Dardariel
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- Joined
- Oct 27, 2018
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- Canyon, TX
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- White's TreasurePro
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- All Treasure Hunting
- #1
Thread Owner
Decided to share some input on this one because I think it is so cool. Not to mention, it reminds me of National Treasure - one of my all-time favorite treasure hunting movies.
This is a snippet of a map of Bedford County, 1864. You can find this map at the LOC (so National Treasure-esque!).
It is plain to see that the left Buford is Locust Level - that right one throws me off. Distance between them is about a mile and a quarter....but you have to take into consideration the "about 4 miles from Buford's" from #2.
Here is a terrain map for you, too...I annotated each and made 4 mi markers at all compass points from each center point.
These are just the maps...so now, the ciphers. I do not claim to know the answer to them as many have tried to prove themselves as a master decipher-er (if that is even a word).
I took the liberty of copying, by hand, the DOI from the Beale Papers. To the extent of the numbering scheme as well. Here it is:
==============================================
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary (10) for one people to dissolve the political bands which have (20) connected them with another, and to assume among the powers (30) of the earth, the separate and equal station to which (40) the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them (50), a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that (60) they should declare the causes which impel them to the (70) separation.
We hold these truths to be self evident, that (80) all men are created equal, that they are endowed by (90) their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are (100) Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure (110) these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just (120) powers from the consent of the governed. —That whenever any (130) Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is (140) the right of the People to alter or to abolish (150) it, and to institute a new Government, laying its foundation (160) on (160) such principles, and organizing its powers in such form (170), as (170) to them shall seem most likely to effect their (180) Safety (180) and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long (190) established (190) should not be changed for light and transient causes (200); and (200) accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are now (210) more disposed (210) to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right (220) themselves (220) by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed (230). But (230) when a long train of abuses and usurpations pursuing (240) invariably (240) the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them (250-2) under (250) absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their (260-2) duty (260), to throw off such Government, and to provide new (270-2) Guards (270) for their future security. Such has been the patient (280-2) sufferance (280) of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity (290-2) which (290) constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government (300-2). The (300) history of the present King of Great Britain is (310-2) a (310) history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in (320-2) direct (320) object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over (330) these (330-2) States (330). To prove this let Facts be submitted to (340) a (340-2) candid (340) world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws (350), the (350-2) most (350) wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He (360) has (360-2) forbidden (360) his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and (370) pressing (370-2) importance (370), unless suspended in their operation till his Assent (380) should (380-2) be (380) obtained; and, when so suspended, he has utterly (390) neglected (390-2) to (390) attend to them.
He has refused to pass (400) other (400-2) Laws (400) for the accommodation of large districts of people (410), unless (410-2) those (410) people would relinquish the right of Representation in (420) the (420-2) Legislature (420), a right inestimable to them, and formidable to (430) tyrants (430-2) only (430).
He has called together legislative bodies at places (440) unusual (440-2), uncomfortable (440), and distant from the depository of their public (450) Records (450-2), for (450) the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance (460) with (460-2) his (460) measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly for (470) opposing (470-2) with (470) manly firmness his invasions on the rights of (480) the (480-2) people (480).
He has refused for a long time after (490/480) such (490-2/480-2) dissolutions (480) to cause others to be elected, whereby the (500/490) Legislative (500-2/490-2) powers (490), incapable of Annihilation have returned to the People (510/500) at (510-2/500-2) large (500) for their exercise, the State remaining, in the (520/510) meantime (510), exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without (530/520), and (520) convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population (540/530) of (530) these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for (550/540) Naturalization (540) of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their (560/550) migrations (550) hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of (570/560) Lands (560).
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing (580/570) his (570) Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has (590/580) made (580) Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure (600/590) of (590) their offices, and the amount and payment of their (610/600) salaries (600).
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and (620/610) sent (610) hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and (630/620) eat (620) out their substance.
He has kept among us, in (640/630) times (630) of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures (650/640).
He (640) has affected to render the Military independent of and (660/650) superior (650) to the Civil power.
He has combined with others (670/660) to (660) subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution (680/670), and (670) unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts (690/680) of (680) pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops (700/690) among (690) us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from (710/700) punishment (700) for any Murders which they should commit on the (720/710) Inhabitants (710) of these States:
For cutting off our trade with (730/720) all (720) parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us (740/730) without (730) our Consent —For depriving us in many cases of (750/740) the (740) benefits of Trial by jury:
For transporting us beyond (760/750) Seas (750) to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the (770/760) free (760) System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing (780/770) therein (770) an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as (790/780) to (780) render it at once an example and fit instrument (800/790) for (790) introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For (810/800) taking (800) away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and (820/810) altering (810) fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our (830/820) own (820) Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate (840/830) for (830) us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government (850/840) here (840) by declaring us out of his Protection, and waging (860/850) war (850) against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our (870/860) Coasts (860), burnt our towns, and destroyed the Lives of our (880/870) people (870).
