Black Bart On August 3, 1877, a stage was making its way over the low hills between Point Arenas and Duncan's Mills on the Russian River when a lone figure suddenly appeared in the middle of the road. Wearing a duster and a mask made from a flour sack, the bandit pointed a shotgun at the driver and said, "Throw the box down!" "I have worked long and hard for bread, for honor and for riches, But on my calluses you have beaten me too long, you fine-haired sons of bitches." When the group arrived later, all they found was a waybill with the above verse scrupulously written on the back, each line in a different hand. Nearly a year later, on July 25, 1878, PO8 struck again. A stage from Quincy to Oroville slowed to make a difficult curve along the Feather River, the masked man came out of the bushes and demanded that the box be thrown down. His estate included $379 in coins, a silver watch and a diamond ring. Once again, when the group reached the scene, all they found was a poem: "Here I lie down to sleep to wait for the next tomorrow, perhaps success, perhaps defeat, and eternal pain. Come what I will, I will I'll try." ,My conditions can't be worse;And if there's money in that box, there's munny in my bag!" Once again the verses were written by different hands and the work is signed "Black Bart, the PO8". To make the highways safe again, Governor William Irwin set a reward of $300 for the capture of the bandit, to which Wells Fargo & Co. added another $300. Another $20 contributed by the postal authorities. The reward remained un claimed for five years, during which Black Bart seemingly robbed at will. Often remaining in hiding for several months, Bart would suddenly go on a rampage and rob three or four stages in as many weeks, then vanish without a trace covering great distances on foot in an incredibly short time was undoubtedly a great asset in his life as a bandit. In another, and it turned out to be his last, stage robbery McConnell (the stagehand) turned his head to find the cane of. a double-barreled shotgun looking at him. You see, Bart knew that this stage brought with it gold coins and gold amalgam. What Bart didn't know is that in the woods following the stage there was a young hunter who had come down a few miles earlier to go hunting..