Jesse James and the KGC: the Albert Pike Connection (Part 2)

(The top two lines of written "symbol" language were developed by Albert Pike.)

In my previous post on this subject I provided basic background information on Albert Pike, his deep sympathy for the Southern cause and the Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC), his secret symbol writing, and his possible association with Jesse James. That said, there is still much more about Albert Pike to be gleaned by serious treasure hunters.

Jesse James and the KGC: the Albert Pike Connection (Part 1)

(Albert Pike posing in Masonic regalia.)

Mysterious Looking Letter-Symbols

Thus far I've not made much mention of Albert Pike when discussing Jesse and Frank James and their possible involvement with the Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC). Pike was a highly intelligent and creative individual who was many things to just as many people.

Gold, Treasure, and the Meaning of Sacrifice

(Wounded Marines during the battle for Hue, Vietnam 1968...a terrible place to be as those of us who were there know only too well.)

What You Shouldn't Ever Forget

This Memorial Day weekend many of you are heading for your claims or your favorite gold mining or treasure hunting spots. With a bit of hard work and a little luck you'll probably come home with a tidy little poke of placer gold or a long-forgotten cache of silver coins.

What you shouldn't ever forget, however, is the pain and sacrifice that brought you this long holiday weekend. Over the years and even now, men and women of all ages and from all branches of the military services have and continue to place themselves in harm's way for you and yours...and, truth be told, for a nation that has treated them with utter disdain on more than one occasion.

Herman Wolfe's Lost Treasure

(Modern Flagstaff, Arizona is a staging area for visitors to the Grand Canyon.)

Scenic Southwestern City

One of the more scenic Southwestern cities you'll ever come across is Flagstaff, Arizona. Situated amid the mountainous terrain of the northern part of the state and about an hour's drive away from the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff has undergone tremendous growth in the past decade or two.

This untrammeled growth and popularity among those seeking retirement or a getaway from the huge urban "rat races" has had both positive, and not so beneficial impacts. But that's grist for another time and another story entirely. After all, we're here to talk about lost treasure.

Jesse James/KGC Treasure Trove in New Mexico?

(Main parts of the Glorieta Battlefield in Northern New Mexico.)

Kernels of Truth

It seems every time I turn around these days there is something new on television, in the media, or online about Jesse James and his possible relationship to the Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC) and KGC treasure troves. Although much of what I have read or seen is overblown and sensationalized, there are kernels of truth to be found in all this "static" by discerning treasure hunters.

Top 10 Personal Mistakes to Avoid in Treasure Hunting (Part 2)

(Spanish silver from a Florida beach.)

 Here are the last five items in my top 10 list of personal mistakes to avoid in treasure hunting:

6. Failing to understand the essential nature of treasure hunting: novices or newcomers are most likely to make this mistake, but over the years I've seen a few veteran treasure hunters fall prey to this one as well. The bottom line is this: treasure hunting is not a get-rich-quick scheme nor is it typically a viable alternative to your current job or livelihood.

Rule Number 1 for Treasure Hunters and Treasure Finders

(Searching for treasure is one thing...)

Treasure Hunters/Treasure Finders

In the title for this post you can see that I mention treasure finders as well as treasure hunters. Granted, any treasure hunter worth his or her salt will become a treasure finder if they are patient, persistent, and persevere (my "3 Ps" of treasure hunting and gold prospecting). However, I'm aiming this post at those of you who have found (or are about to find) treasure of one sort or another.

General Braddock's Lost Gold

 (General Braddock at the head of the 1755 expedition. Painting by Patrick White.)

Orders to Attack Fort Duquesne

In 1755 England's General Edward Braddock was appointed to lead Colonial military operations against the French and their Indian allies. With two regiments of British Regulars and a small number of junior officers including colonials like George Washington, Braddock set out in mid-April to attack the French at Fort Duquesne which was situated at the juncture of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers (where modern-day Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania now stands).

Butch Cassidy's Lost Treasure Cache

(Butch's mugshot from his stint in the Wyoming Territorial Prison, 1894.)

$20,000 in Gold and Silver

Butch Cassidy (born Robert Leroy Parker) and his infamous "Hole-in-the-Wall" Gang of outlaws, thieves, and desperadoes are well known when it comes to the history of the Old West. What's not as well known, however, is the fact that nearly $20,000 of Butch's ill-gotten gains still lays buried in the form of silver and gold coin in northwestern Colorado awaiting recovery.

$625,000 in Lost Gold and Silver in Louisiana?

(Old map of St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. A large trove of silver and gold may be buried here.)

A Woman's Place

Back in the early 1800s wealthy land owner Hippolyte Chretien II and his beautiful, vivacious wife Felicity lived on their large plantation in south-central Louisiana near modern-day Sunset in St. Landry Parish. Although Hippolyte supervised most of the necessary work around the plantation, Felicity refused to play the role of a typical Southern Belle and often took an active part in these activities. This behavior on his wife's part was not only out of the norm for the times, but it also stuck in Hippolyte's chauvinistic "craw." In his mind, a woman's place was in the home and not out in the fields.

Treasure Hunting Pitfalls: Treasure Maps

(Most treasure maps are about as reliable as this kiddie map.)

Treasure hunting, just like life in general, has plenty of ups and downs even in its most basic and mundane forms. The truth of the matter is that these ups and downs can't always be avoided and should be accepted as part of the treasure hunting process. However, there are a number of pitfalls in treasure hunting that can (and should) be avoided at all costs.

$6,000,000 in Gold Coins?: the Bloody Springs Massacre

(Lassen County, California.)

Gold "Slugs"

During the California Gold Rush the U.S. Mint was woefully unprepared for the unbelievable amounts of placer gold being recovered in the California goldfields. Although the Mint would eventually manage to play catch up, many gold coins produced from 1849-1855 and placed into circulation were minted by private companies in California.