$2,000,000 in James Boys Loot? (Part 1)

(The James Boys, Jesse and Frank.)

$2,000,000 in James Boys Loot?

There's a lost treasure tale concerning Jesse and Frank James that's been circulating now for at least as long as 80 plus years, if not longer. The real eye opener on this one is not so much that the James Boys were supposedly involved but that the trove that they buried and subsequently never recovered contains at least $2,000,000 in stolen "goodies."

Treasure Hunting

Yep, you heard right...two million dollars. The only other James Boys cache I know of that approximates this high-dollar amount is one that is ostensibly buried here in New Mexico where I live. But that's another story entirely. By the way, don't bother looking for the latter trove...I already recovered it (yep, and I was once the King of Spain too!).

As the famed treasure yarn author J. Frank Dobie once wrote, "The James gang robbed not to live; they lived to rob, and they robbed on a magnificent scale." Dobie is correct in this regard, but whether the "magnificent scale" he mentions includes the heist of a cool $2,000,000 by the James Boys is open to debate. You see, there is nothing to verify this legend in the way of hard facts.

The Boys Just Got Lucky

Exactly how, where, and when Frank and Jesse pulled off a $2,000,000 robbery is lost in the fog of time and in the telling of this tale over the years. There are those who believe this vast amount of money was accumulated over time in numerous small bank and train robberies.

Then there are others who say that the James Boys (and their gang) intercepted a Mexican transport train on its way to Saint Louis, Missouri. In the latter case the James gang is said to have had no prior intelligence or knowledge that the Mexicans were carrying this much in gold, silver, and other valuables...the boys just got lucky.

Are There Other Parts to this Treasure Puzzle?

After they pulled off the heist, the James Boys (all by their lonesomes) are said to have buried their ill-gotten gains somewhere in or near southwestern Oklahoma's Wichita Mountains. More specifically, this trove is said to be stashed along the road or highway leading from Fort Sill northeast to the Keeche Hills.

In the old days, this sort of waybill to a buried cache might have made sense. But in today's world with private land ownership and extensive land development, and the growth of the area mentioned in general, these directions to the possible location of this treasure trove leave much to be desired.

The most pertinent question that needs to asked here is, "How could Frank and Jesse bury $2,000,000 in stolen loot and never recover it?" Are there other parts to this treasure puzzle? Or, can we throw in the proverbial kitchen sink and propose the theory that this stash was meant as a Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC) repository?

There's more to come so stay tuned. Until then, good hunting to you.

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "More Tips for Treasure Hunters (Part 2)"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2010/12/more-tips-for-treasure-hunters-part-2.html

(c) J.R. 2010

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

More Tips for Treasure Hunters (Part 2)

Here are more of my treasure hunting tips for your consideration:

Start small but think big. One mistake I think many would-be treasure hunters make is that they instantly set their sights on the big prize and automatically dismiss the availability of smaller troves and caches. To me, it makes absolutely no sense at all to spend your time and money chasing down a potential “dry hole” like the Lost Dutchman or Pegleg’s Lost Gold Nuggets when hundreds (if not thousands) of hidden stashes like post-hole banks, small robbery caches, etc., are there for the taking for those willing to do the research and legwork.

Metal Detectors

Use those smaller recoveries to build a bankroll for funding the larger, richer treasures that just might put you on “Easy Street.” You’d be surprised just how much money you can glean from recovering coins, beach jewelry, and small treasure stashes over time. After you’ve recovered enough goodies to fund your larger goals, then spend the rest of your years tracking down the “big one.” Remember, start small but think big.

Never hunt remote areas alone. I’ve either searched for or recovered “goodies” in just about every outdoor environment you can think of, including busy urban areas, crowded beaches, rural yards and pastures, old “ghosts” that you won’t find in any book on the subject, and locations way off the beaten path in desert and mountain environments. Most often I hunted with a partner or two in these latter locations but to be perfectly honest, there were times I was “out there” all by my lonesome.

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I’m still here to write about it so I guess you can say I came out OK. But don’t do as I did…take my advice and never hunt remote areas alone. It only takes one small slip or fall, or the arrival of sudden bad weather, or a snake bite, or any one of hundreds of other negative scenarios to put an end to your life as well as your treasure hunting activities. So be smart (smarter than me, anyway) and be safe. Use the “buddy system” when you are doing your treasure hunting thing out in the boonies.

