A long time ago, in this exact location, a desperado by the
name of Black Bart sought refuge from the locals. Bart was known to
enjoy the peacefulness of the wilds of Dakota County and wanted
nothing more than the simple enjoyment of hanging with his
compadres and staring at the points of light overhead. Well Bart
found a great spot to get away from it all in what is now Lebanon
Hills Regional Park. At these coordinates he set up more or less a
permanent encampment and laid low.
Unknown to him, a few local youths were doing what youths do
and happened upon him. Bart didn't do anything, he just laid there
- real still. He might have gone unnoticed but he was coughin'
something fierce. Well, as it was near Halloween, the kids were on
the jumpy side and one thing led to another and finally the Sheriff
was summoned and a posse was formed and Bart was tracked down. When
they got near - they very nearly missed him, but his coughin' gave
him away. There was a hubbub and one of the men hollered, "Off to
Jail with YE !" Old Black Bart never meant any harm, he went real
peaceful like.
Bart spent some time behind bars - coughin' the whole time
and never saying a word. Charges were never filed, and whether it
was this experience or just "his time" Black Bart never walked the
earth again.
I've placed an ammo can in the exact location that this
desparado was hiding out. If you are real quiet - especially near
Halloween - you might be able to hear the Sheriff or his men comin'
round the bend to cart coughin' Bart away.
Click this link to see a historical account of the capture of Black
Bart from the Lebanon Hills area