While I was in New Orleans recently, I was in Preservation Hall for a concert.  I couldn’t help but notice the grill work over the door.  It looks hauntingly like the curved area over the clock in Image 7.
wilhouse

XeroDM

Nice analysis JMYoung. It’s always good to hear new thoughts, as although some or most of it may not work, one part may start a thread of thinking that will lead to a final answer.
I, personally, have come at most of these puzzles from a pretty linear path standpoint (some exceptions though… they can’t all follow the same rules), and it seems that once you hit the middle of your analysis, things get a little jumpy. I think this puzzle could be a linear, point to point, point-to-location- to final destination kind of verse.
But that’s my opinion, and I have 0 casques, so I could easily be wrong. I think once a strength of analysis has been set up, the rest should aspire to that standard.
I am very interested on what you dug up about the horses- Momus, Comus and twenty-one. That would fill in a couple of areas of the verse, all be those areas separated (which may speak to it being not-so-linear). I have been looking into the Mardi Gras angle closely, as I am thinking that namesakes meeting probably has to do with the old tradition of ending Mardi Gras. If that was leading to a location, it would be somewhere else, not where you are though. I think twenty-one may be a good line to run down and see where that could spur off to. It would be a great obvious, but not straight-forwards interpretation of the line about twenty one to the ground.
As for the final location at the consulate, i am highly doubtful about it. More likely to be in a park, less likely to be on private property, as per the rules. Even less likely to be on foreign soil (as consulates are). Don’t discount it as a stop on the route, or a nearby landmark, but final… too tricky in my mind.
However… me… 0 casques. Don’t let my opinion douse your fire for the search.

Thanks so much for the kind words and quick response! I definitely agree that my guess gets considerably more vague as it goes; in fact, that was one of the reasons I wanted to go ahead and share/workshop it. I’m still not sure that the rules prohibit the casque from being on private property, save for a “private flower bed” or land “owned by the contributors to the book, their families or friends.” In any event, the old Consulate does seem like a difficult place to dig (both now and in 1980/81), although that building has hosted many, many events over the previous decades, including at least some on the front lawn. If I can find some older pictures of the house that show the fence around the time Preiss was in NO, I’ll feel pretty confident in marking this spot off the list, but if the fence was not there or if the grounds were open to the public in that era, I’ll likely keep pursuing this lead.
Re: Momus, Comus, and Twenty-One: I found a reference to the plaques in the Fraiser and Freeman book “The Garden District of New Orleans,” p. 111. The relevant section reads:
“Two of the Garden District’s most stylish antebellum period Italianate double-galleried side hall houses were built for Creole residents. The first was probably designed in 1853 by James Gallier, Sr., at 1331 Third Street, for New Orleans postmaster and cotton commission merchant Michael Musson. Built by the firm of Cook and Moorehouse, the frame house’s arched entranceway, diamond-decorated frieze, and bracketed overhang extending on both sides identify the style, but the front facade originally had wood posts, and the three second-story (at the time) bay windows each enjoyed their own separate balustraded balcony. The lacy cast-iron galleries were added in 1884 by Charles M. Whitney, founder of Whitney Iron Works, who had purchased it earlier that year from its second owner, Confederate veteran and cotton factor James Buckner. Whitney also added stables with brass name plates designating his favorite horses, Momus, Comus, and Twenty-one.”
Not a whole lot to go on other than a few minor connections (arched windows, diamonds/jewels, postmaster/postmonster), but it is also worth noting that the founders of the Comus krewe originally met at Pope’s Drug Store–at the corner of Prytania and Jackson, no less!–to start their Mardi Gras organizational work. They then moved their meetings to a place called the Gem Saloon, which I thought was another neat name given the “jewels abound” line.

Long post ahead from a first-time commenter: New Orleans is the closest casque city to where I live (though it’s still several hours away), and I thought I’d take a crack at it from a distance to see if I could add anything useful to the hunt. This is my first time putting together a full hypothesis from the ground up, and I would appreciate any/all constructive feedback. I am happy to discuss this further if anyone is interested, and while I do realize that this interpretation is well outside the mainstream (I promise I’ve done my research–I’m a historian by trade!), hopefully it will at least spark some interesting discussion/thought. Thanks for reading!
At the place where jewels abound
It’s been noted on Q4T previously that the phrase “where jewels abound” was used by William Blake in speaking of William Cowper, whose “letters ought to be printed in letters of gold and ornamented with jewels of Heaven, Havilah, Eden, and all the countries where jewels abound.” This quotation comes from one of Blake’s own letters and has been reprinted in several books, including one on engraving. As such, it’s not farfetched to think that Preiss, given his life’s work in print and visual media, would have encountered the phrase at some point.
How does this relate to New Orleans, though? I’ve found a meaningful connection between Cowper and New Orleans in that a quotation from Cowper’s writings can be found in a mosaic tile in the sidewalk at 1410 Jackson Avenue, AKA the final site of Soule College, AKA the Buckner Mansion, over in the Garden District. The tile reads, “From Education as the Leading Cause, The Public Character, Its Color Draws.” The quotation was of great importance to the school; students were expected to commit it to memory, and the mosaic, which was originally in the ground at the college’s previous location at Lafayette Square, was apparently thought too important to leave behind.
Fifteen rows down to the ground
As best as I can tell from Google Earth, going down Jackson Avenue from the school and turning left onto Prytania Street, counting out fifteen buildings on our left along the way, brings us to 2406 Prytania.
In the middle of twenty-one
The above address on Prytania Street is in between 1st and 2nd Streets.
From end to end
Only three stand watch
These lines have provided me the most difficulty so far, as I have not been able to go BOTG or spot any convincing matches online. I’ve also had trouble finding older images/descriptions of the building in question. I do believe that if the casques have any real chance of being found, there will have to be some sort of reasonably specific indicator of where to put the shovel in the ground.
As the sound of friends
Fills the afternoon hours
A short distance back down Prytania Street (someone walking from the Buckner Mansion would pass this location on the way) is the Louise S. McGehee School, a K-12 institution which would be in earshot, if not necessarily eyesight, of 2406 Prytania.
Here is a sovereign people
Who build palaces to shelter
Their heads for a night!
Here’s what excites me the most, and concerns me the most, about this potential solution. 2406 Prytania Street is the former French Consulate and current residence of the French Consul. This ties directly into the immigration theme of the book and connects to the Sarmiento quotation in an unusual fashion. Sarmiento’s quote, of course, was about the old St. Charles Hotel and its magnificent (ostentatious?) dome, which was visible from the steamboat that brought Sarmiento to New Orleans. I do think the quotation should point us in the direction of New Orleans (i.e., not Montreal or St. Louis), but I’ve wondered about the lack of a dig site near the hotel.
If we keep the New Orleans connection but strip away the specific hotel reference, the “sovereign people” could, I think, be the French, who were using the quite lovely house (the “palace”) at 2406 Prytania to provide “shelter” overnight for the consul and his family. Although currently
fenced
in, the house has a quite spacious front yard.
Gnomes admire
Fays delight
Gnomes and fays both have obvious connections to gardens (garden gnomes and fairy gardens), and 2406 Prytania is in the Garden District. Given the lack of an obvious link between these verses and a specific spot in New Orleans, I’m okay with this being a clue about the general area rather than a direct identifier of the specific dig site.
The namesakes meeting
Near this site.
A couple of ideas: first, as has been noted on the forum previously, there are nine streets in the Garden District named after the Muses. Prytania crosses these streets a block north of the Coliseum Square Park. Alternately, a stable accompanying the house at 1331 Third Street was once owned by Charles M. Whitney, who added brass name plates for his favorite horses, Momus, Comus, and Twenty-One, while he was living there. I have no idea if those plaques are still present, but given the importance of the names Momus and Comus to New Orleans Mardi Gras (and the fact that another of the horses was named “Twenty-One”…) I’m not discounting the possibility entirely. Both options are “near,” not “at,” the site.
Strengths/Weaknesses/Other Thoughts:
First, I like that it takes us somewhere besides the typical 2-3 locations in New Orleans. While both the Chicago and Cleveland casques were found in parks, I’m not necessarily convinced that they all HAVE to be in parks, as long as none of the explicit rules mentioned in the book are violated. Too, I think the Blake/Cowper link is neat, and I was pleased with the potential connection to the Sarmiento quotation. (I didn’t mention it above, but Abroad in America also notes Sarmiento’s belief in the value of an educated citizenry, which could tie back to the Cowper quotation.) The generalized gnome/fay interpretation is as reasonable as any other I know of, with the possible exception of the Cave at the old Grunewald Hotel.
The problems: there are still a few lines in the poem unaccounted for. “Three stand watch” in particular has yet to connect to anything that I’ve found, and unless it gives a shovel-in-the-ground location, it’s going to be hard to nail down a specific dig site. There is also a seeming lack of direct visual connections to the painting. The arched windows on the house resemble the combined clock-face-plus-moon-half-circle, but then again, so do lots of windows in New Orleans.
Most importantly, the dig site itself—the former French Consulate!—seems like a difficult place to hide a casque for a whole host of reasons. Setting aside the question of whether Preiss would/could have dug a sizable hole in the yard of another country’s consulate, I’ve had a very difficult time tracking down old photos of the house to confirm how long the current gate/fence has been in place and whether the front lawn would even have been accessible in 1980-1981. A NYT article from 2000 says that the house had been in a state of decline up and into the 1990s, but nothing about the fencing situation, and it includes no pictures from the period.