Don’t underestimate the use of misdirection and misinformation in treasure hunting circles. By way of explanation there are those folks who believe the U.S. Government used the UFO issue as a misdirection and misinformation tool to get us focused on aliens from space and away from the development of super-secret aircraft technologies like the U-2 and “Blackbird” spy planes, as well as the stealth fighter and bomber. There may be truth to this…but I’ll leave that to the conspiracy theorists. However, I can tell you with 100% certainty that this same sort of misdirection and misinformation tactic is used in treasure hunting circles all the time.

Why? Well my friend, the answer is quite easy: to put you on the wrong track, that’s why. There are certain treasure hunters and treasure hunting groups out there that have turned misdirection and misinformation into a fine art for the specific purpose of keeping you in the dark while they go about their business recovering the very trove you thought you were searching for. Am I paranoid? A bit perhaps, but if you think I’m joking here you’re gonna end up one sad or one very "PO'd" treasure hunter.

There it is…

If you liked this post, you may want to read: “Custer’s Lost Payroll in South Dakota”

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2010/12/custers-lost-payroll-in-south-dakota.html

© J.R. 2010

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

Custer's Lost Payroll in South Dakota (Updated Version)

(George Armstrong Custer photographed during the U.S. Civil War when he held the temporary rank of Major General.)

(Update note: I've published a reader's comments at the end of this post that suggest very strongly [to put it mildly] that this tale is probably bogus, no pun intended. As you can see by the tone of his/her comments, I guess this post hit a sore spot with the commenter! Being no door mat or anyone's patsy, I tended to reply in kind. Remember, this blog is about treasure MYTHS, legends, and leads. Evidently Custer's payroll treasure falls under the myth category. J.R.)

A Name That Figures Prominently

Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer is a name that figures prominently in the American West and that typically elicits strong responses from those who either consider him unfairly treated by history or those who view him as an arrogant and self-serving egomaniac. What’s not in doubt however are his questionable military tactics against a superior force of Sioux and Cheyenne (and their allies) that led to his own death and the butchery of his immediate command at the so-called Battle of the Little Bighorn in June 1876.

(Note: Some of you may not know that Custer was only temporarily brevetted a Major General during the U.S. Civil War. After the war he was automatically returned to the lower rank of Lieutenant Colonel, something that “stuck in his craw” until his death. J.R.)

Metal Detectors

Custer’s command was, of course, the 7th U.S. Cavalry. Both Custer and the 7th figure prominently in South Dakota history, including the 1874 military expedition that proved that the Black Hills held gold, a fact that triggered a “rush” to the region and led to the further expulsion of the Lakota people from lands given them by the “Great Father” as part of an 1868 treaty.

The Key Element

But the key element of this post is not about George Custer, the 7th Cavalry, or the Sioux and Cheyenne…it’s about treasure. A payroll treasure supposedly buried and left behind by Custer’s column as they headed out on either the 1874 expedition or their final ride to destiny in 1876.

(Note: Exactly which expedition is open for debate, by the way. J.R.)

Here’s how this particular legend goes:

Custer and the 7th were camped along Bogus Jim Creek near the small town of Nemo a bit northwest of present-day Rapid City, South Dakota when word came in from scouts that “hostiles” were in the area. The 7th was already slowed down by their baggage and supply train, including the paymaster’s wagon and his over-sized payroll chest and Custer was, as always, impatient to move in pursuit quickly. He gave orders that the heaviest items in the train be cast aside or in the case of the payroll chest, be buried nearby for recovery later.

All accounts of this treasure trove state that Custer and the 7th never returned for the buried payroll chest. Is this because the majority was wiped out at the Little Big Horn on that sultry June day in 1876 or is it because the column was seized by Black Hills gold fever in 1874?

Real Substance or a Fanciful Dream?

For me the most logical answer is the 1876 campaign against the Lakota peoples since most of Custer’s command was left dead and dismembered in the hot sun. Yet, accounts of Custer’s (and the 7th Cavalry’s) movements on that final ride are well documented, as are the movements of his 1874 expedition into the Black Hills.

Is this trove a fanciful dream conjured up by someone long ago, or is there real substance to it. Those that say the treasure trove exists claim that none of Custer’s subordinate officers were ever held accountable for the loss of the payroll. But some basic research on your part should uncover a few facts or clues fairly quickly.