He is at this time transporting large Armies of (890/880) foreign (880) Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and (900/890) tyranny (890), already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely (910/900) paralleled (900) in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the (920/910) Head (910) of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow (930/920) citizens (920) taken Captive on (960) the high Seas, to bear arms (940/930) against (930) their Country, to (970) become the executioners of their friends (950/940) and (940) Brethren, or to (980) fall themselves by their Hands.
He (960/950) has (950) excited domestic insurrection (920)(990) among (920) us, and has endeavoured to (970/960) bring (960)(930) on the inhabitants (1000) of (930) our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages (970)(940), whose known rule of (940) warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of (980)(950) all ages, sexes and (950) conditions.
He has constrained our fellow (960) citizens (920) taken Captive on (960) the high Seas, to bear arms (970) against (930) their Country, to (970) become the executioners of their friends (980) and (940) Brethren, or to (980) fall themselves by their Hands.
In (990) every stage of these (990) Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress (1000) in the most humble (1000) terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated (1010) injuries.
A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations which would inevitably interrupt our connection and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must therefore acquiesce in the necessity which denounces our separation and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent states, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
=============================================
As you will see above, there are multiple numbered words. Well, this is something I thought was interesting as well. The version used to decode #2 was done by the awkward numbering of the DOI mixed with a few added words (such as 'a' at 155 above and there is another one as well at 210, the word 'now'). There is also a paragraph (between 910 and 1000+) that appears out of place.
After reading up on the site The Beale Papers they attempt at creating the altered version that I did above. Please note that when you actually follow the author's numbering scheme as well with moved paragraph, you will notice that the words are perfectly written in the decoded #2 - much like the letters to Morriss were. I even tested this theory myself and was able to get the exact wording as it was decoded here:
-------------------------------------------------------------
Decoded #2
"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 three herewith
The first deposit consisted of Ten hundred and fourteen pounds of gold and thirty eight hundred and twelve pounds of silver deposited Nov(ember) eighteen nineteen.
The Second was made Dec(ember) eighteen twenty-one and consisted of nineteen hundred and seven pounds of gold and twelve hundred and eighty-eight of silver; also jewels obtained in St. Louis in exchange for silver to save transportation and valued at thirteen thousand dollars
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 one describes the exact locality of the vault, so that no difficulty will be had in finding it"
-------------------------------------------------------------
What complicates things further, is that #1 and #3 have numbers that are beyond the scope of the DOI used by the author of the Papers as the DOI is 1333 words in length. This begs to differ that there is another key - yet that would go against what was stated by the letter to Morriss dated January 4th, 1822. It mentions in the box content letters 'a key', 'a key', and 'the key' respectively. Here are those locations:
Jan 4th 1822, "The papers enclosed herewith will be unintelligible without the key, which will reach you in time,"
May 9th, 1822 (mentioned twice), "You will find, in addition to the papers addressed to you, other papers which will be unintelligible without the aid of a key to assist you. Such a key I have left in the hands of a friend in this place, sealed, addressed to yourself, and endorsed not to be delivered until June, 1832."
An alternative, is that if you take out all of the numbers prior to the author's screw ups (I had decided on 160, myself - the word 'foundation'), you can see that it is unintelligible but for a few words that come out. In one instance, I believed to have seen IND for Indiana for a round of decoding #3...that was even pushing it since there is an added word. I may go for 150 next time I try it.
If one would confer using a 3-key cipher, one would have to view what 3 pertinent documents would be key to them. Well, we know of 1, the DOI. What about the AOC? What about the USC? The USC is without a shadow of a doubt longer than the DOI...so it makes you think further.
Upon watching some videos on the subject, there was a History Channel video that a guy said "I found it" and "it has to do with Edgar Allan Poe's the Gold Bug". If that were the case, it would have to have been mentioned as plural - keys...but it is not.
Using technology, one can probably do a pretty good job at figuring out a majority of the letters in each. Here are some suggested sites:
https://www.dcode.fr/book-cipher
http://spellbackwards.com/
Overall, this is just a portion of my workings up to this point. I am going to focus on this again soon, but wanted to share. Oh...and I attached my renumbering work to this message.
Have fun!
This is a snippet of a map of Bedford County, 1864. You can find this map at the LOC (so National Treasure-esque!).
It is plain to see that the left Buford is Locust Level - that right one throws me off. Distance between them is about a mile and a quarter....but you have to take into consideration the "about 4 miles from Buford's" from #2.
