dents run treasure

[starsplitter]

A couple observations:

1. I remember the location of the farmstead (based on my research of census records from 1850/1860) to be roughly SW of Dent's Run and in line with the "hollow" where mules and later bars were purportedly found by Pinkerton agents. This is what spiked my interest. I believe it was one county SW. Again, if I had my files I could pinpoint it for you.

2. Don't discount the Benezette 1870 location... first, it could be the same family (different member by same name)... second, they might have had some very golden reasons to move north - assuming the legend is true.

I'd suggest going back to the census records for 1850/1860 and locating any Connors/Conners in the direction I've mentioned. Then, go to the 1870 census and compare. I went on a guess that they might have owned a farm (not to mention the "laborer" notation). Since they were recent immigrants, that is probably not the case, but it would make things easier. Still... there should be an "address" in original census records (or some other clues). Also, remember mailing routes. In any case, the above are not originals (they would be handwritten in ink).

It is also possible that the Connors clan moved to Benezette before 1863. I think "the" Connors enlisted in 1862. This point could open up a new can of worms. Suddenly, there is a means to an end. Would be curious to know where the Connors clan lived at the 1880 census. Wish I had the enlistment document here to verify exactly when and where the supposed "real" Connors enlisted. It does support the idea of Connor being a "guide" if he was the only one on the detail to know the area. Another step I did not follow up on was cross-referencing units stationed Wheeling with Connors service record. I doubt his unit was in transit. This might provide a clue.

The only answer to lack of primary evidence would be a cover up. However, it would be massive in scope. Imagine all documentation being scrubbed from the record except incidentals? In those days it wasn't click and delete. I think it unlikely. On the other hand, legends are usually not born in a vacuum.

 

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[kudo623]

Agree, testimony is evidence if it's direct.
But the skeletons and mules are not direct testimony.
The finding of both are only in the story, with no verification other that the story itself.
The story can't verify itself.
No-one has re-discovered the skeletons recently.

Physical Evidence:
With all respect, I don't doubt the word of Frank or Dennis, just the credibility of the artifacts.

How can you verify that a cartridge casing is from the patrol? Even if it's from the right period?
Dennis's site is right outside the village of Dent's Run, along an old wagon road that has been used by people since the 1800s.
Anyone could have dropped that cartridge back then. Or...
People hang onto guns for a long time. It could have been from an old gun someone was hunting with 30-50 years later.
I currently hunt with a shotgun I've had for 35 years.
I hunt deer with a .30-.30 that was made 50 years ago.
A cartridge from 1863 vintage, does not prove the patrol was there.

Gun parts (found by Frank miles away from Dennis's site).
How do you know that these also aren't from hunters? That area was hunted in the 1860s.
The area where Frank found gun parts is not far from a logging camp site where scores of men worked, how do you know they aren't gun parts from someone who was at that camp?

I'm not saying any of these things aren't from the patrol, but they don't prove anything conclusively.
In court, these wouldn't hold up as evidence.

I hope I don't sound argumentive. Just debating.

Question:
If you go by the story. Connors was inducted into the army and sent west to Fort Yuma where he died.
How can he be on a census from Benezette in 1870?

The only records I could find in the Army enlistment database for people named James Connors (After the war) are the two at the top of this picture. Now if the spelling is correct then these are the only two names. These two are enlisted in NY and PA.

 

[starsplitter]

Guides to National Archives Microfilm Publications: Civil War Compiled Service Records

 

[schieftain]

You can try here too:
Search For Soldiers - The Civil War

There are several James Connors/Conners from PA.
Don't forget to check where each one's unit was during the spring-early summer of 1863.
He can't be somewhere else at the time the story takes place.
(I've gone through it before for Connors/Castleton/O'Rourke)

He was supposedly wounded in action somewhere, so may have been serving in what would later become the Veteran Reserve Corps.
The VRC did not officially get off the ground until late in 1863.
It's possible he was in Cincinnati when the patrol was put together.
There were a lot of wounded at Cinci, and a large hospital ther at Fort Dennison.
I have the weekly reports from the fort which I got from someone on the Cinci Civil War Roundtable. No mention of a Lt. Castleton/Connors/O'Rourke/escort patrol in any of them.

Connors could also have been spelled Conners, and may have originally been McConnors/McConners.
Names were not always spelled the same way by different members of same families back then.
Castleton could have been Casselman, Castelton, Casselton, Castleman...

 

[sgtfda]

Don't forget the 2 gold bars found 300 yards from where I found the gun parts. Both bars were coated with tar. I know for a fact the bars exist.

 

[orion024]

sgtfda, since you know they exist; were they interlocking gold bars like L-shape sorta of? I was told by an old timer named Gordon that they were, he owned a store at dents run along rt. 555 for 30 years.

 

[kudo623]

Don't forget the 2 gold bars found 300 yards from where I found the gun parts. Both bars were coated with tar. I know for a fact the bars exist.

Now that's what I'm talking about. SGTFDA: The gun parts you found--is this the same location of the 'fire pit' (also called the ambush site) where Dennis also found some artifacts while surface digging? Is this also the purported site where they found three skeletons? Because I think Dennis found some human remains (small bones) near this site? Finderskeepers please weigh in as well. Thanks.