$2,200,000 for Custer’s Guide-On

How much money are we talking about if the trove does exist? I suspect that if the payroll chest contained gold and silver U.S. type coins (most likely scenario, by the way) that it could be worth hundreds of thousands of dollars today if there are strong numismatic coins included in the mix.

As a historical set piece however, a trove like this that was validated as part of Custer’s column could bring much more money to the table. Not long ago the 7th’s swallow-tail guide-on flag that accompanied Custer to the Little Bighorn was sold at auction for $2,200,000!

There you have it. Good hunting to one and all.

If you liked this post, you may want to read: “More Tips for Treasure Hunters”

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2010/12/more-tips-for-treasure-hunters.html

© J.R. 2010

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

More Tips for Treasure Hunters

Periodically I like to pass on a few treasure hunting tips to you that may help you out in your research or hunts, or that may save you time, heartache, and perhaps most importantly, money. So here goes:

Don't believe everything you see, read, or hear. As you probably have learned by now, this admonition is true of life in general. In treasure hunting it can take on even greater importance and significance and holds up under the dual tests of time and experience. Learn to "filter" the treasure hunting information you yourself glean or that comes your way from other sources, "Treasure Trove Dreams" included. If you are one of those nice but gullible folks who takes everything at face value and believes that every treasure hunter is on the up and up and always telling you the truth, then my friend, you are heading for a hard fall. Now I'm not saying that you have to be a hard-headed old cynic like me, but you do need to stay on your toes every step of the way on that treasure hunting path.

Be smart, be savvy, and be successful.This tip follows hard on the heels of the previous tip and is just as important. Be smart means exactly that. Keep your head squarely on your shoulders and approach your treasure hunting activities thoughtfully, thoroughly, and intelligently. Being savvy is simply another way of saying know your treasure hunting from A-Z, from research to verification, and from gear and equipment to search and recovery. In the end, knowledge, experience, and careful planning will beat out blind luck each and every time.

Don't invest your money in someone else's treasure hunts. At some point in your treasure hunting career you will be approached by an individual or a group either directly (one-on-one, phone call, direct mail, etc.) or indirectly (e-mail, websites, etc.) telling you that he, she, or they have located a long-lost treasure trove and only need a few investors like yourself to kick in some funds to recover it. You, they say, can get in on the ground floor and turn a small investment of a few hundred or few thousand dollars into hundreds of thousands or even millions!

Treasure Hunting

Whoa there partner. Slam on the brakes and hold up for a minute or two. Sounds too good to be true, does it? Yep, and it probably is. My recommendation, whether you choose to take it or not, is to NEVER OPEN YOUR WALLET OR CHECKBOOK TO "COME ONs" LIKE THIS. You'll be tempted to, especially when that treasure hunting hustler, scammer, or con man/woman waves a handful of old gold coins, a gold bar or two, or some other "goodie" in front of you face claiming that "this is only the tip of the iceberg." Let me tell you something right here and now: those old coins, gold bars, and other fancies can be purchased or even counterfeited. Just because someone claims they are real doesn't mean they are.

It's times like these that the real treasure hunters (you) have to rise to the occasion and politely decline any and all offers. Ninety plus percent of the time you are much better off using your own money, time, and resources on your own treasure research, hunts, and recoveries. Now does this mean that some small investors haven't scored big on someone else's treasure claims or treasure hunts? Nope. But returns on investment from searches like the late Mel Fisher's in the Florida Keys (La Nuestra Senora de Atocha) or Tommy Thompson's recovery of tons of placer gold and gold coins from the S.S. California are the exception rather than the rule. Remember that the next time someone approaches you about investing in a "sure thing."

Keep your eye on the prize. Once you've done your research and verified the likelihood of the existence of a trove or cache (no matter how small or how large that may be) stay focused on finding and recovering it. Don't let anyone or anything (within reason, that is) deter or deflect you from tracking that puppy down and recovering it. People like to talk about talent and luck a lot, but in this context the treasure hunter who remains optimistic, dedicated, persistent, and imminently patient is the guy or gal most likely to be successful.

That's it for now. I wish all of you good hunting.

Be safe.

