What is seen, but seldom realized by those who claim solution.

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bigscoop

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"I have deposited, in the county of Bedford, about four miles from Buford's, in an excavation or vault, six feet below the surface of the ground, the following articles, belonging jointly to the parties whose names are given in number "3," herewith:


The first deposit consisted of one thousand and fourteen pounds of gold, and three thousand eight hundred and twelve pounds of silver, deposited November, 1819. The second was made December, 1821, and consisted of nineteen hundred and seven pounds of gold, and twelve hundred and eighty-eight pounds of silver; also jewels, obtained in St. Louis in exchange for silver to save transportation, and valued at $13,000.

The above is securely packed in iron pots, with iron covers. The vault is roughly lined with stone, and the vessels rest on solid stone, and are covered with others. Paper number "1" describes the exact locality of the vault, so that no difficulty will be had in finding it."

We've all seen it and read it, countless times, but what do you really see when you read it? There's more information here then meets the eye, a few tell-tells that need to be recognized but seldom are by those who claim solution to the remaining ciphers.
 

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bigscoop

bigscoop

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C2, as it is often referred to in cryptography circles, was obviously penned by an intelligent, well-educated individual. The use of the English language is grammatically correct, the flow is crisp and clear and straight to the point, “punctuation” is properly used.



First, one has to understand that punctuation was not included in the cipher, this having been installed by the decoder of the cipher, thus the actual clear text has been altered by the unknown author. So clearly, the presented solution is an altered solution. The same can be said when the solution has been separated into paragraphs. This then, brings into play the very real possibility that the clear text for C2 was a fabrication. Perhaps, perhaps not, but it does suggest the possibility that the author of the solution and the author of the pamphlet were one in the same.


Punctuation often determines how writings are to be presented and perceived so whoever drafted the pamphlet copy of the clear text for C2 was very conscious of this fact when drafting the presentation for public display.


Second, because the creator of the cipher was an intelligent, well-educated individual, it is a ridiculous notion that we might expect anything less in the clear text of the remaining two ciphers, if in fact they hold solutions at all. In sticking with the established provenance within the C2 clear test we know that the anticipated clear test for C1 & C3 will be just as fluid, clear & precise, and straight to the point in an equally grammatically correct presentation. To accept anything less is just an illusion in spite of what has already been established by the author of the codes/ciphers.


Over the years many solutions have been arrived at, yet all of them contain flow that is more liking to poor education and poor writing skills, some of these juggled solutions even claiming numerous mistakes by the unknown author, when in fact just the opposite has already been established and presented in the clear text of C2. So why do people continue to accept anything less then what has already been clearly presented and established? Because they simply want to believe that they have cracked those codes and that the drafter of the remaining two ciphers became suddenly careless, reckless, uneducated, and haphazard in the concluding of his business of such grave importance, real or otherwise.

So with the provenance that has already been established in the presented solution for C2 there also comes a lot to be considered when attempting to arrive solutions for C1 & C3.



 

Rebel - KGC

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"I have deposited, in the county of Bedford, about four miles from Buford's, in an excavation or vault, six feet below the surface of the ground, the following articles, belonging jointly to the parties whose names are given in number "3," herewith:


The first deposit consisted of one thousand and fourteen pounds of gold, and three thousand eight hundred and twelve pounds of silver, deposited November, 1819. The second was made December, 1821, and consisted of nineteen hundred and seven pounds of gold, and twelve hundred and eighty-eight pounds of silver; also jewels, obtained in St. Louis in exchange for silver to save transportation, and valued at $13,000.

The above is securely packed in iron pots, with iron covers. The vault is roughly lined with stone, and the vessels rest on solid stone, and are covered with others. Paper number "1" describes the exact locality of the vault, so that no difficulty will be had in finding it."

We've all seen it and read it, countless times, but what do you really see when you read it? There's more information here then meets the eye, a few tell-tells that need to be recognized but seldom are by those who claim solution to the remaining ciphers.

