California Desperadoes: Stories of Early California Outlaws in Their Own Words [Paperback]

William B. Secrest (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2000

Historic desperadoes tell their tales of holdups, shootouts and desperate flights from the law in this chronicle illustrated with many rare photographs. From the famous 1892 shootout at Young’s cabin as told by Chris Evans—a murderer, train robber and fugitive—and his partner John Sontag and the hanging of the notorious Jim Stuart by San Francisco vigilantes determined to retake their city from hordes of Australian convicts, robbers, and killers to the ill-starred adventures of Tom Bell, Tiburcio Vasquez, and Charles Dorsey and the harrowing and sometimes hilarious antics of the California highwaymen stage robbers Jim Smith and Dick Fellows, readers will vicariously experience the riveting lives of another time period.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

No Strikes and You're Out: Outlawry and Justice in Early California

"My dear and only friend now in this country....I have been allowed the privilege to write you a few lines, as I have but a few moments to live..."

It was October 4th, 1856, and the possemen finally had Thomas J. Hodges, alias Tom Bell, squarely where they wanted him-within feet and minutes of the hangman's noose.

"...I have been most foully betrayed. Bill and John have told things that never took place. I am accused of every robbery that has been committed for the past twelve months, which is entirely false. I never committed but three highway robberies in my life..."

Among his many other depredations, Tom Bell is credited with the first attempted stage holdup in California, August 12, 1856. The story of this incident was related by Bell's fellow gang member Bill Gristy in his confession: "I was of the party in the attack on the Camptonville stage" and Gristy's words, as well as evidence of other villainies committed by Bell during his checkered career, had brought him to the grim fate he now faced.

"-but still I am to blame, and my fate is sealed. I am to die like a dog....I must come to a close, for the hounds are thirsting for my blood. Goodbye, forever."

And so the rope stretched taut and Tom Bell passed into history. But now, Bell's own words and those of fellow murderers, horse thieves, bandits and stagecoach robbers such as English Jim Stuart, Charlie Dorsey, Tiburcio Vasquez, Old Jim Smith, Dick Fellows and Chris Evans spring back to life in William B. Secrest's California Desperadoes: Stories of Early California Outlaws in Their Own Words.

By compiling first-person accounts of early California events as seen through the eyes of those actually involved and augmenting the accounts with expert and zesty narration, Secrest provides a glimpse into the real-life drama that ensued between the forces of law and order and those of frontier barbarism.

The participants, both illiterate and eloquent, heartless and humane, give voice and insight to an intriguing era. Secrest, evoking the explosions of Colts, the thundering of hooves, the clanking of prison chains and the scents of leather, horse, cordite and fear, allows his readers to experience the opportunity to judge for themselves the intricate workings of the minds of the early California badmen and the harsh, Western justice system that brought them to their ends.

These are true stories told by true desperadoes and illustrated with many rare photographs.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Word Dancer Press (November 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1884995195
• ISBN-13: 978-1884995194
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,445,522 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars OK for Californians, November 27, 2000

By 

S. Griffin (Portland, OR United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: California Desperadoes: Stories of Early California Outlaws in Their Own Words (Paperback)

Written in a rather amateur manner, but with loads of pictures and drawings, this book would appeal to people who are familiar with the area that these bandits roamed. One thing that really bothered me: Mr. Secrest references "Black Bart" nine times, in sentences such as "but he was no... Black Bart", or someone was rumored to have hung out with Black Bart, but never does he give you the actual story of Black Bart! When many characters are mentioned, its as if you were supposed to already know who they are. For instance: "Badly wounded in the aborted raid, Emmett admitted that his brothers had done the Alila job." Who is Emmett?? This is the first time he is mentioned, and it took me a minute to figure out that he must be one of the Dalton gang. That aside, this WAS an enjoyable book to read, and I will keep it in my library for future reference.

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An outstanding contribution to California history., July 3, 2000

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: California Desperadoes: Stories of Early California Outlaws in Their Own Words (Paperback)

Chris Evans and seven other early outlaws of the old west provide first-hand experiences of holdups, shootouts, and confrontations wit the law in California Desperadoes, an outstanding collection of true stories by California desperados. Add vintage illustrations and black and white photos to the text and you have a fine piece of California history.