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This micro cache is an easy drive-to cache, at a significant historical marker. The cache is just a few feet off the road, in Nature's Wonderland, Pollock Pines. Be sure to bring something to write with.
This is the location of one of the most infamous crimes committed in El Dorado County, known as the Stagecoach Robbery at Bullion Bend. The following information is from the California State Archives:
Probably the most well-known is the Bullion Bend robbery. Reportedly, a band of men, led by Thomas Poole (who had earlier in his life been an Undersheriff for Monterey County) and Ralph Henry aka Captain R. Henry Ingrim, sought to raise funds for the Confederate Army. Their plan to get the money was to steal it. They rode to a spot 14 miles east of Placerville, and on June 30, 1864, stopped two Pioneer Stage Line coaches traveling with their shipments from Virginia City, Nevada to Placerville, California. After stopping the stage and appropriating over $40,000 in silver, "Captain Ingrim" wrote out a receipt to Wells Fargo & Co. certifying that he had received cash. The stage was allowed to leave, and the band, mounting their horses, stopped at a spring where they hid all the money except for two silver bricks and the strong box cash.Meanwhile, the stage reached Thirteen Mile House and telegraphed the news of the holdup to Sheriff William Rogers, who immediately set out with a posse to look for the robbers. The gang rode hard until they arrived at the Somerset House, a large hotel on the north fork of the Cosumnes River where they spent the night. In the morning, two of Sheriff Rogers' deputies, Joseph Staples and George Ranney, rode up asking Mrs. Reynolds, the proprietor, if she had seen any strangers around. She nodded her head and motioned them to a side door. Deputy Staples rushed into the room yelling, "You men are all my prisoners!" whereupon he was met by a barrage of gunfire, killing him instantly. Word was sent to Placerville of what had happened.With a price on their heads, the bandits fled El Dorado County. They stopped at a farmhouse south of San Jose and told the farmer, Edward Hill, of their plan to rob the payroll for the workers of the New Almaden Quicksilver Mine. He quickly notified John Adams, the Sheriff of Santa Clara County. Sheriff Adams formed a posse and ultimately captured several of the group. Some of the money was recovered. Tom Poole, however, stood trial alone for the murder of Deputy Staples. On September 29, 1865 he was hanged on the Placerville gallows.
This is a great cache to do in conjunction with 'Placerville Union Cemetery' created by Old Hippy & Granny. Have fun!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Qba'g fgenl sne sebz gur zbahzrag.