Such as...?
 

releventchair

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C2, as it is often referred to in cryptography circles, was obviously penned by an intelligent, well-educated individual. The use of the English language is grammatically correct, the flow is crisp and clear and straight to the point, “punctuation” is properly used.



First, one has to understand that punctuation was not included in the cipher, this having been installed by the decoder of the cipher, thus the actual clear text has been altered by the unknown author. So clearly, the presented solution is an altered solution. The same can be said when the solution has been separated into paragraphs. This then, brings into play the very real possibility that the clear text for C2 was a fabrication. Perhaps, perhaps not, but it does suggest the possibility that the author of the solution and the author of the pamphlet were one in the same.


Punctuation often determines how writings are to be presented and perceived so whoever drafted the pamphlet copy of the clear text for C2 was very conscious of this fact when drafting the presentation for public display.


Second, because the creator of the cipher was an intelligent, well-educated individual, it is a ridiculous notion that we might expect anything less in the clear text of the remaining two ciphers, if in fact they hold solutions at all. In sticking with the established provenance within the C2 clear test we know that the anticipated clear test for C1 & C3 will be just as fluid, clear & precise, and straight to the point in an equally grammatically correct presentation. To accept anything less is just an illusion in spite of what has already been established by the author of the codes/ciphers.


Over the years many solutions have been arrived at, yet all of them contain flow that is more liking to poor education and poor writing skills, some of these juggled solutions even claiming numerous mistakes by the unknown author, when in fact just the opposite has already been established and presented in the clear text of C2. So why do people continue to accept anything less then what has already been clearly presented and established? Because they simply want to believe that they have cracked those codes and that the drafter of the remaining two ciphers became suddenly careless, reckless, uneducated, and haphazard in the concluding of his business of such grave importance, real or otherwise.

So with the provenance that has already been established in the presented solution for C2 there also comes a lot to be considered when attempting to arrive solutions for C1 & C3.




Printing resources and those responsible for typesetting been considered? A layman could drop much punctuation. Or be working from a shorthand page to be copied...:dontknow:
A change in location of printing/duplicating ,or employee or assistant could affect results.
 

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bigscoop

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Printing resources and those responsible for typesetting been considered? A layman could drop much punctuation. Or be working from a shorthand page to be copied...:dontknow:
A change in location of printing/duplicating ,or employee or assistant could affect results.

All possibilities, but the point is simply that the presented clear text isn't original and that it has been intentionally altered for the purpose of public presentation. The original clear text, if there was one, would not have appeared in paragraphs, etc. Whoever altered it, and/or drafted it, had excellent, "writing skills."

Let us also remember that if we use the presented key, the same clear text isn't arrived at without adjustment. This is also "very strong evidence" suggesting that the writer of the C2 solution and the pamphlet were one in the same. When we look at all the "connected" suspects then John Sherman becomes suspect number 1 as he had all the required skills and history, writer, publisher, and typesetter.
 

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ECS

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Sherman had also written several western/treasure dime novels that include ciphers.
OUT WITH GENERAL CROOK
THE WICKED WITCH
THE LOST BALLOON,MISSING FOR 20 YEARS.
 

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bigscoop

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And if Sherman was the author then all of the other pieces fall together rather nicely. Ward was Sherman's cousin, so by using him as a buffer and presenting, "unidentified author" then Sherman's name never appears on what the public would likely see, or so readily assume, "just another fictional dime novel by John Sherman."
 

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bigscoop

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Sherman had also written several western/treasure dime novels that include ciphers.
OUT WITH GENERAL CROOK
THE WICKED WITCH
THE LOST BALLOON,MISSING FOR 20 YEARS.

There is no doubt that this line of thinking/theory is the absolute strongest and likely case to date.
 

releventchair

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C1 and C3 don't fit C2 in cases of translation's presented so far; due to clarity then.
 