Long post ahead from a first-time commenter: New Orleans is the closest casque city to where I live (though it’s still several hours away), and I thought I’d take a crack at it from a distance to see if I could add anything useful to the hunt. This is my first time putting together a full hypothesis from the ground up, and I would appreciate any/all constructive feedback. I am happy to discuss this further if anyone is interested, and while I do realize that this interpretation is well outside the mainstream (I promise I’ve done my research–I’m a historian by trade!), hopefully it will at least spark some interesting discussion/thought. Thanks for reading!
At the place where jewels abound
It’s been noted on Q4T previously that the phrase “where jewels abound” was used by William Blake in speaking of William Cowper, whose “letters ought to be printed in letters of gold and ornamented with jewels of Heaven, Havilah, Eden, and all the countries where jewels abound.” This quotation comes from one of Blake’s own letters and has been reprinted in several books, including one on engraving. As such, it’s not farfetched to think that Preiss, given his life’s work in print and visual media, would have encountered the phrase at some point.
How does this relate to New Orleans, though? I’ve found a meaningful connection between Cowper and New Orleans in that a quotation from Cowper’s writings can be found in a mosaic tile in the sidewalk at 1410 Jackson Avenue, AKA the final site of Soule College, AKA the Buckner Mansion, over in the Garden District. The tile reads, “From Education as the Leading Cause, The Public Character, Its Color Draws.” The quotation was of great importance to the school; students were expected to commit it to memory, and the mosaic, which was originally in the ground at the college’s previous location at Lafayette Square, was apparently thought too important to leave behind.
Fifteen rows down to the ground
As best as I can tell from Google Earth, going down Jackson Avenue from the school and turning left onto Prytania Street, counting out fifteen buildings on our left along the way, brings us to 2406 Prytania.
In the middle of twenty-one
The above address on Prytania Street is in between 1st and 2nd Streets.
From end to end
Only three stand watch
These lines have provided me the most difficulty so far, as I have not been able to go BOTG or spot any convincing matches online. I’ve also had trouble finding older images/descriptions of the building in question. I do believe that if the casques have any real chance of being found, there will have to be some sort of reasonably specific indicator of where to put the shovel in the ground.
As the sound of friends
Fills the afternoon hours
A short distance back down Prytania Street (someone walking from the Buckner Mansion would pass this location on the way) is the Louise S. McGehee School, a K-12 institution which would be in earshot, if not necessarily eyesight, of 2406 Prytania.
Here is a sovereign people
Who build palaces to shelter
Their heads for a night!
Here’s what excites me the most, and concerns me the most, about this potential solution. 2406 Prytania Street is the former French Consulate and current residence of the French Consul. This ties directly into the immigration theme of the book and connects to the Sarmiento quotation in an unusual fashion. Sarmiento’s quote, of course, was about the old St. Charles Hotel and its magnificent (ostentatious?) dome, which was visible from the steamboat that brought Sarmiento to New Orleans. I do think the quotation should point us in the direction of New Orleans (i.e., not Montreal or St. Louis), but I’ve wondered about the lack of a dig site near the hotel.
If we keep the New Orleans connection but strip away the specific hotel reference, the “sovereign people” could, I think, be the French, who were using the quite lovely house (the “palace”) at 2406 Prytania to provide “shelter” overnight for the consul and his family. Although currently fenced in, the house has a quite spacious front yard.
Gnomes admire
Fays delight
Gnomes and fays both have obvious connections to gardens (garden gnomes and fairy gardens), and 2406 Prytania is in the Garden District. Given the lack of an obvious link between these verses and a specific spot in New Orleans, I’m okay with this being a clue about the general area rather than a direct identifier of the specific dig site.
The namesakes meeting
Near this site.
A couple of ideas: first, as has been noted on the forum previously, there are nine streets in the Garden District named after the Muses. Prytania crosses these streets a block north of the Coliseum Square Park. Alternately, a stable accompanying the house at 1331 Third Street was once owned by Charles M. Whitney, who added brass name plates for his favorite horses, Momus, Comus, and Twenty-One, while he was living there. I have no idea if those plaques are still present, but given the importance of the names Momus and Comus to New Orleans Mardi Gras (and the fact that another of the horses was named “Twenty-One”…) I’m not discounting the possibility entirely. Both options are “near,” not “at,” the site.
Strengths/Weaknesses/Other Thoughts:
First, I like that it takes us somewhere besides the typical 2-3 locations in New Orleans. While both the Chicago and Cleveland casques were found in parks, I’m not necessarily convinced that they all HAVE to be in parks, as long as none of the explicit rules mentioned in the book are violated. Too, I think the Blake/Cowper link is neat, and I was pleased with the potential connection to the Sarmiento quotation. (I didn’t mention it above, but Abroad in America also notes Sarmiento’s belief in the value of an educated citizenry, which could tie back to the Cowper quotation.) The generalized gnome/fay interpretation is as reasonable as any other I know of, with the possible exception of the Cave at the old Grunewald Hotel.
The problems: there are still a few lines in the poem unaccounted for. “Three stand watch” in particular has yet to connect to anything that I’ve found, and unless it gives a shovel-in-the-ground location, it’s going to be hard to nail down a specific dig site. There is also a seeming lack of direct visual connections to the painting. The arched windows on the house resemble the combined clock-face-plus-moon-half-circle, but then again, so do lots of windows in New Orleans.
Most importantly, the dig site itself—the former French Consulate!—seems like a difficult place to hide a casque for a whole host of reasons. Setting aside the question of whether Preiss would/could have dug a sizable hole in the yard of another country’s consulate, I’ve had a very difficult time tracking down old photos of the house to confirm how long the current gate/fence has been in place and whether the front lawn would even have been accessible in 1980-1981. A NYT article from 2000 says that the house had been in a state of decline up and into the 1990s, but nothing about the fencing situation, and it includes no pictures from the period.

Nice analysis JMYoung. It’s always good to hear new thoughts, as although some or most of it may not work, one part may start a thread of thinking that will lead to a final answer.
I, personally, have come at most of these puzzles from a pretty linear path standpoint (some exceptions though… they can’t all follow the same rules), and it seems that once you hit the middle of your analysis, things get a little jumpy. I think this puzzle could be a linear, point to point, point-to-location- to final destination kind of verse.
But that’s my opinion, and I have 0 casques, so I could easily be wrong. I think once a strength of analysis has been set up, the rest should aspire to that standard.
I am very interested on what you dug up about the horses- Momus, Comus and twenty-one. That would fill in a couple of areas of the verse, all be those areas separated (which may speak to it being not-so-linear). I have been looking into the Mardi Gras angle closely, as I am thinking that namesakes meeting probably has to do with the old tradition of ending Mardi Gras. If that was leading to a location, it would be somewhere else, not where you are though. I think twenty-one may be a good line to run down and see where that could spur off to. It would be a great obvious, but not straight-forwards interpretation of the line about twenty one to the ground.
As for the final location at the consulate, i am highly doubtful about it. More likely to be in a park, less likely to be on private property, as per the rules. Even less likely to be on foreign soil (as consulates are). Don’t discount it as a stop on the route, or a nearby landmark, but final… too tricky in my mind.
However… me… 0 casques. Don’t let my opinion douse your fire for the search.

FlippinArkansas

While this may not ultimately propel the discovery of the casque, I’m convinced that the mask in image 7 (while certainly a reference to Mardi Gras) is meant to represent Louis Armstrong, who performed in “white face” as a teenager in New Orleans
https://tinyurl.com/l3esowl
. If you look at the broad nose and full lips on the mask and consider the Armstrong connections, it’s a match.

Sorry, I just realized this was something everyone was already aware of. I swear I’m trying my best to read all the posts but I miss things here and there.

Flip, its cool. Yes, people here are aware of many many details, including >3000 posts of my nonsense.
So theres no question thats Louis’ face, the qu,estion is why? Does it tease only the generality of New Orleans or something specific like Armstrong Park, his statue itself, or Preservation Hall, etc.?

(…now realised where this sign is, which isn’t exactly where I thought it was, so I just want to get some stuff clear in my own mind…)
At stone wall’s door
The air smells sweet
Sign at the main entrance to Jackson…
…which matches the clock. (I probably don’t need to expand on that further.  ;D)
Not far away
High posts are three
Education and justice for all to see
(Cathedral spires and adjacent Presbytere, once a courthouse)
Sounds from the sky
Near ace is high
Running north,
Aces high / Artillery Park, just behind you at this point.
…but first across
In jewel’s direction
Is an object of Twain’s attention
Andrew Jackson, who appears in Twain’s first book, riding due southwest as seen above. (Was getting my directions in a muddle with that Turquoise thing.) This direction is confirmed by the clock hand, mapping Jackson Square to the clock-face with “III” as the three spires and “XXI” as “Ace is high” (21), or Artillery Park. (Ignore the red “B”.) It’s pointing towards St Peter St., which is where Preservation Hall is, further north.
Giant pole
Giant step
To the place
The casque is kept
If “high post” refers to the cathedral spire, then maybe “giant pole” does likewise. With the moonwalk nearby, it sounds like a hint for Armstrong -> Louis, so I’m currently thinking this is a move towards the cathedral. Maybe that’s the sense behind:
Running north, but first across
* * * * *
The chessboard layout gives the moon the semblance of a white draughts-piece, or as the French would say, a “dame”. The French fair folk include the Dames Blanches, or white ladies, of which there are a couple in the square, like the one shown earlier near this lamppost.
(I don’t really like the idea of the last couplet springing miles away, though if it’s an impossibility for casque-concealment, I suppose taking bearings from it would be the next best thing. I’m loathe to leave such a rich source of visual inspiration behind. As far as I’m concerned, Preservation Hall and the Plaza d’Armas sign are undeniable, and while the hall could act as some kind of generic “New Orleans” signifier, I think its disguised neighbour on the gates of Jackson puts things in a different light.)

For the semicircle above the word “Preservation”:
For the figure on the clock:
This is what I’m talking about. FairGrounds Race Track, New Orleans.

The Giant Squid

Jackson Square:
1) Give it up. Please folks. There are literally thousands of people walking by and through there every single hour. It’s like digging in Times Square.
2) Lots and lots of police.
3) And, not many places to dig. Several patches of dirt, sure. 4 statues in the corner, plus Andrew Jackson in the middle.
4) There no visual cues from the image anywhere in the common environment to point me to that spot.

Unknown

Unknown:
The New Orleans Municipal Auditorium (now defunct, but a splendid piece of architecture) faces Congo Square. The front of the building has the words: “Commerce, Art, Music, Theater, Athletics, Industry’ written across the front. Also, in a very digging-friendly area, there’s a grove of 20 live oaks, secluded, just to the west of it. (Not good enough)

Giant pole
Giant step
To the place
The casque is kept
As I was saying, if “high post” refers to the cathedral spire, then maybe “giant pole” does likewise. With the moonwalk nearby, it sounds like a hint for Armstrong -> Louis, so I’m currently thinking this is a huge leap north down St Peter’s. Maybe that’s the sense behind:
Running north, but first across
Agreed, the casque couldn’t possibly be in Jackson Square. Always said it was a stupid idea. Although, I would take issue with (4).
So, now for that giant leap north (past Preservation). Only potential spot that way seems to be Congo Square.
Guess I might take a look anyways.
Like Armstrong shedding his booster stages as he ascends heavenwards, we’ve at least managed to ditch a bunch of used symbolism. Just about the only thing left unaccounted for in the Congo are the stars.