Here is a terrain map for you, too...I annotated each and made 4 mi markers at all compass points from each center point.
These are just the maps...so now, the ciphers. I do not claim to know the answer to them as many have tried to prove themselves as a master decipher-er (if that is even a word).
I took the liberty of copying, by hand, the DOI from the Beale Papers. To the extent of the numbering scheme as well. Here it is:
==============================================
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary (10) for one people to dissolve the political bands which have (20) connected them with another, and to assume among the powers (30) of the earth, the separate and equal station to which (40) the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them (50), a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that (60) they should declare the causes which impel them to the (70) separation.
We hold these truths to be self evident, that (80) all men are created equal, that they are endowed by (90) their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are (100) Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure (110) these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just (120) powers from the consent of the governed. —That whenever any (130) Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is (140) the right of the People to alter or to abolish (150) it, and to institute a new Government, laying its foundation (160) on (160) such principles, and organizing its powers in such form (170), as (170) to them shall seem most likely to effect their (180) Safety (180) and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long (190) established (190) should not be changed for light and transient causes (200); and (200) accordingly all experience hath shown, that mankind are now (210) more disposed (210) to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right (220) themselves (220) by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed (230). But (230) when a long train of abuses and usurpations pursuing (240) invariably (240) the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them (250-2) under (250) absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their (260-2) duty (260), to throw off such Government, and to provide new (270-2) Guards (270) for their future security. Such has been the patient (280-2) sufferance (280) of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity (290-2) which (290) constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government (300-2). The (300) history of the present King of Great Britain is (310-2) a (310) history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in (320-2) direct (320) object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over (330) these (330-2) States (330). To prove this let Facts be submitted to (340) a (340-2) candid (340) world.
He has refused his Assent to Laws (350), the (350-2) most (350) wholesome and necessary for the public good.
He (360) has (360-2) forbidden (360) his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and (370) pressing (370-2) importance (370), unless suspended in their operation till his Assent (380) should (380-2) be (380) obtained; and, when so suspended, he has utterly (390) neglected (390-2) to (390) attend to them.
He has refused to pass (400) other (400-2) Laws (400) for the accommodation of large districts of people (410), unless (410-2) those (410) people would relinquish the right of Representation in (420) the (420-2) Legislature (420), a right inestimable to them, and formidable to (430) tyrants (430-2) only (430).
He has called together legislative bodies at places (440) unusual (440-2), uncomfortable (440), and distant from the depository of their public (450) Records (450-2), for (450) the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance (460) with (460-2) his (460) measures.
He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly for (470) opposing (470-2) with (470) manly firmness his invasions on the rights of (480) the (480-2) people (480).
He has refused for a long time after (490/480) such (490-2/480-2) dissolutions (480) to cause others to be elected, whereby the (500/490) Legislative (500-2/490-2) powers (490), incapable of Annihilation have returned to the People (510/500) at (510-2/500-2) large (500) for their exercise, the State remaining, in the (520/510) meantime (510), exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without (530/520), and (520) convulsions within.
He has endeavoured to prevent the population (540/530) of (530) these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for (550/540) Naturalization (540) of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their (560/550) migrations (550) hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of (570/560) Lands (560).
He has obstructed the Administration of Justice by refusing (580/570) his (570) Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.
He has (590/580) made (580) Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure (600/590) of (590) their offices, and the amount and payment of their (610/600) salaries (600).
He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and (620/610) sent (610) hither swarms of Officers to harass our people, and (630/620) eat (620) out their substance.
He has kept among us, in (640/630) times (630) of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures (650/640).
He (640) has affected to render the Military independent of and (660/650) superior (650) to the Civil power.
He has combined with others (670/660) to (660) subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution (680/670), and (670) unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts (690/680) of (680) pretended Legislation:
For quartering large bodies of armed troops (700/690) among (690) us:
For protecting them, by a mock Trial from (710/700) punishment (700) for any Murders which they should commit on the (720/710) Inhabitants (710) of these States:
For cutting off our trade with (730/720) all (720) parts of the world:
For imposing Taxes on us (740/730) without (730) our Consent —For depriving us in many cases of (750/740) the (740) benefits of Trial by jury:
For transporting us beyond (760/750) Seas (750) to be tried for pretended offences:
For abolishing the (770/760) free (760) System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing (780/770) therein (770) an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as (790/780) to (780) render it at once an example and fit instrument (800/790) for (790) introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:
For (810/800) taking (800) away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and (820/810) altering (810) fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:
For suspending our (830/820) own (820) Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate (840/830) for (830) us in all cases whatsoever.