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "New Information on the Victorio Peak Treasure: Dr. Oren Swearingen's Perspective (Part 3)"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-information-on-victorio-peak_10.html

(c) J.R. 2010

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

New Information on the Victorio Peak Treasure: Dr. Oren Swearingen's Perspective (Part 3)

I now continue with Dr. Oren Swearingen's perspective on the Vicorio Peak treasure trove. Remember, Dr. Swearingen has been actively involved with tracking down the Victorio Peak legend since the early 1950s and he has been personally involved with many of those folks who figure prominently in this tale of a fabulous treasure found and then lost (or stolen).

Treasure Hunting

Here is what Dr. Swearingen believes happened to all the gold, silver, and historic artifacts found by Doc Noss in the 1930s:

"The U.S. Army Went Into That Cave"

(Note: In some circles it's estimated the main treasure cavern that Doc Noss found at Victorio Peak contained as much as 100 tons of gold "dore" bars. This, in fact, became part of the title of David Leon Chandler's classic but dated book, "100 Tons of Gold." J.R.)

"I Know the Names of the People Involved"

"I know the names of most of the people involved in this transfer (Note: Or theft? J.R.). A train waited for them at Engle, New Mexico where the gold was loaded and shipped to an Albuquerque warehouse for temporary storage. From there it was shipped to the Handy & Harmon smelter in California where it was "sanitized" before being sold to Belgium! "

"About 1963, the U.S. Army went into that cave (Note: The cave described by Dr. Swearingen in Part 2 of this series. J.R.) and MAY have used it to remove the gold because they then back-filled it with sand to hide their tracks. I am sponsoring a book which will present documentary evidence that the late President Nixon enabled a group of civilians to remove as much as 27.5 tons of gold 'dore' bars from a tunnel at the base of a bluff covered with pictographs (a spot erroneously called 'Bloody Hands')."

Metal Detectors

"The smelter foreman was wined and dined by John Ehrlichman (Note: Nixon's Domestic Affairs Advisor and Watergate conspirator. J.R.) at San Clemente, California while all that was going on at the Peak and the foreman verified this. I suspect, but can't prove, that Nixon used some of the gold to bribe Gerald Ford to quickly grant him a pardon."

"Would a Lawyer Do Such a Thing?"

"By the way, Nixon and Ford shared the SAME lawyer---who, COINCIDENTALLY was also the Ova Noss Family Partnership (ONFP) lawyer during the final expedition and search for the treasure that I was part of. No one seems to know how he became our lawyer."

"Could he have been working both sides of the street? Would a lawyer do such a thing?"(Note: I hope Dr. Swearingen and my readers will forgive me but the answer to this last question is, in my opinion, "hell yes a lawyer would do that." J.R.)

I have to say that the legend of the Victorio Peak treasure is one of the most fascinating and enduring I've ever researched or been involved with in any regard. One of the things I find most rewarding about it is that I've been brought into contact with people like Dr. Swearingen, "Mr. M," and a number of other individuals who were involved or close to many of the key players.

Of all the treasure legends I've written about, much of (if not all) of the Victorio Peak treasure rings true deep inside. I wish I'd been able to see that main treasure cavern before it was disturbed...what a sight must have greeted Doc Noss's eyes.

Good hunting out there.

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "New Information on the Victorio Peak Treasure: Dr. Oren Swearingen's Perspective (Part 2)"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-information-on-victorio-peak_07.html

(c) J.R. 2010

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

New Information on the Victorio Peak Treasure: Dr. Oren Swearingen's Perspective (Part 2)

(The late Ova Noss photographed with artifacts she said were recovered from the Victorio Peak treasure trove.)

Once again, Dr. Oren Swearingen has been involved directly and indirectly with the search for the Victorio Peak treasure trove since the early 1950s when he was a dental student at Baylor University. He was also, along with "Mr. M" (whom I've quoted in earlier posts) and others, part of the Ova Noss Family Partnership's (ONFP) final "legal" search at the Peak in the early 1990s.

Metal Detectors

The following (in italics) is more of Dr. Swearingen's perspective on the Victorio Peak treasure:

"Doc Noss Was Not a Con Man"

"Doc Noss had many faults but he was not a con man. That fantastic story was actually true! (Note: Meaning Doc Noss's story of finding the treasure, etc. J.R.)

"I found the three places where Doc and Tony Jolley buried 30 bullion bars the night before Doc was killed and, as I've mentioned already, I also saw a parchment map in 1954 drawn by Padre LaRue that was found in the cave by Doc."