New park then, for me anyway. Start by rehashing the obvious stuff…
(That’s probably about as far east as I’ll look. I’m not interested in drifting off into general Armstrong Park territory after following St Peter’s so carefully.)
Thre’s a bit more than the moon and stars. There’s the clock-hand, with its devilish character – though that might just be Congo’s
voodoo
connections – and bike-like shape. (Wondered about GG/TT in the last four lines as horse race, TT being a motorcycle race, though I don’t know if it’s well known in the US.) The Congo sign itself is a bit clock-arch like, though I’d rather not recycle that. And there’s the cuff. (Previously suggested the Toulouse-like styling, Toulouse being the adjacent street to St Peter’s…I think that cuff outline might crop up someone round here…)

Good find.
I agree with the jockey interpretation, although I see that being because Andrew Jackson is riding a horse.
I like the way the hand crosses the clock face, n’est-ce pas…?
(Jackson was mad about horse-racing. He had his own
racetrack
.)

So I did some virtual browsing of parks in New Orleans (flickr and webshots again).  I like the possibilities of City Park.  I believe Fox mentioned this park much earlier in this thread.  Nothing conclusive, but I found enough to be intrigued.  Wish I could get there in person to look for more.
Here’s a couple of pictures of some structure in City Park.  The left-hand side is an overhead from Google Earth.  The outline of the end of the bldg is a pretty good match for the arch and horizontal flats on either side.  It’s not an unusual shape, so I imagine we could find matches in other places, but I figured I go ahead and throw this out there and see what y’all think.  The right-hand side is just another view of the same bldg, but again I think you can get a good feel for that shape.
There’s a section of City Park call Storyland.  It gots lots of fairy-tale/nursery-rhyme/Disney type stuff in there – seems like a good fit for this hunt.  I was hoping to find a match for the flying guy in the clock face, but no luck so far.  I did find this flower that matches those in the corners of the clock face:
Other circumstantial evidence: stone lions at the base of the building in the first image above (look at the base of the light pole in the right-hand “pane”), lions on a carousel, and a miniature train in the park (similar to the mini 982 in Houston).
Thoughts?

Didn’t they all go to Houston?
Lots of things to follow up on in New Orleans,
but the chance that things have been
majorally rearranged would leave
this part of the Secret with a
small percentage of an upside.

if the casque is in or around the french quarter, then it’s still there, as that part of town wasn’t really hit
wilhouse

If the casque is buried 1-3 ft. below the surface, it is likely still there even if the City Park area was flooded. Lots of trees uprooted there, though.

Here’s a site with many pictures of Storyland.  Unfortunately the site is about the damage and recovery efforts.
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl= … en%26lr%3D
One thing that stood out for me was the arch bridge (near the bottom of the page) is a match for the wooden top of the clock.  In fact, in one image it appears that there may be two bridges side-by-side like the top of the clock.

Excellent observation! I’ve encountered many pictures of that same bridge, but I never connected it with P7. Sherlock would say I see but I do not observe.

I can’t believe no one’s followed up on Jambone’s extraordinary find. Don’t we have any hunters in or near New Orleans who can scout the place?

I really like the bridge = top of clock idea.  Perhaps our “peter pan” on the clock face is just to get us to this area of the park…unless of course we can find him.  He may just represent Storyland.
My vote is to start really researching City Park for now…..not completely stopping on other ideas but giving this a little more focus.

It wouldn’t surprise me if one of the characters in StoryLand has the face on the mask.  Another might even have the hand.

Pretty good link:
http://www.pbase.com/septembermorn/city … ne_katrina

Louis Armstrong’s statue in Armstrong Park kind of looks like the mask.
Someone please check whether this statue existed in 1981-82.
AnotherDoth

Nice.
A tie in to “Rhaspodic Man Soil”

Both noses are broad and flat, and the eyelids are a good match, but the lips don’t quite match. The mask could be Satchmo, but I doubt it is that particular statue of him.

The park in which the statue is in has:
“Preservation Hall No4”
Interestingly close to Jackson Square.
If someone was on site, they could start at Cafe DuMonde
(at the door of Jackson Square) and walk due north
on St Ann’s Street six blocks and hit upon the statue.
Intreguing….

That hasn’t been suggested. There is a theme running through most (all?) of the pictures that most numbers refer to latitude and longitude. Converging evidence suggests that 29 and 90 represent straightforward latitude and longitude. 19 backwards is 91, and N.O. is located between longitudes 90 and 91. We know for sure that backward numbers were used like this in the Cleveland find, and “encapsulating” latitudes or longitudes were used
at least
in Images 1, 2, 4, 8, and 11.

To me,
the sound of friends fills the afternoon hours
represents the football field as well.
In 1992, the Tad Gormely Field hosted the Summer Olympic Trials and the entire surface was reconstructed.
I hope it is not supposed to be there and maybe be at the smaller field.  Maybe
only three stand watch
is the key.

http://www.gumbopages.com/yatspeak.html
Let’s try that again…

Then there’s P6. I think whatever clue(s) we’re missing in that one is probably a “pixel hunt”. But I agree, I don’t think that he would have hidded clues that tiny into the Ps. It just doesn’t make sense, given how “easily” the other two casques were found without any such clues. I think he would have stuck to a general formula. Once again, though, P6 doesn’t seem to quite stick to the standard formula either… SELOY…

We’ve had some hard freezes as of late and I haven’t had a chance to get into New Orleans to take those pix. Sorry guys, but we landscape and had to work on some properties.
I hope to take pix of
1. City Park, Storyland area.
2. Moon Walk, Artillary Park area.
If anyone has a request let me know!!
Lafitte

Unknown

Unknown:
If anyone has a request let me know!!

Yeah, say hi to Jude Acers for me and tell him I’ll beat him next time!
http://www.chessville.com/misc/JudeAcers.htm

May as well show him P7 as well.

Oh, oop! I meant P7.

Forest blight, Jude is an old family friend.  What exactly would you like me to tell him?

I’m just another sucker that he thrashed at chess. I was in town (pre-Katrina) for a conference and lost at least $20 to him over two days. The second day he was just packing up to leave, but enthusiastically invited me to join him at a restaurant across the street where he knew the chef. I had some terrific etouffe, and Jude played a couple of games (for a nominal fee of course) and regaled me with stories about chess. He also taught the folks at the next table how to eat crawfish properly (when he was done, they applauded). Oh, and he likes pens, so I gave him mine. I was very glad to hear he escaped the flooding.
You should totally show him P9. I think the puzzle would appeal to him, and he may have unique insights.

Good idea! He should still be on Decatur st.  He probably met Byron in the late 70’s early 80’s! Lafitte

I learned today that a Napoleon was also a Louis.

Oh yeah, wanted to share this…
This looked promising, until we read that it is in Italy…especially since the article mentioned “preservation” in the headline.

Perhaps we should keep in mind the “get permission to dig out” verse.  It would tell us something about the location, different from all the other locations that do not require permission (at least not at the time of the burial).

BLAH. Brain freeze. Jackson Square.
wilhouse

darn you wilhouse…I thought you might have just discovered a tie in that has until now, been overlooked.

Had some ideas on the image involving counting up the intervals along the outer ring of the clock. There seem to be 15 in all if you assume the 9th one is interrupted by the mask. I don’t know if it’s intended to be read clockwise, counter-clockwise, as a single series 1 to 15 or two separate chunks. Also, I assumed the hand and foot of the flying figure are pointing at those intervals or a time on the clock. I’m thinking there’s no difference between the extended hands on the clock and the arms/legs of the flying figure: on a clockface, both are indicators of an interval on a predetermined set of intervals. The clock hands obviously point at 12 o’clock. The flying figure, it’s leg being the longer, tells us “6” and it’s arm tells us “12”. Maybe it’s just telling us 9:24. I’m unsure of how the system is being utilized. Any suggestions?
Another idea I had was to draw a line connecting the shaded crescent of the moon and the dark crescent shape of the mask’s mouth. That line length is approximately 8 units based on 1 unit length being the extra clock hand bearing off towards the “III”. The jewel crescent also looks approx the same unit length,

Something funny/spooky I thought to share.
I was investigating the area around a cemetery in New Orleans and this image pops up during a section of road and only that section.
ghost? alien? lol

“From France came the sturdy seafaring Korreds of Brittany, the nomadic, shape-shifting Lutins of Normandy, Dames Blanches and Dames Vertes, coquettish maidens from the river valleys or the Aquitaine, Loups Garoux from the forests.”
I have always thought, like every one else, that this pix is definitely NO.  In looking at the front part of the book, the narrative sections before the pictures and verses you can find sections on The Passage, The Litany, and The Vanishing.  The Passage section is the most interesting in that there are a number of drawings in the borders that have to do with our hunt.  On page 13, a werewolf can be seen in the bottom left corner standing on the shore.  His shirt looks awfully familiar.  Loups Garoux is French for werewolf.  The small dog-horse-state outline-bear image in the lower right hand corner of image 7, has always looked like a wolf to me.  The arm that holds the mask is not quite human (the hair on its arm, the broken long nails).  The full moon rising at midnight on the clock, just feels like werewolf lore.  I have done a number of searches for werewolves, and recently loups garoux with new orleans, no luck.  But what if it is simplier than that:  Wolf + NO  ???? Loyola University Wolfpack
??.  There are a few verses that could relate to a college campus or law school.  V3 (coliseum with metal walls);  V7 (Education and Justice).  Additionally V7’s Twain’s attention may indicate the Mississippi river itself.  Will do more researching on this. Hope everyone had a great holiday.  Happy New Year and Happy Year Hunting!  🙂

Brandon, I’m confused by your statement. The entire NOLA area is loaded with immigrants.

BrandonH

Problem with Lafayette Square is that it has zero connection to the theme of immigration, its a business area. Also, the “DIG JAX” in clock boys argyle socks kinda wipes out Lafayette Square also. The boy on the clock is not the boy on the Statue in Lafayette Sq, look closely.

I’m confused as well. It doesn’t get more French than Lafayette.