He has abdicated Government (850/840) here (840) by declaring us out of his Protection, and waging (860/850) war (850) against us.
He has plundered our seas, ravaged our (870/860) Coasts (860), burnt our towns, and destroyed the Lives of our (880/870) people (870).
He is at this time transporting large Armies of (890/880) foreign (880) Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation, and (900/890) tyranny (890), already begun with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely (910/900) paralleled (900) in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the (920/910) Head (910) of a civilized nation.
He has constrained our fellow (930/920) citizens (920) taken Captive on (960) the high Seas, to bear arms (940/930) against (930) their Country, to (970) become the executioners of their friends (950/940) and (940) Brethren, or to (980) fall themselves by their Hands.
He (960/950) has (950) excited domestic insurrection (920)(990) among (920) us, and has endeavoured to (970/960) bring (960)(930) on the inhabitants (1000) of (930) our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages (970)(940), whose known rule of (940) warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of (980)(950) all ages, sexes and (950) conditions.
He has constrained our fellow (960) citizens (920) taken Captive on (960) the high Seas, to bear arms (970) against (930) their Country, to (970) become the executioners of their friends (980) and (940) Brethren, or to (980) fall themselves by their Hands.
In (990) every stage of these (990) Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress (1000) in the most humble (1000) terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated (1010) injuries.
A Prince whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.
Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our British brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations which would inevitably interrupt our connection and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must therefore acquiesce in the necessity which denounces our separation and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends. We, therefore, the Representatives of the United States of America, in General Congress Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, that these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent states, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.
=============================================
As you will see above, there are multiple numbered words. Well, this is something I thought was interesting as well. The version used to decode #2 was done by the awkward numbering of the DOI mixed with a few added words (such as 'a' at 155 above and there is another one as well at 210, the word 'now'). There is also a paragraph (between 910 and 1000+) that appears out of place.
After reading up on the site The Beale Papers they attempt at creating the altered version that I did above. Please note that when you actually follow the author's numbering scheme as well with moved paragraph, you will notice that the words are perfectly written in the decoded #2 - much like the letters to Morriss were. I even tested this theory myself and was able to get the exact wording as it was decoded here:
-------------------------------------------------------------
Decoded #2
"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 three herewith
The first deposit consisted of Ten hundred and fourteen pounds of gold and thirty eight hundred and twelve pounds of silver deposited Nov(ember) eighteen nineteen.
The Second was made Dec(ember) eighteen twenty-one and consisted of nineteen hundred and seven pounds of gold and twelve hundred and eighty-eight of silver; also jewels obtained in St. Louis in exchange for silver to save transportation and valued at thirteen thousand dollars
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 one describes the exact locality of the vault, so that no difficulty will be had in finding it"
-------------------------------------------------------------
What complicates things further, is that #1 and #3 have numbers that are beyond the scope of the DOI used by the author of the Papers as the DOI is 1333 words in length. This begs to differ that there is another key - yet that would go against what was stated by the letter to Morriss dated January 4th, 1822. It mentions in the box content letters 'a key', 'a key', and 'the key' respectively. Here are those locations:
Jan 4th 1822, "The papers enclosed herewith will be unintelligible without the key, which will reach you in time,"
May 9th, 1822 (mentioned twice), "You will find, in addition to the papers addressed to you, other papers which will be unintelligible without the aid of a key to assist you. Such a key I have left in the hands of a friend in this place, sealed, addressed to yourself, and endorsed not to be delivered until June, 1832."
An alternative, is that if you take out all of the numbers prior to the author's screw ups (I had decided on 160, myself - the word 'foundation'), you can see that it is unintelligible but for a few words that come out. In one instance, I believed to have seen IND for Indiana for a round of decoding #3...that was even pushing it since there is an added word. I may go for 150 next time I try it.
If one would confer using a 3-key cipher, one would have to view what 3 pertinent documents would be key to them. Well, we know of 1, the DOI. What about the AOC? What about the USC? The USC is without a shadow of a doubt longer than the DOI...so it makes you think further.
Upon watching some videos on the subject, there was a History Channel video that a guy said "I found it" and "it has to do with Edgar Allan Poe's the Gold Bug". If that were the case, it would have to have been mentioned as plural - keys...but it is not.
Using technology, one can probably do a pretty good job at figuring out a majority of the letters in each. Here are some suggested sites:
https://www.dcode.fr/book-cipher
http://spellbackwards.com/
Overall, this is just a portion of my workings up to this point. I am going to focus on this again soon, but wanted to share. Oh...and I attached my renumbering work to this message.
Have fun!
?acbctdmtotttrbwstsoohstwthr??cae
I pulled the GPS coordinates from the site on Locust Level to ensure its accurate location.
