bigscoop
Gold Member
- Jun 4, 2010
- 13,373
- 8,689
- Detector(s) used
- Older blue Excal with full mods, Equinox 800.
- Primary Interest:
- All Treasure Hunting
The Beale Ciphers....20 Years of Researching & Observation
The Beale Codes…20 Years of Research & Observation
It seems that nearly every year we have someone claiming that they have indeed cracked the Beale Codes, yet in every case these claims to fame seem to slowly fade away with the passing of time. Why? Why do those who feel so certain of their claim always end up walking away empty handed? Some claim that property owners won’t let them dig, others claim the treasure had already been removed, while others just continue to lay claim of their success until the treasure hunting community eventually tires of hearing their unfounded claims. Truth is, none of them have actually cracked the codes or discovered anything beyond their own wishful thinking, and here’s why…….
I like to call the Beale Codes, “a dangerous fascination” because they are just that, dangerous. I say this because the Beale codes are a treasure mystery that can lure its pursuers into believing just about any avenue they wish to follow. This danger resides in the fact that whenever a code can’t be cracked with a known key, or keys, and a clear test can’t be produced with 100% certainty, it then forces the pursuer to start filling in the blanks with what he believes, or hopes, is the correct clear text. In other words, the pursuer is now lured into the trap of using whatever works. Simply put, the pursuer has now “created a solution” instead of discovering, “the true solution”. Perhaps no other treasure mystery sets this trap so well and as a result the Beale Codes have indeed left a long line of victims in its wake, and I fully suspect there will be more, many more.
I want to make clear that I am not suggesting that the codes or either hoax or real, as there is equal argument and fact from both sides of the issue to support both of these possibilities. But I would like to point out a few details that future pursuers might want to keep in mind as they explore the endless possibilities, perhaps these points of interest will keep you from someday appearing on that long list of Beale cipher victims.
Intelligence; whoever perpetrated the Beale story, weather it be fact or fiction, was intelligent and well educated. This was not the work of simple men without insight. This is important to remember when looking at cipher #1, as I doubt it will detail any location left to unexpected change or uncertainty. Just as the discovery that the once abandoned cave was unexpectedly being used by area farmers, nearly everywhere else would also be subject to this same type of change with the passing of time. “If” the Beale story is indeed true, then given the intelligence of those involved I seriously doubt that they would ignore this factor of change and leave their fortune exposed to such common everyday risk. If indeed the story is true and two deposits were hauled cross country in complete secret then you can rest assured that these two deposits were not placed in an obscure hole in the ground in the middle of a woods or forest. These were intelligent men with intelligent leadership. The length of cipher #1 also supports this as there simply isn’t enough text to accurately detail a long track through a forest using signpost and trails, that again, would also be subject to change with the passing of time. Not a chance. Even the simplest of men would recognize this factor and then attempt to eliminate this huge, certain risk.
In going a step further, one also has to look at the directness of the previous writings, the Beale letters and the clear text for cipher #2. If your solution to cipher #1 is broken up or uses poor grammar then you most likely have another wrong solution, most probably just another solution that has been forced through personal desire and need. This is the dangerous trap that is the Beale Ciphers. As the pursuer continues to hunt for answers he will also continue to find those convenient bits and pieces that can be made to fit here and there, his personal desire and drive completely blinding him to the fact that his solution doesn’t come close to matching the directness or style of the previous writings and clear text.
Without going into any great length or detail, I can tell you that I have been researching and following the Beale story for about twenty years. I’ve been to Bedford many times and I’ve followed all the leads and documents and I’ve studied all the analytical stuff. Through all of this one thing is very clear, as of today nobody can claim that they have solved or disproved this mystery with any real measure of closure. “If” this treasure mystery is a simple hoax or work of fiction then it will doubtless remain as such just as it has always existed. On the other hand, “if” this treasure mystery is indeed real then I strongly suspect the “excavation or vault” either lays, or laid, just as it was described, and in such a place that is not so easily subject to the common factors of an ever changing environment.
According to the story, in the strongbox there were receipts unrelated to the ciphers or the location of the treasure. “If” this story is true and the treasure was/is real, then why would Beale include these unrelated receipts? Could it be that what was perceived as being unrelated was actually very related? After 20 years of researching and observing this treasure mystery I suspect those receipts were very related. What I wouldn’t give to know for certain what they were for.
Good luck in your continued pursuits!