A Ring, a Sword, and Empress Carlotta's Crown 

"There was also a man's ring found on Victorio Peak which was engraved with these words:
'Napoleon III Empereur Francais 1857.' "

(Note: A reference to Maximilian, the self-proclaimed French emperor of Mexico. J.R.)


"Maximilian was a cousin of Napoleon and his wife Carlotta's trunk was in the treasure cave with letters from Napoleon to Maximilian and Empress Carlotta both. The sword (Note: This may be the sword depicted in the photo of Ova Noss. J.R.) was made in Austria for Maximilian's honor guard. Then there was Carlotta's crown that Ova Noss scrubbed in her kitchen sink."

"I Found a Cave..."

"As you know I was part of the Noss Family's (ONFP's) ill-fated expedition in the 1990s. But long before that I got myself stationed at White Sands Base in 1956 (when I was in the U.S. Army) in order to search for the treasure cave."

"I found a cave that had been altered by man that had a well shaft at its far end that had been purposely plugged with a bunch of equal size boulders one-by-one. This plug seems to have been to keep entry, or maybe exit, impossible."

Skeletons in Chains

"Perhaps this blockage was done because of the many skeletons who were in chains, at least one of whom had red hair: former Spanish slave-masters overthrown by their Apache slave laborers?" (Note: Dr. Swearingen alludes here to Doc's claim that he [Noss] found chained skeletons in the main Victorio Peak treasure cavern. J.R.) This may have been done in case the captives got loose they would have been unable to escape."

"There was NO dirt in the shaft, only the pancake-shaped rocks, and NO rocks were missing out of the very low ceiling. It was totally smooth."

There'll be more from Dr. Swearingen in my next post on this topic. Until then good hunting to you.

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "New Information on the Victorio Peak Treasure: Dr. Oren Swearingen's Perspective (Part 1)"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-information-on-victorio-peak.html

c) J.R. 2010

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

New Information on the Victorio Peak Treasure: Dr. Oren Swearingen's Perspective (Part 1)

(Victorio Peak satellite image.)

An Enduring Legend

As I've stated elsewhere in "Treasure Trove Dreams," some treasure legends are so complex and so rooted in both myth and fact that they take on a life of their own and will probably never die as long as their stories are kept alive. The Victorio Peak treasure is one of these enduring legends.

Treasure Hunting

I must admit that I am amazed at how new information and new perspectives keep cropping up regarding Victorio Peak. I am also struck by how close-knit the treasure hunting community can be and how one person knows another, and that person knows or knew someone else involved, and so on.

Dr. Oren Swearingen

Dr. Oren Swearingen (D.D.S, Baylor University) has been involved with the Victorio Peak treasure since the early 1950s. He, along with members of the Noss family, "Mr. M," and others, was involved in the final "legal" search for the treasure allowed at Victorio Peak in the early 1990s under the auspices of the Ova Noss Family Partnership (ONFP).

Here, in italicized type, is what Dr. Swearingen has to say on the subject of the Victorio Peak Treasure. (Note: My comments are in parentheses and minor editorial changes have been made for readability and formatting purposes. J.R.):

"I Got Him to Show Padre LaRue's Map to Me"

"I first heard the Doc Noss story from a man in Dallas who had become partners with Violet Noss. (Note: Doc's wife after he left Ova. J.R.) She had given him the parchment map drawn by Padre LaRue so he could make a copy and he kept it in a safety deposit box in the Mercantile Bank in downtown Dallas."

"I got him to show LaRue's map to me on only ONE occasion. This was while I was in dental school in Dallas in 1954 and that was coincidentally the year of my first trip to Victorio Peak."

"Innumerable Trips to Victorio Peak"

"After graduation when I went into the U.S. Army Dental Corps I requested duty at White Sands. (Note: During WWII Victorio Peak became part of the White Sands military installation and, as such, off limits to civilians. J.R.) Since no one else was dumb enough to ask for duty at White Sands, I got it!"

"During my 2 years at the base I made innumerable trips to Victorio Peak. Even after discharge I moved to El Paso, Texas and continued to play cat and mouse with the base. I snuck in there too many times to count, beginning in 1961 until I moved away in 1984 thinking I was finally done with the Peak."

"Helping Terry Delonas and Norman Scott"

"In 1989 Terry Delonas sent Norman Scott (Note: Delonas was Ova Noss's grandson and Norman Scott a self-proclaimed high-profile treasure hunter who had been involved with searches at Victorio Peak earlier. J.R.) to my home to interview me about helping them with the Victorio Peak treasure. I helped them until I was forced to quit when my wife had a stroke in 1995."

