We aren't actually searching for the mine. I have already found the first mine the small crew worked in 1761. I then went West, as Swift stated and found the waterfall and his rockhouse (with another rockhouse 100 yards above). That is where I found the Silversmithing hammer in the scan - between the waterfall and rockhouse on a ledge. I also am almost CERTAIN I found the middle mine one day, following Swift's directions from the rockhouse and waterfall. It is sealed up, just as Swift stated all the mines were after the first year. I found it by going to the head of the drain, as stated and there were old paths on the cliff - one leading to this mine, which I spotted b/c the color of the rock was diff. than the rest of the cliff (where Swift had sealed it, the rock is now a different color than the natural rock).
Anyway, I can tell you that you are incorrect about the mines being North of where we are searching for the Great Cave. I KNOW where the richest mine is. I have found the Turtle Back Rock and the direction from the rockhouse is EXACTLY as Swift stated. In fact, I have the area of this mine pinpointed down to within a few hundred yards - I might take one day when people are here and show them the area and we can pinpoint this mine. I haven't even searched for the rich one yet, as I am in NO shape to mine ore - especially in this area! I would like to find the large mine and take some pics for my book. In fact, the ONLY landmark I have NOT found is suppose to be right above this rich mine - the Chestnut Bur Rock. That would make a GREAT pic for the book! I have found the Turtle Back Rock (which is "Near" the rich mine) and the spring of Indian Beads and Lighthouse Rock, which are BOTH to the WEST of the rich mine. I guess the "rich mine" would be worth busting through and going into, since Swift did hide some coins and silver, along with some tools in the "rich mine". This will be the ONLY one worth going into now - to get what Swift hid, b/c you cannot mine any ore in the area, as Penn VA owns all the Mineral Rights in the area (plus, the terrain would present such a hardship as well).
The person I have been speaking with (Mr. Hurst) has a GOOD LEAD on the Great Cave. Also, I have another GOOD LEAD in another area. Why I say they are BOTH good leads is b/c the one cave I know of (and have not been in yet), is to the East of the rockhouse I found - on Swift's way out. The Good Lead my friend has is in the area that was most likely for Swift to meet with his other party and would be in the area that BOTH Swift parties used to exit the area.
Like I have stated before, I have well over a hundred pics. My friend and I are going to go to some of the sights I have found and I am going to video them when we go, b/c a LOT of pics did not turn out. I have promised to take this person to the waterfall and rockhouse I found, as well as showing him some of the other landmarks. I will probably do this one day when we are not out in the field with the others.
I am not going to give away all of my findings yet, but I will divulge EVERYTHING in my book next year. All I can say is SEVERAL TH'ers will be very surprised - ESPECIALLY those who thought Paul Henson knew what he was talking about regarding Swift's mine - he was WAY OFF! I will also point out a couple of differences between the journals I used and some Henson posted - the differences are small, but can lead one WAY OFF target. I think this is what happened to Henson, as I followed my journals EXACTLY as stated and have found EVERYTHING so far, except for the main "richest mine". Although, it was NO PICNIC, as the area is ROUGH and covered with Laurel.
Mr. Hurst and I have discussed in some length as to why the Great Cave has NOT been found. We have also discussed why the Great Cave "findings" are WRONG! We are BOTH in agreement on this fact, as everything adds up the way we discussed. In fact, when discussing the Great Cave, we could almost fill in what the other was going to say before it was said - it seems Mr. Hurst has done his homework as well, b/c he has also come up with some areas I have found that NOBODY has mentioned before - in a MUCH DIFFERENT area than previously thought.
Anyway, enough rambling - I can save the rambling and details for my book. The only two things I need to look for are now the Great Cave and the Richest Mine. I KNOW I can find the richest mine, as I have it almost pinpointed. In fact, I will probably let Mr. Hurst go with me on this adventure, since I have put a lot of trust and confidence into this gentleman. Anyone on this board, however, is welcome to accompany us on our search for the Great Cave that we will be doing on Pine Mountain.
A few things I have an "idea" where they are located but will not search for, includes all of the caches mentioned BESIDES the ones in the rockhouse, near the rockhouse and the Great Cave and cache in the Richest Mine. I don't have time to search for these. I KNOW of two creeks that could be the one Swift mentions hiding SEVERAL crowns on. I have also pinpointed the vicinity of the cache left behind when Monday's horse was snake bitten. I WILL INCLUDE THESE WITH DIRECTIONS IN MY BOOK NEXT YEAR - hoping someone can find them, or at least that I was correct and find evidence that the caches were "once" there.
I KNOW for a fact several of Swift's caches have been found, as I found the rockhouse dug out completely on the right side (where Swift hid crowns). I also walked off the poles from the rockhouse for the other caches Swift left behind. I found the creeks and cache sights. HOWEVER, the ONLY things remaining were some very rusty metal rings that once held wooden kegs together - I took pics of these.