Kao, are you counting the slats in the lattice work?
21 lights on the bridge is a good find but there are more than 15 slats from the 11th light in either direction.
Could you clarify pls?
I know lattice works don’t last 40 yrs. Is this how it was 40 yrs ago?

choice. There are more slats but if you follow the 15th lattice/row from the center, it points directly down to the ground by 3 the cypress. It is almost an arrow point to the ground.
fox, I completely understand what you are saying. I do think the boy is the major thing that points to Lafayette park and why people automatically go there. I do see it differently though. Here are the major differences in the boy at the park and the clock that I see(I know I am not breaking any new ground here):
-Right hand extended in image vs left hand on statue
-hat on image vs no hat on statue
-sleeves on image vs sleeves rolled up on statue
-knickers with socks on image vs pants rolled up on statue
-shoes on image vs no shoes on statue
-Tie on image vs no tie on statue
-palm up on image vs hand down on statue
These are not little details. I am not trying to be nitpicky but that either seems like one of three ideas. 1)Palencar had a lot of artistic interpretations on the boy which were not on the visual matches of the Chicago/Cleveland images. 2)this is a blending of the boy and another idea/double meaning. It is not just the statue of the boy but something else as well. 3)the statue is not the boy in the image.
In my opinion, the statue in Armstrong park looks way more like the mask than the boy in Lafayette park looks like the boy in the clock. I also think the white bridge that is directly besides the bridge with the 21 lights looks very similar to the top of the clock but could understand push back against it.
Again, not breaking any new ground. Just sharing my thoughts. I am DEFINITELY open to alternative ideas.

Problem with Lafayette Square is that it has zero connection to the theme of immigration, its a business area. Also, the “DIG JAX” in clock boys argyle socks kinda wipes out Lafayette Square also. The boy on the clock is not the boy on the Statue in Lafayette Sq, look closely.

I have always been a firm believer in the casque being in Lafayette Square primarily because of the clock boy. While in NO some time ago, I walked around Lafayette Sq and felt more sure of myself. I knew that others believe in the Armstrong Park theory so I spent some time there as well. There is absolutely nothing (that I noticed) for visual confirmers like both the Chicago and Cleveland finds had. It also just didn’t have the right “feel’. I also spent hours walking around City Park which would be a better option than Armstrong Park in my opinion.

Nice to see someone else finding things in the graphics.
Another irregularity of the background can be found alongside the right of the clock which is the Sabine River boundary with Texas.
Check out page 76 of this thread where I matched the outline of Louisiana hidden in the image 7.
I used the Louisiana Parishes map from Wikipedia and inverted it.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/c … es_map.png
(15333)

I applaud such attempts to utilize a map dynamic. I think they are there to be discovered, but its going to be very subtle and iffy as far as orientation. Ive had to consider a 360 degree arc around some points of interest, because you never can tell what the painting is saying is north or which specific match component is the significant one.
Good luck.

but….ummmmm………not sure if that is in new orleans storyland
the clock hands were perfect
and now…since i’m hooked on alice’s tea party i find pictures of the boston tea party, blah,
they are all connected somehow, lol

If the bridge idea is correct the Scout Island in City Park should be looked at. The bridges could likely connect the Island. I would say that the treasure is in either City Park or Armstrong Park. I am leaning more toward City Park as well. The reason I think this is from a brief look at maps of Armstrong Park on the Internet I did not see anything that looked like 15 rows or could have been 15 rows.
With Mardi Gras passed the members that live near New Orleans should now contact the N.O. Parks and Recreation Department. They will have or direct you to someone that has maps and renovation records of these two parks from the early 1980’s as well as pre-Katrina records and post-Katrina clean up records all of this will be important in reconstructing the park as it was in the early ’80s. If an area has changed significantly then you may have to use GPS to find the location.
In City Park I would check Storyland, Marconi Meadows, Scout Island and one other place I put in a previous post but do not rember off the top of my head. Also someone else recomended a place in City Park that seemed to match the verse.
Here’s to findinig this casque

peter pan and tinkerbell (namesake) and fairy dust.
and twinkling stars, that’s how i remember my book of peter pan.
http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatc … _feat3.php
hope they haven’t been close to tinkerbelle
and cinderella with stars:
http://3dlaseretchedcrystals.com/images … s_eBay.gif
the pumpkin
http://flickr.com/photos/gjcharlet/5069 … otostream/
and i always imagine mother goose up in the sky:
look at the checker pattern and the clock hands!
http://flickr.com/photos/cinderellamom/ … 158567006/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/gjcharlet/506917922/
but look at the big bad wolf’s necklace and the swirls between his eyes:
http://flickr.com/photos/gjcharlet/5069 … otostream/
the swirls make me think of the hand in the image
her mouth?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mittensohm … et-918626/
there is a clock behind the little mermaid:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/edward-mel … 463874293/
look at the clock hands and the checkered pattern!
http://flickr.com/photos/cinderellamom/ … 158567006/

Forgot to add that in addition to the initials W.C. being present, number 77 is also clearly visible, 1977 being the unveiling date of the statue and Hilton’s opening. One can even use the lonesome “19” at the corner of the clock in conjunction with 77.
EXTRA EXTRA: PEACE!

Captain Mike

Gnome= a person regarded as having secret or sinister influence, especially in financial matters.
Gnome may also mean actual gnomes! This is a snippet from the Roosevelt (formerly the Grunewald) hotel in New Orleans
Located among the flurry of excitement on Canal Street, the Grunewald quickly established itself as a centerpiece of the city’s acclaimed entertainment scene. The Cave, with its grotto-like atmosphere, filled with architectural rock formations, nymphs and gnomes, was regarded as one of the country’s first nightclubs, and kept revelers up all hours, dancing to the sounds of Dixieland jazz.
Gnomes admire the Fay’s delight??
Fays=French??
Gnomes watching in admiration as the patrons of The Cave eat drink and be merry????
Super new to this, which is most likely already obvious but I thought this was interesting.

Yeah, this is new. Is this from a plaque or a brochure or…?

drunknerds

Yeah, this is new. Is this from a plaque or a brochure or…?

That actual quote is from the hotel’s
website
. There are various books and articles that mention the gnomes, nymphs and mermaids, though I haven’t yet seen a contemporary source.

I dont like the verse 5 fit to NOLA, but I find the golf idea interesting.

heres what the book says about the french:
From France came the sturdy seafaring Korreds of Brittany; the nomadic shape-shifting Lutins of Normandy, Dames Blanches and Dames Vertes,
coquettish maidens from the river valleys of the Aquitaine
, Loups Garoux from the forests. All these found refuge from the onslaught of Man upon the chill and rocky northern coast of the New Found Land across the sea.
Forsaking
the sun-tanned Riviera, water Dracs, p
layful-as-porpoises,
and the languid, amorous Fadas found contentment upon the hot southern shores of the New World, amidst
pink, long-legged birds
and
high, swaying
palms.
playful-as porpoises——-dauphins
–leaders of france (charles? street?)
coquettish
maid
ens from the river valleys of the Aquitaine—–joan of arc, maid of new orleans
pink, long-legged birds———–flag
of louisiana
high, swaying—————flag
forsaking——-her countrymen ummm forsaked?  her……..lol………gave her up, or didn’t save her anyway
this picture of joan of arc has a flagpole somewhere around her, ‘tho they moved the statue, the flagpole might still be there.
http://www.stjoan-center.com/topics/jcraven.html
oh, and also……….mark twain wrote “Joan of Arc” , she has a giant flag pole in her hand (just saying, depends on the verse)

you’re right regulus, that part was from the book and talking about a hotel in new orleans….but because it’s near the end of the verse, just seems like it would have to be pinpointing  close to the casque, i think
or maybe to  a sign with “new orleans”  or a castle (king arthur’s?)
and since fairies like to play tricks maybe “hotel” would be like “the old woman who lived in a shoe”
gnomes are considered guardians of  the treasures, so maybe a treasure chest in storyland? or a bank, lol
or a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow…..
look this building has our moon on it:
http://flickr.com/photos/48352971@N00/2129330277/
jambone, here’s three mushrooms, and the moon could be the gem
http://flickr.com/photos/gjcharlet/5069 … otostream/
here’s a closer look at the clock, looking at it like this, you see the building arch behind it,
http://flickr.com/photos/gjcharlet/5069 … otostream/
regulus, i have to go back thru all the pictures now ’cause you got me wondering about the dashes in the clock, oh boy
but this ladybug rollercoaster’s eyes remind me of the clock hands:
http://flickr.com/photos/lisamulvey/309143323/

atdreamer2112

Dambala, I’m at least listening to your song in a separate tab while I catch up on these boards… hope that says something for me as a Newbie.

Yeah…that song pretty much describes Josh.

“blind alley”  that is hilarious! just about as funny as Trohn using mute for moot when discussing a famous trumpet player! Love it guys!

Thank YOU!  SOMEONE got it!  See boogie?  I know– I’m going to Hell for the blind alley bit.  But Horse’s Head started it!

I realize sometimes a shape is just a shape but here are three things I keep wondering, related to Image 7:
“Legs”:
http://imgur.com/ROAZ1lJ
Word on clock:
http://imgur.com/pdeNa55
Comparison of torch/dot shapes on Images 7 and 9:
http://imgur.com/lAvBVbp
Anyone care to share ideas?

Unknown

Unknown:
I didnt know that the Chicago team went with a math-heavy approach

Unknown

Unknown:
The visual consistency of the 19, 29, and 90 being drawn in the corners of the clock face ties them together in a simple rational way

I was referring specifically to their interpretation of the meaning of “10 x 13”. We now know that it was a thing rather than a direction. Thinking that it meant 130 degrees put them well south of where they needed to be, but where they also found “fence” and “fixture” and “Central Line”, hence the confusion. The thing to remember is that we are looking for a very specific and precisely defined piece of ground. A grid of trees does that, while 130 degrees conveys roughly the same information as “left Beyond his shoulder”. Bottom line E, I just can’t find any credible evidence that math of any kind factors into this puzzle, and I think that you, or anyone else who pursues that line of inquiry is just wasting their time.
In addition to the numbers on the clock face (I-V and IX-XII) we have three other prominent numbers (19, 29, 90). Only one combination of those three numbers yields the latitude and longitude of a North American city. And that city fits nicely with the general theme of the Image, confirming in a very unambiguous way that we are on the right track. As such, I’m perfectly willing to dismiss the third number (19) as filler (because there are three exposed corners on the clock face), or possibly a red herring (1929).