 

[sgtfda]

They were not interlocking. Ill add a new tidbit. A jeweler in St Mary's was buying gold shaved off one of the 2 bars.

 

[Tracker]

Maybe I missed it but are there any pictures of the gold bars, gun parts, bones??

 

[FinderKeeper]

Hi all, The fire pit we located is not the same site that the bodies where found or the gun parts. We have found artifacts from the civil war period and a lot more. Everyone is looking for info on this story and good luck. It is still listed Top Secret after 150 yr's. The gov. has removed all info on this story.
We do pay rewards for info , the better the info the bigger the reward.

 

[kudo623]

Hi all, The fire pit we located is not the same site that the bodies where found or the gun parts. We have found artifacts from the civil war period and a lot more. Everyone is looking for info on this story and good luck. It is still listed Top Secret after 150 yr's. The gov. has removed all info on this story.
We do pay rewards for info , the better the info the bigger the reward.

Dennis:
Can you tell us anything about the map you were given by that man long ago, who he was, how he came to know you and why he gave the map to you? Also, his background with this story and what he found to convince him and you that the gold was in fact buried at Dents run? How did he know short of any ground penetrating equipment? He must have spent a long time on this one?

 

[FinderKeeper]

Hi Kudo, I would like to tell how this all started but its something we been keeping quiet for a movie on hold. The questions you ask is the reason I got back into treasure hunting. The person that gave me the map in 1974 is still alive and wants his name kept quiet for now and our entire story will be told soon. This person still works with us and this hunt will end soon . I have something in the works that will effect every treasure hunter world wide and I am sure DCNR would like to know what it is. Since our TV show we have been getting many offers from around the world from people and companys that want to help us. A dig will happen at Dents Run and DCNR will do the dig

 

[kudo623]

Hi Kudo, I would like to tell how this all started but its something we been keeping quiet for a movie on hold. The questions you ask is the reason I got back into treasure hunting. The person that gave me the map in 1974 is still alive and wants his name kept quiet for now and our entire story will be told soon. This person still works with us and this hunt will end soon . I have something in the works that will effect every treasure hunter world wide and I am sure DCNR would like to know what it is. Since our TV show we have been getting many offers from around the world from people and companys that want to help us. A dig will happen at Dents Run and DCNR will do the dig

You gonna throw a party? I think Starsplitter has some whiskey on reserve for the one who shows him a gold bar.

 

[FinderKeeper]

We have found over 25 artifacts from the Civil War Preiod at this site , we did not say they where from the wagon train. If we dig and do find something that proves the lost Civil War gold was here then yes I would say the artifacts we found are from the wagon train. Its been 8 years and DCNR is still holding 16 of the artifacts .

 

[madmike38]

Good luck. The land down there is all private land now . The state put in an ELK watching area and a 3,000 dollar camp sold for 50,000 and the people do not want strangers on there property.
I was with a local hunting one year and he had told me of an old road used in the civil war that was all grown over now. I plan on making a trip this spring

 

[madmike38]

careful locals also know

 

[Mudflap]

Been there. Your right on the locals.

 

[maipenrai]

Funny how these stories just seem to fade away, then up pops a new story!

 

[Shrlock]

Funny how these stories just seem to fade away, then up pops a new story!

Perhaps more to do with the weather..the snow and cold in that part of PA has been back to more a traditional Western PA winter from back 30 to 40 years ago. The interesting points though brought up by this discussion, chances of all of it not being there is high, as they stated 2 have been found on top of the ground no less and surfaced as being found.., more than likely a few others were taken at the time and probably of the the course of 150 years and not reported as found, they probably would not have dug 20' deep to bury them, (can see probably maybe 2' to 4' of soil over the last 150 year on top of probably 4 foot hole) so maybe 6' to 8' at best), its possible was put in cave or ridge area and piled with rocks, area is probably just as wilderness as it was back then..(meaning undeveloped). The tale though is interesting...much like the Black Beard / Parker tale in Emporium.

That one states Parker didn't know of the location but details state he was in contact with Black Beard, he came into what appeared large amounts of money for the Hotel/mineral spring bath deal. He stated to his nephew that he didn't know of the location. It was said there was one map to it that was hand drawn by black beard and sent to Parker. Black beard dies a few years after the the incident...so no fear from Parker of Black Beard ever returning to the US from England. There was even a rumour that he had it buried in his tomb with him. There would have to have been some awful honest caretakers to have fullfilled that wish...and the tomb wasn't done till after Parker passed so he couldn't have put it in there himself. The Mausoleum/Tomb was not not cheap by now days let alone back then from what picts I seen of it. What would be a good way to keep something a secret? ..play dumb and don't acknowledge you ever found it...sounds like some more folklore based on fact and some on fantasy. Always like a good detective story..

 

[Maggie May]

I have found numerous things from the Civil War in the Dents Run and surrounding areas. Back, pre-Walmart, people actually saved buttons, hooks and things off of their old clothing, especially their uniforms. They used what they had for years. My idea is the gold has been gone for years. Each of these blocks supposedly weighed 52 pounds. I think when they encountered the men from Ridgway they were robbed. I know ppl who have been searching all their lives and they haven't found it.