Boot couldn’t make enough dough from mining, the lovers turned to robbery. They developed a routine where Hart would lure a man into her room, and, once through the door, Boot would whack the unsuspecting gentleman on the head and rob him. However, this play was risky and the couple were almost caught on several occasions. In 1899, Hart developed a plan to rob a stagecoach. More money, less risk.

Hart cut her hair and dressed as a man. Boot held up the driver, while Hart took over $400 from the passengers. After giving a little back to ensure the victims had enough money for food and a hotel, Hart and Boot rode gallantly away into the sunset, only to get lost in the desert. After several days of wandering, they desperately needed sleep, but when they woke the sheriff and his posse had found them. They were caught a mere three miles from the scene of the crime. It was while she was being tried for her crimes that Hart is famous for saying this feminist phrase, "I shall not consent to be tried under a law in which my sex had no voice in making." Unfortunately, the judge didn't care and Hart was tried and convicted anyway.

Being the second woman to rob a stage coach and the first one not to die while doing it, Hart instantly became the most famous woman in Arizona. Journalists came from all over to interview Hart and photograph her with her gun. Hart received a pardon after 18 months. The official reason was that the penitentiary did not have accommodations for women, although rumor had it that Hart was pregnant and the judge didn't want to have to explain how that happened. Hart later had a brief stint in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show, but lived the rest of her life low key.

Here is one more woman I don't want to get on the bad side with. Sounds like a tough ol' gal to me.

Coffee outside on the patio, but it might start raining...so be prepared.

7 comments:

Rob said...

The Yuma Territorial Prison (where Pearl Hart was locked up) was an interesting place. Laws were a bit different back then...

linda m said...

I have seen the Yuma Territorial Prison and I can say for sure I wouldn't want to have been locked up there. She was a tough old girl, but back then you had to be just to survive. Rained here yesterday, partly cloudy today.

texasann said...

Our grandma Pearl was a strong lady, too, but not in this way.A delightful one she was.
Rain? It's rained or snowed every day we've been in Ireland or England, and constant rain and 34 degrees now. Cut today's sightseeing short in order to get warm and dry. Hoping for better tomorrow.
Big hugs

HermitJim said...

Hey Rob...
No matter how interesting it is, I don't wanna stay there. Visit...maybe.
Thanks for stopping by today!


Hey Linda...
Surviving meant being tough back then. I'd like to avoid all prison if possible!
Thanks for coming over today!


Hey Sis...
I think I'd rather go during the warmer months, ya know? Warm and rainy isn't too bad.
Enjoy the trip and thanks for coming over today!

JO said...

You had to be tough in those days to survive. But she wasn't entirely mean at least she had enough heart to give those people enough money to eat and sleep.

Going to head out for a day or two of camping this morning I'll see how it goes.

Mamahen said...

She sure must have been tough and not a coward by any means.

HermitJim said...

Hey Jo...
Hard and tender hearted at the same time. Good luck on the camping.
Thanks for dropping by today, sweetie!


Hey Mamahen...
I certainly agree completely.
Thanks for stopping by today!