Alll very interesting. The knights move I think was mentioned by that guy who deleted all his posts. It always made me thing of that game…I think its called knight’s chess where you take one knight and move it to each square once and only once. Very tough with only one solution.  😉

Ok, here are my notes on image 7:
Dec –P 7, 12 o’clock, turquoise, narcissus. In the Litany of the Jewels it says, “Turquoise the Fays of France keep: stone rare as a blue midsummer day.” Here, we have the French connection.
Just a wild hunch leads me to The Citadel I think it is in New Orleans. First, the mask on a stick seems to be a Mardi gras reference.
Second, the word ‘Preservation’ could be a reference to Preservation Hall, a famous jazz club. (Located at 726 St. Peter St., one block off of Canal St). Historic Preservation Hall in New Orleans, La. was built around 1750 in the French Quarter and was used as a residence, tavern and art gallery before several jazz buffs took over the building.
Third, there was a famous store in New Orleans that people would refer to as in ‘meet me under the clock at Holmes.’  The D.H. Holmes Clock store, located at 800 Iberville St (according to Mapquest, exactly .53 miles or one minute from the aforementioned jazz club) closed in 1989 and has since become the Chateau Sonesta Hotel where they are said to be considering replacing the old marquee and clock. When I googled ‘Holmes clock’ I got a photo of the EXACT SAME CLOCK as in the picture.
Again, I have photos, but I do not know how to post them.  :-[

I went looking for pics of this clock, and this is the one I kept finding.
Everytime I ran “d h holmes clock” or “meet under clock” or NO clock, it was this same pic by different people.
I’m confused?
????
http://www2.tltc.ttu.edu/qualin/ignatius/Clock.htm

The picture you link to is the actual clock on Canal Street. I think the reasoning is that the picture I found is of a “Holmes Clock”, a type of antique grandfather clock. If you can identify the type of clock from the painting, that gives you the clue Holmes + clock, which would lead you to canal street in New Orleans.
From there, I followed some clues and actually had a path traced out on a map. Louis Armstrong Park.

I am such a spaz. I found a link to the picture of the clock from my old notes. The website is kaput, but you can still view the picture. I believe it is the one the artist used as a model.
http://www.antique-english-clocks-and-b … 2818lg.jpg
Please let me know if this link does not work for you. I have the picture saved and I can host it temporarily on my website.

Different guy, same name. Like Armstrong. It’s all grist to the mill for your average crazy treasure-seeker.  😉

At first I thought the aces high reference was for Jax brewery. Jacks, near Aces high as in cards.But Stonewall doesn’t fit with Jackson Square. Different guy.

After reviewing this past year and as I make plans for this year, I revisited my NO search and found some interesting tidbits of info I thought to include here.
While I rethought my approach, I took a different direction in my interpretation of the verse. I searched north on Marconi and found this:
It looks like the base of an old flag pole with no pole. It stands infront of an empty field where something once stood.
I need to investigate as to what was there.
I also mentioned in my last post on this thead that I theorize the sidewalk was not as wide in 82. Looking at some of the parts of the park that look really old I find that sidewalks in other parts of the park are narrower. Right next to where I dug I see this:
It appears that they made the side walks wider. I verified that they improved 4 miles of side walk in the park but no specifics as to where. I will keep hunting and hopefully I will get another crack at this one.

I like both of you guys’ ideas on this with the fleur de lis. Keep in mind that a fleur de lis is just a graphic design for a lilly or flower. The cement flowers in the upper corners of the clock I believe were put there as a nod to the cement flowers over the entrances of the John Minor Wisdom Building across from the Benjamin Franklin statue.
And Malted, perhaps it was a fleur de lis at one point and maybe JJP and BP decided it was “too obvious” of a clue for NOLA? I don’t know, just talking out loud here.

So I did a bit of research on the jazz connection angle to the image and here are a couple of interesting stuff:
Focussing on 1980, the poster for new orleans jazz and heritage festival has some similarities to the image’s top part.
BB King performed then, April 21, 1980. His image is also similar to the mask.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FFaKxgVCpUc/VLIKVAtrzAI/AAAAAAAAEqU/KcMb5Fo17EQ/s1600/DSC04520.JPG
This statue STRONGLY resembles the mask. There might be different explanations why but I think you would be hard pressed to say that is BB King and not Armstrong. Plus, in the 70s and 80s Armstrong lived in NY not very far from BP.

So true, however I was trying to find people that performed in Jazz festival or major performance in NOLA.
Howlin’ Wolf has the perfect name for the puzzle, his name being chester and all. But again more connection to Chicago than NOLA.
Walter “wolfman” Washington performed in local venues but nothing major that I could find.

…and here comes a opinion from the old guy… to me, it isn’t a horse head at all, but a dragon head, like they used to carve on the front of viking ships,…similar to the one shown at the bottom of pg. 15… just my observation.

Pi don’t see the 35 you’re talking about. Where is it again? I know you said it was upside down.

Dambala

Pi don’t see the 35 you’re talking about. Where is it again? I know you said it was upside down.

If you look at 10:30 and draw a line directly over onto the wood of the clock.

I try not to let pareidolia get the best of me. If you stare at any image long enough you will start seeing all kinds of things. I think I see the ghostly figure of a wolf across from the three in background but I don’t even want to entertain that.
What I’m really curious about is the small hamd pointing to III. The circle on the end of the hand, I wonder if that is degrees, or if it’s 3 feet, or 3 yards…or none of the above. Notice that the small hand is ever so slightly offset to the top of the III. It made me wonder if that meant it’s to the left of the marker it if it’s pointing to one of three.
Like I said, I’m trying not to let my imagination get the best of me but you start seeing clues in every little nuance.

I try not to let pareidolia get the best of me. If you stare at any image long enough you will start seeing all kinds of things. I think I see the ghostly figure of a wolf across from the three in background but I don’t even want to entertain that.
What I’m really curious about is the small hamd pointing to III. The
circle
on the end of the hand, I wonder if that is degrees, or if it’s 3 feet, or 3 yards…or none of the above. Notice that the small hand is ever so slightly offset to the top of the III. It made me wonder if that meant it’s to the left of the marker it if it’s pointing to one of three.
Like I said, I’m trying not to let my imagination get the best of me but you start seeing clues in every little nuance.

Dambala

I try not to let pareidolia get the best of me. If you stare at any image long enough you will start seeing all kinds of things. I think I see the ghostly figure of a wolf across from the three in background but I don’t even want to entertain that.
What I’m really curious about is the small hamd pointing to III. The circle on the end of the hand, I wonder if that is degrees, or if it’s 3 feet, or 3 yards…or none of the above. Notice that the small hand is ever so slightly offset to the top of the III. It made me wonder if that meant it’s to the left of the marker it if it’s pointing to one of three.
Like I said, I’m trying not to let my imagination get the best of me but you start seeing clues in every little nuance.

I agree. The issue I have with this image is that there is a lack of detail like some of the others, not counting NYC. So I’ve resorted to pixel peeping now.
I also agree that the clock hand positions have to be important. I mean, they could have had it read anything, like 4:30. I know Mardi Gras ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday. Since you are local, what else happens when the clock strikes twelve around NOLA, either noon or midnight? Does it take just under 15 seconds to chime 12 times? Just trying to think outside the box here.

Dambala

I try not to let pareidolia get the best of me. If you stare at any image long enough you will start seeing all kinds of things. I think I see the ghostly figure of a wolf across from the three in background but I don’t even want to entertain that.
What I’m really curious about is the small hamd pointing to III. The
circle
on the end of the hand, I wonder if that is degrees, or if it’s 3 feet, or 3 yards…or none of the above. Notice that the small hand is ever so slightly offset to the top of the III. It made me wonder if that meant it’s to the left of the marker it if it’s pointing to one of three.
Like I said, I’m trying not to let my imagination get the best of me but you start seeing clues in every little nuance.

I agree. The issue I have with this image is that there is a lack of detail like some of the others, not counting NYC. So I’ve resorted to pixel peeping now.
I also agree that the clock hand positions have to be important. I mean, they could have had it read anything, like 4:30. I know Mardi Gras ends at midnight on Fat Tuesday. Since you are local, what else happens when the clock strikes twelve around NOLA, either noon or midnight? Does it take just under 15 seconds to chime 12 times? Just trying to think outside the box here.

Further to my post earlier about the greenways being the clock hands, this also orients the city so that it matches the mask shape. Look at the crest of the Mississippi. Same shape as the top of the mask.

gManTexas

Okay New Orleans people,
Just a theory. Take a map of New Orleans and orient it so that Lafitte and N Jefferson Davis is the center of the clock. Point Lafitte Greenway up and it becomes the hour and minute hand and Jefferson Davis Pkwy greenbelt is the second hand. The boy locates the Fairgrounds (jockey). Bayou St John is the brown under the jockey and explains why the number in VIII are crooked. The moon is the Superdome. The Lafitte Greenway points right at Preservation Hall and the area of the Louis Armstrong Arch. It also looks like the muddy brown on the arch of the clock, where its lighter in color could be the Mississippi.
This also places City Park hidden under the mask, possibly where the casque is hidden.
Not sure if this gets us closer to solving, but thoughts on this theory?

I don’t see how it can line up the way you state. Lafitte at 12 oclock puts it the dome in the lower left corner.

Howardjthomas

I don’t see how it can line up the way you state. Lafitte at 12 oclock puts it the dome in the lower left corner.

I wish we could post photos on here. Rotate your map so Lafitte greenway is running north – south. Jefferson Parkway will kick out to the east. Superdome is now at roughly 1:30. Fairgrounds where the jockey is.

Dambala

Hey folks…on day 6 of prodding I am about 70% positive I hit the plexiglass today. I am going to ask the officials for permission to dig in the spot, I am optimistic they will allow me to because it’s not really going to damage anything but I want to get permission first.
Something occurred to me last night while putting together the video I’m making explaining where the general area is located. The clock face is actually a topographical feature of the area…it’s a perfect match down to the concrete. I was convinced I was in the right spot but last night I realized there are two of these features in the area. I had ignored the other one because I was so sure it was the one I had been searching around.
I remembered that on the other puzzles Preiss always buried the casques next to a man made object. This had been bothering me the whole time I was prodding because the only objects that lined up with the clues were trees. The other thing that had me really aggravated was that I couldn’t figure out the Moon and stars clue.
Today, as soon as I got there I went to the other one and took a look at it with fresh eyes and I almost cried…and laughed hysterically. I followed the clock clue from the new site to where I thought it should be and I’ll be damned if the “Moon” wasn’t right smack dab where it is in image 7. It’s a perfect match…the area is even shaped like the sky in the picture. I did the other calculations in the clock from the “moon” to where I thought it should be and I made the first prod. When I did it hit something much different than I have felt so far (and I’ve done about 100 or more prods at this point) and I felt it catch something then slip down further. So I moved over a few inches and hit it dead on…it made a hollow sound. I kept prodding in a small grid and the object is definitely square at about 2 1/2 to 3 feet down.
I say I am about 70% positive because I am being cautiously optimistic here. However the only two clues I haven’t been able to identify are the “paper boy” and the Moon and stars. Now I know exactly what the moon is….that is the physical marker of where it’s buried….with some measurements you have to follow from the clock.
I am almost done editing my video on the general location and I will post that later tonight. It does not go in to detail on the clues once you get in the area, it just explains why it is this area.
Basically there are three main themes to the clues which I will explain…it’s really an amazing puzzle and I’ve had the time of my life tracking it down.
I will let you know as soon as I hear about the permission to dig but it’s probably going to take a couple of weeks considering the authoritative entity….it’s New Orleans so things run on tropical time
.

