The American Old West, a land of opportunity and peril, saw its share of legendary figures, none perhaps as enigmatic as Milton Sharp. This infamous stagecoach robber, known for his audacious heists, left behind not only a trail of daring escapades but also the tantalizing legend of Milton Sharp’s hidden loot. In an era when gold prospectors sought their fortunes with pickaxes and shovels, men like Sharp found a quicker, albeit more dangerous, path to wealth by preying on the burgeoning gold and silver transportation routes.
The Gentleman Bandit and His Ruthless Partner
In the late 1870s, the Sierra foothills buzzed with activity, as stagecoaches laden with precious gold and silver traversed treacherous routes from mining towns to major hubs like Sacramento and Stockton. It was amidst this lucrative landscape that Milton Sharp carved out his notorious career. Believed to have orchestrated more than twenty stagecoach robberies, Sharp’s initial mistake, or perhaps fateful partnership, came when he joined forces with W.C. “Bill” Jones, an outlaw who also used the alias Frank Dow. Jones, a man with a violent past, having served time at San Quentin, met Sharp in Bodie, California, and quickly proved to be a dangerous and often intoxicated companion.
Their first venture together was a modest success, yielding only $88 from Wells Fargo Express and three watches from startled passengers. However, this initial haul did little to dampen their ambition. Their subsequent robbery proved far more lucrative, netting them over $15,000—a substantial sum in those days. Over the next four months, Sharp and Jones embarked on a spree, robbing six stages, with their exploits making headlines in San Francisco newspapers. Their methods, and particularly Sharp’s demeanor, captivated the public imagination.
A Study in Contrasts: Sharp and Jones
Milton Sharp stood out from the typical image of a rugged outlaw. He was remarkably well-dressed and exhibited an almost unsettling courtesy during his robberies, often apologetically ordering Wells Fargo guards to surrender the strongbox. His partner, Jones, presented a stark contrast: a large, full-bearded man with a deep, menacing voice that instilled fear in both guards and passengers. While Jones would menacingly hold the driver and guard at bay, Sharp would calmly address the passengers, announcing, “A thousand pardons for the inconvenience I have caused you, but you see, these are the hazards of my profession. We must relieve you of your valuables.” He was so genteel that he occasionally returned valuables to weeping women, before concluding with a gracious bow and a “thank you” for their “kindness” as they made their getaway. This peculiar blend of politeness and plunder cemented Sharp’s legendary status.
The Violent Turn and Relentless Pursuit
For a time, these “polite” robberies remained bloodless, a testament to Sharp’s unique approach. This changed dramatically on the morning of September 5, 1880. As the duo attempted to rob a Wells Fargo Express stage traveling from Bodie, California, to Carson City, Nevada, Jones, likely in a drunken stupor, fired two shots, killing one of the stage horses. Mike Tovey, the quick-thinking stage guard, immediately returned fire, fatally striking Dow (Jones). Without hesitation, Sharp continued with the robbery, abandoning Jones’s lifeless body on the road and leaving the stage stranded with its dead horse still harnessed.
This violent incident elevated the stakes considerably. Posters announcing a $3,000 reward for Sharp’s capture quickly appeared across California and Nevada. Lawmen and bounty hunters, spurred by the substantial reward, launched an aggressive and widespread pursuit. The hunt for Milton Sharp became a top priority for authorities across the vast expanse of the American West.
Capture, Escape, and Imprisonment
Despite his cunning, Sharp was eventually apprehended in San Francisco. He waived extradition, and authorities transported him in chains back to Aurora, Nevada. Charged with six counts of robbery against Wells Fargo, Sharp faced a hostile public; lynch mobs frequently gathered outside the jail, their intentions clear. Authorities pressed him relentlessly about the whereabouts of his buried riches, the famed Milton Sharp’s hidden loot, but he steadfastly refused to reveal its location.
In November 1880, Sharp orchestrated a daring escape. A guard checking on him discovered that the notorious outlaw had vanished, leaving behind only a 15-pound iron ball chained to his leg. He had meticulously worked loose several bricks from the jail wall, slipping away unseen. The reward for his capture was immediately increased to $5,000, and the pursuit intensified. After weeks of being relentlessly trailed, exhausted, hungry, and cold, Sharp eventually surrendered to the Sheriff at Candelaria, Nevada. He was returned to Aurora, where he faced conviction on five counts of robbery. His continued refusal to disclose the location of the stolen treasure led an unsympathetic judge to hand down a severe sentence: 20 years in the penitentiary.
Transferred to the state prison in Carson City, Sharp’s defiant spirit persisted. He attempted several escapes within the first few months but was unsuccessful. Eventually, he adopted the facade of a model prisoner, even attempting to secure a pardon in 1881, though his efforts failed. His desire for freedom remained unyielding. In 1889, he finally succeeded in another escape, vanishing for over four years. His freedom was short-lived, however, as he was re-apprehended in Red Bluff, California, on October 3, 1893, and returned to prison to serve the remainder of his sentence.
Pardon and the Enduring Mystery of the Loot
Upon his final return to prison, a surprising turn of events occurred. Milton Sharp penned a letter to Wells Fargo, detailing the names and locations of where he had worked during his period of escape. This act of apparent honesty led Wells Fargo, believing in his rehabilitation, to recommend that his pardon request be granted. On July 10, 1894, Sharp was finally released from prison. He reportedly lived a law-abiding life thereafter, a stark contrast to his earlier years as a notorious stagecoach robber.
Despite his personal reformation, the legend surrounding Milton Sharp’s hidden loot continued to grow. Rumors circulated for decades that much of his ill-gotten gains remained buried and undiscovered. In 1910, brothers Gus and Will Hess, captivated by these tales, embarked on a search for Sharp’s treasure in the rugged hills surrounding Bodie and Lundy. While they did manage to unearth small amounts, their findings were a mere fraction of what was believed to be hidden.
It is widely estimated that as much as 70 percent of the gold Sharp stole has never been recovered. This vast fortune is believed to still lie buried along the old stage roads in the vicinity of Aurora, Nevada, and Bodie, California. The lure of this unrecovered treasure continues to captivate adventurers and historians alike.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Riches and Redemption
The story of Milton Sharp is a fascinating chapter in the annals of the American Old West. From a courteous yet ruthless stagecoach robber to a rehabilitated citizen, his life was marked by daring heists, violent encounters, and multiple escapes. Yet, beyond his personal journey, it is the enduring mystery of Milton Sharp’s hidden loot that truly cements his place in folklore. The vast quantities of gold and silver he reportedly buried, a significant portion of which remains undiscovered to this day, continue to fuel treasure hunts and ignite the imaginations of those who dream of uncovering a forgotten fortune. The dusty trails between Bodie and Aurora still whisper tales of the gentleman bandit and the elusive riches he left behind, a testament to an era defined by both lawlessness and the relentless pursuit of wealth.