If you'd like to contact Dr. Swearingen he can be reached via the following e-mail address:

manfrommars01@hotmail.com

There's more to come on the Victorio Peak treasure in Dr. Swearingen's own words, so stay tuned. Be safe until then.

Good hunting!

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "New Mexico's 'Tesoro del Alma' (Conclusion)"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2010/12/new-mexicos-tesoro-del-alma-conclusion.html

(c) J.R. 2010

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com

New Mexico's "Tesoro del Alma" (Conclusion)

(Topo map of the the Caballo Mountains.)

The Truth and Historical Facts

In my previous post I alluded to the fact the story of a vast treasure trove in southern New Mexico's Caballo Mountains did not end with my closing salutation to readers. That much is true, but I will end this questionable tale of a vast stash of hidden Spanish gold dore bullion bars here and now.

Metal Detectors
Gold Concentrates

I've said in the past that I believe every treasure legend, no matter how fanciful or suspect, contains at least one small element of truth. I still stick by that premise. However, in the case of the Tesoro del Alma I believe that the small element of truth involved concerns known historical facts and not much else.

What sort of historical facts am I speaking of here? Well, simply that the Caballo Mountains were visited by the early Spanish, that their supply trains carrying precious artifacts, coins, and metals to Mexico City did pass near the Caballos, and that these slow-moving trains were raided or robbed on occasion.

Suspect Claims?

But certain information has come my way that could be interpreted to state that the core premises of this treasure tale are, at the very least, suspect and that some of the key players in it also fall under that same category (along with a number of their claims). I say this without direct proof but by the same token, I have no proof that this treasure was actually found (despite claims to the contrary) except for the image of one solitary dore bar.

My friends, a solitary dore bar of gold does not carry the same "weight" (no pun intended) as a stack of similar bars measuring 5 feet in height, 30 feet wide, and 50 feet long as the finder has declared. No way, no how. I'm a hard-headed old guy whose been around the treasure hunting block a bit and I need more proof...so show me the goods.

Let Me Ask You a Question?

Now let me ask you this question? If you had stumbled across an unbelievably rich treasure trove hidden in a cave like that purported to form the bulk of the Tesoro del Alma, would you have brought others into the picture to ask for their help (financially and otherwise) to recover it? Answer honestly, now. Would you?

I mean, if you can walk out of a cave carrying one dore bar of gold all by your lonesome, doesn't it stand to reason that you could also (over the course of 16 or 17 years or so) walk out with many others? Stop and think on that for a moment. Make sense?

Don't Waste Your Time or Money

After studying the available facts and sifting through the new information that has come my way via certain knowledgeable, "insider" parties I personally think this treasure tale should NOT be given much credence. So please don't waste your time or money following up on this one.

I personally don't believe the Tesoro del Alma exists (my opinion only). In fact, the whole thing may (note I say "may") have been created for any number of reasons, some of which could be construed as potentially nefarious.

Be Very, Very Careful

Which brings me to this admonition. Be VERY, VERY CAREFUL before you shell out your money or property to anyone, anywhere, anytime claiming they have hit the "big one" and only need "investors" to make a treasure recovery happen.

Also be prepared to have a gold coin or bar, jewelry item, artifact, etc., waved in front of your face to convince you that the person you are dealing with knows his or her stuff and is on the up and up. All they need is a "tiny" bit of your financial support to make you rich.

Greed is a Terrible Thing

Greed is a terrible thing. It can turn logical, clear-thinking people into "kool-aid" drinking crazies who will readily dump their life savings into the lap of a savvy huckster or scam artist. It can turn friends into enemies and loving family members into fierce antagonists. It can also kill you in extreme cases.

I speak in general here, but if the shoe fits in the legend of the Tesoro del Alma then it must be worn. Mind yourselves now and most importantly, "mind your goods." Let this one go...

Good hunting and be safe out there.

If you liked this post, you may want to read: "New Mexico's 'Tesoro del Alma' (Part 3)"

http://treasuretrovegold.blogspot.com/2010/11/new-mexicos-tesoro-del-alma-part-3.html

(c) J.R. 2010

Questions? E-mail me at jr872vt90@yahoo.com