I hope you got it ! You must have almost dodo your pants when you hit the hallow spot.
will the video show your ahha moment from a few days a go.

Hey, guys…you have some things right but the Greenway was only created about 3 years ago. It wasn’t there in 1982 when Priess made the puzzle.
It’s also not in any neutral grounds and not in the one in front of St. Louis cemetery #1. Although STC #1 is part of the clues along with St. Louis street.
Video is encoding and uploading right now…it will explain everything up to the site but not the finer details. It’s about 12 minutes but it takes that long to walk through all the clues.

Gmantexas
I see now that interesting. A lot of the puzzles have something like this to show the general area. Orleans ave makes more sense to me as the hour hand. Orleans turns in to basin witch I always thought looks like the crooked arm of the loup ga roux. The bend is the hand and Armstrong park is the mask. I like it.

Is it in a protected area or a public area?
Because if it’s public land and not protected you can “generally” just dig. As long as you are careful and don’t tear up the land.
As long as metal detectors are cool, then digging is cool.

Howardjthomas

Gmantexas
I see now that interesting. A lot of the puzzles have something like this to show the general area. Orleans ave makes more sense to me as the hour hand. Orleans turns in to basin witch I always thought looks like the crooked arm of the loup ga roux. The bend is the hand and Armstrong park is the mask. I like it.

It’s not a Loup Garoux but you’re on to something with the rest of it.

Id like a link of videos. Thanks

Each painting has an image of one of the fair people. Loop garoux is the only one i see to fit hairy arm and a full moon has to be.
Asking to dig does not go over well. I have not dug for a cask but I do metal detect. I would like to run my Detector over the site before you dig. I have a high end whites metal detector. I read some were that the cask may have metal in the ceramic.

Howardjthomas

Each painting has an image of one of the fair people. Loop garoux is the only one i see to fit hairy arm and a full moon has to be.
Asking to dig does not go over well. I have not dug for a cask but I do metal detect. I would like to run my Detector over the site before you dig. I have a high end whites metal detector. I read some were that the cask may have metal in the ceramic.

The key has… Almost like a bit of coat hanger in it. We made a replica and tried with a pulse detector… It didn’t work.

Howardjthomas

Each painting has an image of one of the fair people….

Most of them don’t.

Dambala

Hey, guys…you have some things right but the Greenway was only created about 3 years ago. It wasn’t there in 1982 when Priess made the puzzle.
It’s also not in any neutral grounds and not in the one in front of St. Louis cemetery #1. Although STC #1 is part of the clues along with St. Louis street.
Video is encoding and uploading right now…it will explain everything up to the site but not the finer details. It’s about 12 minutes but it takes that long to walk through all the clues.

Saint Louis and Jefferson Davis certainly existed, seems they did me a favor and highlighted it!

I wouldn’t mind seeing it either

It’s not a Loup Garou it’s a Mardi Gras Jester.

I thought I had heard that it did. It would be worth a shot to get a signiture reading. The photo of the Chicago looks to be 15 to 20 in deep. It’s on the edge of my detectors range.

The Mardi Gras Jester masks his face while holding a “staff” with his real face on it.
http://plan-pack-go.com/wp-content/uplo … CF4057.jpg

burnstyle

Most of them don’t.

I think there is. I’m working on it for all images. Florida is the hard one but I think it’s the side profile of the face in the rocks.
Leshy and Vily, from the forests of Muscovy, instructed the Mohicans in woodcraft, teaching them to move silently and in- visibly through the trees-a skill which (learned au- thorities say) the Mohicans possessed to the Last.
Some fair folk look like humans.

Unknown

Unknown:
I wouldn’t mind seeing it either

I’m looking forward to the discussion once the information is made public. I’m not confident that anything of substance will come out of it. Mostly because I’ve seen variations of the same thing play out over and over and over again with predictable results. But, and I mean this sincerely, I keep hoping to be proven wrong. Like the lady said, “Any upward movement is movement for us all.”.

Dambala, win or lose, if you’re putting holes in the ground you are doing more than 99% of Secret searchers.
Also burnstyle alluded to this: If it’s public property you can dig. Just don’t damage anything, and replace the dirt when you’re done. There have been instances of people digging and rolled up on by the police, and the police called in state troopers, and the state troopers just said “hey replace the dirt and go on your way.”

I’m convinced that all of the casques are in a location that is acceptable to dig, or were at the time.

Dambala

It’s not a Loup Garou it’s a Mardi Gras Jester.

I think it’s a clever way to incorporate the Loups Garoux.

Dambala

Hey, guys…you have some things right but the Greenway was only created about 3 years ago. It wasn’t there in 1982 when Priess made the puzzle.
It’s also not in any neutral grounds and not in the one in front of St. Louis cemetery #1. Although STC #1 is part of the clues along with St. Louis street.
Video is encoding and uploading right now…it will explain everything up to the site but not the finer details. It’s about 12 minutes but it takes that long to walk through all the clues.

When and where are you posting the video? Can’t wait!

gManTexas

acceptable to dig, or were at the time.

I like how you are reverse engineering it. Smart. However, Preiss says he jumped in some leaves to avoid police while digging at least one casque-hole
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/140096604/

Video is uploading…has about 50 minutes left.
Upon rethinking this what I’m going to do is password protect the video. If you want to watch it just send me a message in my inbox and I will send you the link and pass.
I’m a little nervous that it will go all over and people will start flocking to the site with shovels. I will send you guys the link and pass but please don’t send it out to others.
Give me about an hour…should be up before midnight CST.

Howardjthomas

I think it’s the side profile of the face in the rocks.

That’s a nap of the fountain of youth.
https://imgur.com/a/FbNgi

Dambala

Video is uploading…has about 50 minutes left.
Upon rethinking this what I’m going to do is password protect the video. If you want to watch it just send me a message in my inbox and I will send you the link and pass.
I’m a little nervous that it will go all over and people will start flocking to the site with shovels. I will send you guys the link and pass but please don’t send it out to others.
Give me about an hour…should be up before midnight CST.

Thanks, sent, or at least I think it sent. New to this particular forum.

I understand your skepticism…do you want me to send you the video Renobatkr?

drunknerds

However, Preiss says he jumped in some leaves to avoid police while digging at least one casque-hole
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/140096604/

He was probably more concerned about compromising the location than being fined, arrested, or prosecuted. If a police report had been filed–even if there were no charges–the jig would be up on that particular location. Heck, forget a hypothetical police report. If a cop had asked him what he was doing, he’d have told him. The officer later tells his buddies, his family, and before long a lot of people would know where that casque was buried. Priess surely knew that if he got spotted by anyone, he’d have to scrap a lot of work and design a whole new puzzle.

Unknown

Unknown:
I understand your skepticism…do you want me to send you the video…

Thanks, I’ll pass until it’s made public and we are allowed to comment freely on the content. I’m keeping too many secrets as it is.

Hey folks, I sent the video and password to the folks who requested it. Please don’t forward it or reveal everything just yet here in the open forum.
Thanks!

JoshCornell

I can assure you, hes wrong… lol
I know where it is, and if he did…hed have it. theres no room for speculation.

So look…there is a “tell” moment in all these puzzles where you see a clue and realize it absolutely has to be the spot you’re in. For those who have seen the video, they know what that is now. It HAS to be this spot because there is no other spot in the entire city that has these particular characteristics. That image is literally a map of this location…and this location is incredibly unique because of topological feature that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the city.
I’ve alrwdy bet you a grand….I will double and triple that if you want.
I can absolutely assure you it was not buried in Jasckosn Square…the puzzle
starts there but it moves down a particular path to a site that represents the “themes” of the puzzle and New Orleans history.
I know tenet the actual burial marker is…it is the moon in the image. I found that yesterday and it’s unmistakable.
There are people on other boards that have made requests to dig in Jackson Square from the city because they think they have it figured out too. So by March you’re theory may already be disproven.
Once again…if you want to increase he wager I’m totally game.

Dambala

So look…there is a “tell” moment in all these puzzles where you see a clue and realize it absolutely has to be the spot you’re in. For those who have seen the video, they know what that is now. It HAS to be this spot because there is no other spot in the entire city that has these particular characteristics. That image is literally a map of this location…and this location is incredibly unique because of topological feature that doesn’t exist anywhere else in the city.
I’ve alrwdy bet you a grand….I will double and triple that if you want.
I can absolutely assure you it was not buried in Jasckosn Square…the puzzle
starts there but it moves down a particular path to a site that represents the “themes” of the puzzle and New Orleans history.
I know tenet the actual burial marker is…it is the moon in the image. I found that yesterday and it’s unmistakable.
There are people on other boards that have made requests to dig in Jackson Square from the city because they think they have it figured out too. So by March you’re theory may already be disproven.
Once again…if you want to increase he wager I’m totally game.

Uh oh, S**t just got real….

I can even tell you why the mask obscures part of the clock….the same thing happens with the the clock feature at the location.

I can also tell you why the background is shaded and lit at the top.

Dambala

I can also tell you why the background is shaded and lit at the top.

We are all ears Dambala!

At the time he buried the cask there were no trees at the top of the “map” orientation.

Dambala

At the time he buried the cask there were no trees at the top of the “map” orientation.

Seems reasonable.

Actually there were trees but they were sapling oaks.
Guess how many were planted?

Planted in 1980

Dambala

Actually there were trees but they were sapling oaks.
Guess how many were planted?

I bet you are going to tell us 21

So Dambala got me thinking about Jesters and the mask being a reflection of one’s self. Reflection…should we mirror the image, or perhaps the moon and stars is reflected in a pool, possibly shaped like that?
Oh and I think I see a 35 in the wood of the clock next to the 19 in the upper left corner. You have to turn the image upside down, and look hard. Could this be a fourth number? Also, maybe the initials HW with it.
gManTexas

Thins is driving me crazy! Can we send in some boxtops and get a secret decoder ring or something??

