Hello Glenn, Mike, Ki, Curtis, and all 07/04/2011 @ 3:30 A.M.
Johnathan Swifts,..."Square, Compass and Trowel Survey " actually consists of two carvings put together, "but left separate", both of these carvings are found on Lower Devils Creek near the Red River Gorge area. The late Ralph Volker, an author/friend and avid explorer who searched for the "Swift Mines" for many many years wrote a book and did a video on these two carvings. I have met and talked with him personally before his death. He revealed to me much about the Shawnee Cave, contents, etc. and the mines. I have worked extensively with these carvings and many others carvings in the Red River Gorge area.
The Compass Rock Carving" and the Partial Star or Trowel Carving or S.J.M carving are obviously Masonic symbolism. These carvings are found on Lower Devils Creek and are found separate from each other... but are found very, "very close" to eachother. When these two carvings are conjoined together they reveal a "Survey" (The Square, Compass and Trowel Survey). I believe this was the astronomical survey that was utilized by Swift to point to the direction of the 'Upper Mines" and is also "used" in the area of the "Upper Mines" to pinpoint the entrances of the mines, as well as, to find caches associated with the mines. This survey also astronomically calculated and revealed the latitude and possibly, (the longitude), of the "Upper Mines. Longitude was harder to estimate back in those days because of the lack of technical instruments used to calculate longitude. But it was possible... and Swift had the skills necessary to survey and plot courses...as he was a navigator/owner of ships on the High seas, not to mention a Free Mason with extensive education.
Swift I believe...had done a survey of the mine area, because he states in his journal...quote," After leaving the mines we were attacked by Indians, he says,... the Indians had taken some papers and horses, "these papers were of great value to us"". I believe these were the survey papers of the Square, Compass and Trowel Survey that Swift had astonomically mapped of the area of the "Upper mines, which as I said above revealed the latitude and (possibly longitute) of the exact location of their mines, caches, etc.).
Other evidence is the "very "peculiar"/strange carvings" and petroglyphs... located in and around the area of the Red River Gorge, so many so, that, it is hard to make any sense of them. These carvings, I believe were left behind and are evidence of Swifts party and Native Americans on their travels to and from the mines and Shawnee Cave, to mark their trails.
When Swift came back the second time to relocate his mines approx. 1785 A.D., after emprisonment in an England he was blind. I believe that if Swift would of had his "survey papers", he could have found the mines back but he didn't and the markers/carvings left behind to mark "his" trail were of no use to him...since he was blind. But he continued searching in his blindness in the Red River Gorge area... and it is documented and is stated...as the legend goes...that, (Old Mr. Townsend, also associated with the Swift Mines) found him wondering around the Red River Gorge area looking for his mines and tried to help him. I believe the Indians still have these papers and know where the Shawnee Cave and mines are presently, but can do nothing with the information, but only come to visit the cave secretly and retrieve things.
The carvings of the Square, Compass and Trowel and S.J.M carvings left on Lower Devils Creek as well as, other Free Mason symbolic/allegoric carvings, and Native American petroglyphs located through out the area, as well as, quotes from Swifts Journal and the documented Native Americans (Shawnee) scant visits to into the area, looking for a "War Woman or Princesses' burial cave bears these facts out.
Another fact is...that Becky Timmons who was related to Swift by blood was searching the area as well, but was unsuccessful. Blackburn lived in the Red River Gorge area as well and he left sevaral carvings too. Other evidence is the Rock Bridge (Swift Creek), and the Indian Trace (just west of Chimney Top Creek), which Swift talks about in his journal,. These monuments and trails are present in the area and tie in to the legend too. There are many monument rocks Swift mentions in his journal that are present as well, The Lighthouse, The Haystack Rock, etc., etc., etc..
Other evidence in the immediate area are the many historic initials of Boone, Stewart, Gist, and others, etc.,
There are still even many other very unusual/strange European and Native American motiffs, carvings and petrogltphs, some are documented others are not, there are, bugs, hands, guns, feet, creatures, animals, reptiles, circles, anchors, turtles, bow and arrows, numbers, etc., just to mention a few. I know of many others as well, and over the years I have studied, researched, documented and taken pictures of them. I have researched the topography diligently utilizing thee carvings and other inforrmation, etc.
I believe some of the carvings were left by members of Swifts party, and possibly later relatives who had maps that were given to them by members of the original Swift party. The Native American carvings I believe pertain to the location of the "Shawnee Cave" or Great Shawnee Cave. The Kelly Dunn map even shows a Lookout Rock, which is also a monument rock that Swift mentions in his journal. The Kelly Dunn map depicts/shows a cave and Lookout Rock too, which I believe is the Shawnee Cave, where Swift and the immediate members of his party stored and hid their wealth.
After following the Swift Legend for 37 years and having read all the books, historic newspaper clippings, stories, journals, folklore, and numerous other facts, etc., not mentioned here, as well as, the presence and abundant evidence of historical European Pioneer and Native American people culture and presense in the area; along with the carvings, petroglyphs, initials,. etc., associated with the legend, give strong evidence. And the weight of the evidence for the location of the "Lost? "Upper" Silver Mines of Johnathan Swifts and The Shawnee Cave tends to point to the the Red River Gorge area.
But this is just my opinion from the extensive research I have done on the "Lost? "Upper" Silver Mines of Johnathan Swift" and the "Great Shawnee Cave". Others have their own opinion and are entitled to it. But as for me I will stay steadfast in my intuition.
Sincerely,
W. Neff -aka- The Swizard (Treasurenet Forum: The Lost Silver Mines of Johnathan Swift)