It is believed Black Bart committed his first stagecoach robbery in July 1875. Wearing a flour sack over his head with holes cut for his eyes and a fancy gentleman’s black derby, he intercepted a stagecoach.. When guards spotted gun barrels sticking out of nearby bushes, they handed over their strong box to Bart. He cracked open the box with an axe and escaped on foot with the gold, though his “gang” of camouflaged gunmen stayed behind. When the guards returned to pick up the box, they discovered that the “rifle barrels” were just sticks tied to branches. Bart's "gang" wasn't real.
The rumors surronding Black Bart are vast, but one widely held was that he was a 'gentleman outlaw'. He supposedly never once fired a weapon during his years as an outlaw. He was invariably polite and used no foul language. Another claim to his fame was his use of poetry. One of his verses left after a robbery read as follows:
Here I lay me down to sleep
To wait the coming morrow,
Perhaps success, perhaps defeat,
And everlasting sorrow.
Let come what will, I'll try it on,
My condition can't be worse;
And if there's money in that box
'Tis munny in my purse.
— Black Bart
Recently, another verse of Black Bart's has been found! Supposedly he left behind a cache and this poem to describe it:
A stash of goods I have left,
tucked away indeed.
Even if the carriage moves
much less without it's steeds.
A find awaits that's for sure
for all those who care to look.
After of course you find my stash
and leave your mark upon the book.
— Black Bart
Cache is placed with property owners premission. It is asked that geocachers respect the stucture and don't climb or play on it. Thanks cowpokes!
Congrats go to: Hokie97 for FTF !