12 the same number the clock hand is pointing at in the same map direction of the site
But I’m doubtful it represents that.

Dambala

12 the same number the clock hand is pointing at in the same map direction of the site
But I’m doubtful it represents that.

Probably not. Do you see the 35 I talked about? Make anything of that?

I haven’t looked yet

erexere

Dave. You still making excuses about why you arent able to enter a discussion?

erexere

It would be great if you would apply your talents.

erexere

I continue to hope you are actually a decent person and not a horrible drunk like myseld.

“Still” implies I was making “excuses” in the past. There’s a difference between reasons and excuses. I was and am always happy to explain my “reasons” for not entering in discussions on this board. You won’t hear me try to “excuse” them, though, as I believe it’s for the best.
I apply them every Saturday night… ask your mom.
I know there is a “St. Louid” joke in there somewhere… I’ll have to get back to this one after I’m sauced.

How redeeming of you. So you’re the one who forgets to put the lid down!
(Your “reasons” to excuse yourself from discussing actual content relating to the treasure hunt have been well acknowledged…)

Dave. You still making excuses about why you arent able to enter a discussion? It would be great if you would apply your talents. I continue to hope you are actually a decent person and not a horrible drunk like myseld.

I still believe.  I just can’t get down there to dig.

Yikes. Just for the record I’m not the newb at this type of thing one or more seem to think I am.
At any rate I’ve posted my solution as promised (in another thread) as well as the results of my search. Enjoy!
Thanks,
kibitz.

i drank at the bar of that hotel, back around 83, and i dont remember the clock
not that it wasnt there, it just wasnt in the path to the bar i guess LOL
img of about what the bar looked like, when i was there, this img is in 79
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hotel-mon … 825364130/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hotel-mon … ter/page1/

google
i came across many of them looking up “grandfather clock dates” while trying to figure out how the dates on grandfather clocks (standing watches) were represented. there was a famous one in San Fran (nearby the current theories locations).
In the middle of twenty-one = 2/1 splitting the 29? does the NO one have these?
Or perhaps the 21 steps at gallier hall with 3 statues directly in front, or justice, liberty and commerce on the facade?

cw0909

i drank at the bar of that hotel, back around 83, and i dont remember the clock
not that it wasnt there, it just wasnt in the path to the bar i guess LOL
img of about what the bar looked like, when i was there, this img is in 79
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hotel-mon … 825364130/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/hotel-mon … ter/page1/

From what I’ve researched, clock’s been there since early part of the 20th century. It’s near the front desk, so if you just went in the bar (whose entrance is to the right of the lobby entrance) odds are you didn’t notice it. It’s up like 4 steps.

I noticed the “29” positions and liked the coincidence a lot. Could be inspiration for doing the coordinates as such

I live in Houston but I am within driving distance of New Orleans. I am interested in this one too. I have seen on the PBworks site that this puzzle is for sure New Orleans, but there are some discrepancies in the verse. If verse 2 is NOT New Orleans, what verse would it be? Sorry if I missed it somewhere.

hmmm, 2 blocks up…1 block over….sounds like directions to me.  Find the site of the head, go 2 city blocks north, then 1 block east and viola!  And all along we have been calling them squares.  Yet another possibility to explore.

Ok, using this appx distance from Preservation Hall, you come to Jackson Square.
www.civilwaralbum.com/louisiana/neworleans.htm
at expediamaps.com search for Preservation Hall and zoom all the way in.  Notice how most of the city blocks around PH and JS are square…but JS is skewed like in the P.
a side note:  for quite some time, I had always wondered if the casque sites were linked in any way.  For example…take a look at the name of the cathedral…another site?  Also, appx the same distance from PH in another direction leads you to the Hermann-Grima House……Hermann Park?  ramble ramble ramble…..

Does anyone see a large letter “B” in the square one up and one left of the horse’s head?  The online image is too dark to make out, it sure looks like one in my book.

we need to find some photos of Jackson Square in 1981. Perhaps one of the shops featured the dragon head.  There are also posts around the square with heads on them. It’s been a while since I’ve been there.
wilhouse (the dad)

well, here is a good look at what Jackson Sq looks like now…
http://www.aero-data.com/obliques/new_orleans_fixed.jpg
looks like those posts are all around the French Qrtr..not just near Preservation Hall
http://www.eveandersson.com/photos/phot … oto_size=l
arge
ok, here is a stretch…seems like thats all we have to go on right now….but, looking at the above pic of JS & this other aerial shot of the statue:
http://www.sizeler.com/Portfolio/Other% … …..could
the curved rectangular shapes around the P clock face = the curved rectangular shaped bushes/(maybe benches) around the statue?

hmm, it seems like JS holds some pretty unique items/bldgs.
-St Louis Cathedral is the “oldest” continuously active cathedral in the United States.
-the equestrian statue was the “first” in the nation, constructed by Clark Mills in 1856
-& believe it or not, on the second floor of the Cabildo (now a part of the Louisiana State Museum is the bronze death mask of Napoleon
http://www.wm.edu/oieahc/conferences/9t … s/mask.jpg
(ok, again not a perfect match but it places a Mask in the area).

There are markings on other squares/blocks:
1) a v-like mark with tiny triangular marks on top:
dark square beneath light square at left lower edge of
wood molding of clock
2) two diagonal lines in dark square at right lower edge of
wood molding of clock
3) small L in dark square one up and two to the right of
horse/dog/gryphon.  This square is at edge of pic.
I don’t know if the online images show these marks.
Those with the book, please check carefully and tell us whether or not I am “seeing things.”
–Johann

neVar – some magic please?
wilhouse

or maybe tell you how to get permission for certain specific spots before you go…

Cormac

Where are your dig plans focused?

Whether I’m right or whether it’s just another crazy theory, I promise to tell you everything I know (or think I know) after my trip (around July 21). Until then I’m going to keep that to myself.
kibitz

why? do you think someone’s going to fly out and try to beat you to it?
wouldn’t you rather like some people to bounce your ideas of off, and try to help  you in case there’s something you missed?
wilhouse

Kibitz, I urge you to seek advice from as many people here as you can regarding digging in N.O. The people on this forum are strong willed and opinionated yet supportive and intelligent. The police dept. in N.O. is very stressed and still on edge. Not to mention filled with rookies that haven’t learned how to reason with people. If you choose to dig in a location that would only result in arrest then you must be prepared.We only wish to share our theories with you in order to avoid this very realistic possibility. Giving us the name of the park doesn’t reveal the exact spot that you will be digging in. But it would reveal the conclusion you have come to and we would further assist in your efforts. You are aware that if you find a casque the thrill of that alone is the reward? There is no further redemtion process due the Byrons passing. Please use the brains on this forum to bounce off of. UI assure you that no-one is going to race you to the spot and get the treasure. If you still insist on keeping your ideas to yourself at least purchase a metal rod that can be pushed into the area you feel is correct and see if you hit anything. This might avoid unnecessary digging in a potentionally dangerous area. Good luck and bring bail money.

I would have to agree with others on this board as well.  My wife, son & I did a little scouting possible sites in the Crescent City not too long ago.  There are some very beautiful parks indeed.  I still just don’t understand it when newer folks come on here asking for advice and not sharing their ideas.  I’m sure you have seen these boards are FULL of ideas and theories about possible locations.  I don’t think you have to worry about anyone trying to beat you to the punch though…if anything, other hunters may want to join you and share the workload.  I wish you the best of luck when the dig time arrives….let’s unearth #3!

WhiteRabbit

I was musing on the deformed squares and thought of diamonds.
Question: if “right about St Louis” was a cryptic hint rather than a confirmation of the city, it would most likely apply to the verse or image in the theory Preiss was responding to. Was this Image 9 Verse 2…?

I found the email Preiss sent with the “right about St Louis” quote. I could not however, find the email sent to Preiss before that. What exactly was said?

If only Johann would return to tell us.

Do we need him? I’m guessing it was I9 V2. I thought it was probably in there somewhere but I’m too lazy to plough through it all.
I’m feeling more receptive to I7 V2 after considering that Sarmiento’s quote about St Peter’s might relate to St Peter St., which sweeps past my fave landmarks like Jackson, Preservation and Armstrong Park.

I was musing on the deformed squares and thought of diamonds.
Question: if “right about St Louis” was a cryptic hint rather than a confirmation of the city, it would most likely apply to the verse or image in the theory Preiss was responding to. Was this Image 9 Verse 2…?

Posts the past few days have been getting quite intense. Can’t we all just get along? So let’s lighten the mood.
Who’s got the funniest meme writing skills? Let’s find out. Write your own copy for the image below. A few to start off:
Sometimes Imma like….
I went to Image 7 and all I got was this lousy face tattoo…
Went down the deepest puzzle rabbit hole ever…
I puzzled HARD last night…
Work the puzzle…Live the puzzle…BE THE PUZZLE…

Kang

Posts the past few days have been getting quite intense. Can’t we all just get along? So let’s lighten the mood.
Who’s got the funniest meme writing skills? Let’s find out. Write your own copy for the image below. A few to start off:
Sometimes Imma like….
I went to Image 7 and all I got was this lousy face tattoo…
Went down the deepest puzzle rabbit hole ever…
I puzzled HARD last night…
Work the puzzle…Live the puzzle…BE THE PUZZLE…

Never pass out before Josh Cornell…

George, do you mean statues in the square or on top of the stairs in front of the Hall?

The square.

In the square. None of the figures on the hall are standing.

The Justice holding the scale is standing. Also a couple of bronze statues on the porch standing. I don’t know when those statues were installed.

Choice

The Justice holding the scale is standing. Also a couple of bronze statues on the porch standing. I don’t know when those statues were installed.

Im pretty sure at later date

I can’t tell if that’s a statue on the porch or a xmas tree!
http://louisianadigitallibrary.org/isla … lhp%3A3584

Choice

I can’t tell if that’s a statue on the porch or a xmas tree!
http://louisianadigitallibrary.org/isla … lhp%3A3584

its the shadows on the stairs behind the gate and one of a pair of trees that flanked the door, probably some kind of cypress trees

Amazing how they found a tree that has the same posture as the statues that haven’t been made yet!

Here’s an image from 1979 according to this site:
http://nutrias.org/~nopl/photos/flaherty/ajfarch.htm
The one in the background is taking a selfie

Choice

Here’s an image from 1979 according to this site:
http://nutrias.org/~nopl/photos/flaherty/ajfarch.htm
The one in the background is taking a selfie

cool! Although technically still probably a Cypress… or are they only from florida…

Everyone here knows my thoughts on this casque
If not…just look at Cormac’s avatar.