Scoop
The Beale Codes…20 Years of Research & Observation
It seems that nearly every year we have someone claiming that they have indeed cracked the Beale Codes, yet in every case these claims to fame seem to slowly fade away with the passing of time. Why? Why do those who feel so certain of their claim always end up walking away empty handed? Some claim that property owners won’t let them dig, others claim the treasure had already been removed, while others just continue to lay claim of their success until the treasure hunting community eventually tires of hearing their unfounded claims. Truth is, none of them have actually cracked the codes or discovered anything beyond their own wishful thinking, and here’s why…….
I like to call the Beale Codes, “a dangerous fascination” because they are just that, dangerous. I say this because the Beale codes are a treasure mystery that can lure its pursuers into believing just about any avenue they wish to follow. This danger resides in the fact that whenever a code can’t be cracked with a known key, or keys, and a clear test can’t be produced with 100% certainty, it then forces the pursuer to start filling in the blanks with what he believes, or hopes, is the correct clear text. In other words, the pursuer is now lured into the trap of using whatever works. Simply put, the pursuer has now “created a solution” instead of discovering, “the true solution”. Perhaps no other treasure mystery sets this trap so well and as a result the Beale Codes have indeed left a long line of victims in its wake, and I fully suspect there will be more, many more.
I want to make clear that I am not suggesting that the codes or either hoax or real, as there is equal argument and fact from both sides of the issue to support both of these possibilities. But I would like to point out a few details that future pursuers might want to keep in mind as they explore the endless possibilities, perhaps these points of interest will keep you from someday appearing on that long list of Beale cipher victims.
Intelligence; whoever perpetrated the Beale story, weather it be fact or fiction, was intelligent and well educated. This was not the work of simple men without insight. This is important to remember when looking at cipher #1, as I doubt it will detail any location left to unexpected change or uncertainty. Just as the discovery that the once abandoned cave was unexpectedly being used by area farmers, nearly everywhere else would also be subject to this same type of change with the passing of time. “If” the Beale story is indeed true, then given the intelligence of those involved I seriously doubt that they would ignore this factor of change and leave their fortune exposed to such common everyday risk. If indeed the story is true and two deposits were hauled cross country in complete secret then you can rest assured that these two deposits were not placed in an obscure hole in the ground in the middle of a woods or forest. These were intelligent men with intelligent leadership. The length of cipher #1 also supports this as there simply isn’t enough text to accurately detail a long track through a forest using signpost and trails, that again, would also be subject to change with the passing of time. Not a chance. Even the simplest of men would recognize this factor and then attempt to eliminate this huge, certain risk.
In going a step further, one also has to look at the directness of the previous writings, the Beale letters and the clear text for cipher #2. If your solution to cipher #1 is broken up or uses poor grammar then you most likely have another wrong solution, most probably just another solution that has been forced through personal desire and need. This is the dangerous trap that is the Beale Ciphers. As the pursuer continues to hunt for answers he will also continue to find those convenient bits and pieces that can be made to fit here and there, his personal desire and drive completely blinding him to the fact that his solution doesn’t come close to matching the directness or style of the previous writings and clear text.
Without going into any great length or detail, I can tell you that I have been researching and following the Beale story for about twenty years. I’ve been to Bedford many times and I’ve followed all the leads and documents and I’ve studied all the analytical stuff. Through all of this one thing is very clear, as of today nobody can claim that they have solved or disproved this mystery with any real measure of closure. “If” this treasure mystery is a simple hoax or work of fiction then it will doubtless remain as such just as it has always existed. On the other hand, “if” this treasure mystery is indeed real then I strongly suspect the “excavation or vault” either lays, or laid, just as it was described, and in such a place that is not so easily subject to the common factors of an ever changing environment.
According to the story, in the strongbox there were receipts unrelated to the ciphers or the location of the treasure. “If” this story is true and the treasure was/is real, then why would Beale include these unrelated receipts? Could it be that what was perceived as being unrelated was actually very related? After 20 years of researching and observing this treasure mystery I suspect those receipts were very related. What I wouldn’t give to know for certain what they were for.
Good luck in your continued pursuits!
Scoop
Receipts? PROBABLY from P. Buford's "Tavern" in today's Montvale, Va. When ppl stay at taverns/hotels, I recken they are supposed to get receipts; MY "theory" being explored on Rockhound's forum, is that Paschal Buford WAS Thom. J. Beale. 
And that Robert & Sarah Morriss were "modeled" after Paschal & Frances Buford... 
8)
HA! Was ONLY "talking about" Santa Fe, "then" SPANISH TERRITORY (1819-1822)... per BEALE PAPERS (aka "JOB PRINT"). MOOT point, don't give a rat's a.. about the REST of the Spanish territory; topic is "The Beale Ciphers...". 
What cha find in Santa Fe? 
