I guess you mean KGC (Knights of the Golden Circle) and not KJC? If you've followed this forum for any length of time, you've seen postings on this subject before - most recent threads begun 12/12/99 and 10/22/99. The main pushers of the KGC story will claim that almost ALL western legends concerning Spanish gold, hidden treasure and lost mines are false and instead are part of an elaborate conspiracy perpetrated by the KGC in order to draw attention away from their own treasure-caching activities. There's huge holes in this scenario that haven't been filled yet, so if you want to buy it, you'll have to buy it on faith alone until a more complete explanation is offered. Anyway, SE New Mexico is certainly within the range of alleged KGC activity, so if you want to believe Jesse James carved his initials down there, then go for it - hey, maybe he did.

Your idea that the main travel route from Mexico City to Santa Fe being in eastern NM needs a lot of explaining. Presumably you are referring to a route following the Pecos River? This was a well-used trail to be sure - all trails in the southwest that had access to water were well-used. However, your claim of the Rio Grande route being only a "theory" ignores a constant stream of evidence and documentation beginning in the late 16th century and continuing through the middle of the 19th century at least. Why do you feel that the Pecos was more heavily used than the Rio Grande?

Regards, Steve

• Some Clarification!! Desert Eagle 12:30:46 5/30/2000 (1)
  • Initials Steve (NM) 05:53:26 5/31/2000 (0)