ECS

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...and Ward's direct cousins, the Hutters, were involved with Confederate ciphers and codes during the War of Northern Aggression-CSA Capt E S Hutter received Vattel's LAW OF NATIONS, used as a CSA code book, from CSA Sec of State, Judah P Benjamin (who also ran the CSA spy network) at Danville, Virginia, April 1865. It seems that Hutter, Ward, and Sherman were well versed in codes and ciphers.
 

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bigscoop

bigscoop

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Simple substitution ciphers were "very common" back in the day, the mail not being too trusted a service back then. So given the simplicity of the coding system that was used in the pamphlet it was probably general knowledge to a lot of average folks. It's even very likely that the copy of the DOI in the pamphlet was type set and printed just for the story in the pamphlet, again pointing to the author of the ciphers and pamphlet being the same individual.
 

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bigscoop

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John Sherman also had a fancy for, and a history of, writing about treasure.
 

ECS

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Most are familiar with Edgar Allen Poe's THE GOLD BUG, the first short story to contain a cipher as part of the tale, but are not with Poe's A FEW WORDS ON SECRET WRITING published in 1841.
AS BigScoop mentioned, codes and ciphers were very vogue during that time- those who could break a code were considered to be of superior mind. Poe's work influenced both the Union and Confederacy, but also other writers, including Sherman, in their endeavours.
 

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bigscoop

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The only odd factor that comes into play when investigating John Sherman is the mystery and known history of Mexico Sherman, John Sherman's uncle. If not for this one influencing factor then John Sherman would likely have guilty written all over his forehead.

What is so curious about Mexico Sherman is that he survived during the era of the story and that he lead a questionable life that could have resulted in his involvement with the transferring of wealth from west to east. Of other curiosity is his name, "Mexico", a name that was likely not his given birth name since it is not encountered until after his youth and no record of his birth has been located, to my knowledge anyway. And even if that birth record were to be found then what had inspired the name, Mexico near the turn of the century?
 

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releventchair

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Your right. The golde bug familiar, but A FEW WORDS ON SECRET WRITING published in 1841 ,no. Interesting though.
Combining what was in vogue and personal interests in the proposed sale of a limited subscription of pamphlets by a network of folks familiar with the subject of ciphers and treasure tales fits the market of the time right along with other popular adventurous ones; yet with a goosechase twist..
 

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bigscoop

bigscoop

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Where ECS and I differ is that I see no reason to suspect Hutter since his name is never associated with the pamphlet, I just don't think including him offers anymore credible evidence or strength to the already strong Sherman theory.

But, and getting back to the pamphlet and the ciphers, the evidence strongly suggest that everything was drafted/arranged by the same individual and that they were very well acquainted with educated writing skills.
 

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bigscoop

bigscoop

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I wonder, in a legal sense, is the difference between "containing authentic statements regarding a treasure" VS "containing statements regarding an authentic treasure."
The first line only proposes that the statements are authentic, whereas, the second statement proposes that the treasure is authentic.
How is it stated on the cover of the pamphlet?
 

ECS

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I wonder, in a legal sense, is the difference between "containing authentic statements regarding a treasure" VS "containing statements regarding an authentic treasure."
The first line only proposes that the statements are authentic, whereas, the second statement proposes that the treasure is authentic.
How is it stated on the cover of the pamphlet?
"containing Authentic Statements regarding the treasure buried..."
 

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bigscoop

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Wherever there be treasure!
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"containing Authentic Statements regarding the treasure buried..."

Right, so the statements are authentic VS saying the treasure is authentic. Look, it's misleading, perhaps, but the only thing the author has committed to is in claiming that the statements are authentic, not necessarily the treasure. If the cover had read, "containing statements of an authentic treasure buried..." then the author is committing to the treasure itself being real, or fact. But he never made the claim that the treasure was real, only that the statements were authentic. Just a curious sidebar.
 

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