How did this go unnoticed till now. St.Mary park established in 1906 that is bound by jewels (N Diamond st and S Diamond). Before it was a park it was St.marys market established in the 1830s. It was one of many markets set up in the neutral grounds of NO. Malted could you check some historical areal not sure how much it has changed since 82 especially with the world’s fair in 84.
A park bound by jewels
https://imgur.com/gallery/s4rDi

viewtopic.php?f=32&t=740&start=1125#p126974
See my post from a while back.

the Saints?

About a month or so ago I discovered a good reason to go to a specific spot and look in the direction of this particular tomb. Given that it has a unique figure of a kneeling child on top, I thought that it would be helpful if the image gave us some kind of confirmation, but I could find nothing until Mr. Seabass pointed out the molding. My comparison doesn’t look exact as I had hoped. Perhaps a rough comparison is the most I’d get anyway. Perhaps there’s a slightly different angle to view the tomb and that would be an improvement in comparison.
I really like this prospect for reasons that I haven’t yet explained. It’s not so much an explanation as it is a suspicion that like some of the things in the images are mirrored or reversed, so are some of the things in the verse. Cleveland’s “from right to left” for example. If it said “from left to right”, Sir Eg would’ve found that damn casque right quick! I have a feeling that “In the middle of twenty-one” is a red herring of a clue to find Tomb No.21 as a position marker for digging in the Neutral Ground of Basin St. The real answer requires a flip of the 21 to 12, Tomb No.12 (pictured in my last post), and so happens to be about fifteen paces from the Morazan statue.

MrSeabass

… a photo of a silhouette at an exact angle that is barely ambiguous to what I noted above, not even counting that one shot has the statue as part of the clock and the other has the statue as part of the checkerboard, is not a clue at all. This is fairly extreme pareidolia.

It might be pareidolia, but like I was trying to say, a better angle might be an improvement and still not be convincing. Let’s face it, I’m comparing a flipped image to a single side of an object. I did the same thing to image 6’s lower right corner when comparing it to a just a 2/3rds edge of Haystack Rock. It did look pretty good, but it was utterly wrong for various reasons. I was looking for a specific answer to feed my bias that there needed to be a popular land mark or “Iconic Image” identified in the picture. Let that be a lesson. I still like the iconic image idea, but it’s got to fit just right, and for the right reasons.

MrSeabass

This tomb is completely unrelated to the clues. Period.

Hmm? You’re welcome to have a different theory. I’ve pieced my theory together in a haphazard way. I’d have to say I put the most faith in the idea that the hems of Morazan’s pants match the hem of the purple sleeve. I use to think the place where namesakes meet was St. Louis Cemetery on St. Louis the street, which may work just fine, but I’m more inclined to think the answer is Central America. America is the namesake of Amerigo Vespucci. The plaque on Morazan is about Central America and dedicated to New Orleans as the Gateway to the Americas. Maybe the Bergamini tomb is a good fit because for it’s Italian connection…

I should put it differently. Of the only three people represented as statues on Basin St., the Morazan statue was a gift to New Orleans from Honduras in Central America.
What I like about the hem in image 7 being compared the hems on Morazan on Basin St. is the similarity in how Cleveland image had two columns and there were actually two such columns in the Greek Garden. Contrast that with Chicago where the fence post and halo was disguised as a design on a castle wall (though both are walls), or the historic water tower was disguised as a windmill (though both are still buildings). I think there’s going to be more of these cases in the other images. The tough part is deciding which feature connects in that basic and subtly disguised way.

b_sketchy
I have the 19 be related to Lafayette, the man himself. My solve is in Lafayette Square and the 19 is important because Lafayette was made a Major General at age 19 when he came over here to fight.

lafitte, i think the 19 and 29 are the latitude and longitude for new orleans…….it should be 91, backwards, like it was in the solved pics, i think.
i know you don’t like verse 2 for this, but that line “here is a sovereign people who build palaces to shelter their heads for a night!” comes from the book
Abroad in America….

….talking about the st. charles hotel in new orleans.
it’s hard to believe that verse doesn’t go to new orleans.

maltedfalcon

If the casque is in Armstrong Park {which it very well could be} then our starting point has to be Lafayette Sq.  The statue there is just toooooo much of a match to our ‘clock boy’.

Remember none of the others were straight shots,
they were actually straight shots then you hang a left to get to the treasure ground.
So start at the statue, go straight down st charles. turns into royal but keep going to St Peters
turn Left (pass that silly little preservation hall)
and the street deadends into the southern corner of Congo square and Louis Armstrong park.
Anyway Lafitte I agree with you, I always believed it was there. Always willing to chase down another idea, but I always come back to congo square.

Ok… using the same logic… but working with the idea that we (reading english) tend to work from left to right and/or top to bottom…
In this case top to bottom…
the word Preservation on the clock would be the starting point and is above our little man the endpoint… as you said go straight down st charles (which starts off as royal)… eventually you turn left into lafayette Sq.

Please look up the Algiers courthouse. The clock very closely resembles our image. i can’t find ant pix of the #’s, is anyone in N.O.?

Thank you for the clock photo fox. And for your emphatic opinion. I am referring to the quadrants around the clock. This does resemble our image TO ME. Just as you are convinced the boy on statue is our figure on said image. I’m still wondering if anyone has come up with an idea for the #19. I welcome all ideas, no matter how ridiculous they may seem to others. thank you, Lafitte

Cormac

Ok… using the same logic… but working with the idea that we (reading english) tend to work from left to right and/or top to bottom…
In this case top to bottom…
the word Preservation on the clock would be the starting point and is above our little man the endpoint… as you said go straight down st charles (which starts off as royal)… eventually you turn left into lafayette Sq.

I would aggree with you if the Iconic images were always in the same spot on the picture, but they are not. The cleveland pix upper left…  the chicago pix lower middle right…
so there  is no way of just looking at the picture in order to decided which way to go…

The clock on the Algiers courthouse looks NOTHING like our P7 clock.

erexere

Why can’t clock boy be more than one thing?  A boy, a posture, a jockey (rider of something: to imply a horse, a race, a route, a float, etc.?), a costume, a hidden shape turned at 90 degrees, a direction (facing eastward?)…hard to say if it’s to represent a single thing or a multiple thing.

Clock boy can, by all means, represent more than one thing or idea……..but…….he can’t be represented by more than one thing. He is either Mr. Bingles, some mural found in an alleyway, statue in Lafayette Square, etc… My money is still on that Lafayette statue. And, my money is still on the casque being in that Square.

But that does sort of make sense in a weird way…

in verse 2, the word is hyphenated as twenty-one.
how about roman numeral XXI ?
That would give us an X.

Glossiphoniidae

I’ve never really noticed that building in the corner of Jackson Square.

WhiteRabbit

…in the background to Semele I think we’re seeing the small building shown in this view:

Reminds me of my Dame Blanche phase.
But I’m starting to think that trying to figure out where this casque is based on similarities in the image is pointless…there are too many, and they’re too widely spread out, to form any kind of picture trail. I reckon they’re general references to New Orleans, some possibly directly relevant to the location, some probably not. The verse is going to be the only way.

Observations:
–On the clock hand, above the “8” is what appears to be an anchor-shape.
–Around the clock face, just outside of the circular two-sided arrow (which points to “Preservation”), there are elongated rectangles (ie-a sectioned circle).  It is not perfectly marked.  A shaded square is missing next to the left arrow.  Lines are missing to each side of the dark mark near the 3:00 position.
–There are some markings on the wood beneath the brass-like square that holds the clock face.  These markings are between the mask and the “90.”  (neVar: help?)
–There is something (marking?) on the corner of the right side of the entire clock, the lower right corner of the lower wooden arch.
–The second-hand points to 3, and that could be an 8 on the long-hand.  That could make a 38.  Then, as we know, we have a 90 in the lower right corner.  Then considering the 19 and the 29: 1+9=9, +29=38.  We would then have 38 and 90, the lat/lon for St. Louis, which has the largest Mardi Gras celebration outside of New Orleans.  (OK, you’re more than welcome to ignore this last observation, even laugh at it, but it is just an insane idea).
–Johann

Unknown

Unknown:
I think the 8 you see are just the decorations on the hands of the clock.

I subscribe to the theory that the artist had to have a reason to paint such intricate lines on the hour hand.  Maybe they resemble the spikes along a fence such as this one:
http://www.thewebsister.com/images/ricefence.jpg
That is at the home of Ann Rice in New Orleans.  (She did not live there at the time of our book, but the house was certainly there.  Anyway, this is just an example.)
The spikes along the fence are a close match, and the skulls below might even be represented by the mardi gras mask in our image.  Anyway, it’s just a suggestion.

It has been known to happen in the past…I may be wrong, but I just think the face of the clock is simply a decorative clock ie….  http://web.onetel.net.uk/~afleming/large/clock-face1.jpg
but then again…….  😀

I believe it has been posted before but couldnt the mask be that of the Tragedy/Comedy masks?  If so, this would be THALIA…..”To the people of New Orleans they are street names, often mispronounced.  In Greek mythology the nine Muses were the daughters of Zeus. Their mother is Mnemosyne, the goddess of memory.  Initially, the Muses didn’t have personalities or names, but later they were all assigned names and specific virtues. Clio was the Muse of history, Urania of astronomy, Euterpe of lyric poetry, Polyhymnia of songs to the gods, Melpomene of tragedy, Thalia of comedy, Terpsichore of dance, Calliope of epic poetry, and Erato of love poetry.”
Could we be looking for something on Thalia St?  Parts of the street do run quite close to the French Quarter.
Purple is the main color of the Mardi Gras (along with green & gold).  The MG King, Rex, usually wears purple so I’m thinking the arm holding the mask in the P is that of Rex.

The Horse in the checkerboard looks pretty fierce, more like a wolf to me.  And the Peter Pan looks more like a jockey.
–Johann

a griffon head is a falcon
it looks more like a dragon head to me

The griffin is a mythical creature with the face, beak, talons and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion.
http://www.thanasis.com/griffin.htm
wilhouse

I stand corrected.
I meant Hippogriff
but either way a griffin doesn’t have a horses head
still looks like a dragons head to me…

If I can obtain permission, I will be digging for this one in early July when I am in the NO area. I’ve already sent a few emails but have not had a response. But does anyone have any suggestions on the best approach for obtaining permission to dig in one of the parks in New Orleans?
kibitz