Just a thought and it’s only a possibility but it seems like in each image the visual reference for the final location of the casque is depicted near or in the center of each image . For example the fence in Grant park, the planter box in Cleveland and possibly the outline of the lions face in Milwaukee , the paperboy in NewOrleans , the fence pattern on the box for Boston etc. ( and the flagstone in Quebec City ) Could some of the other visual clues be referenced to the final location,north, south, east and west of the central clue or above and below?

its arguably not a paperboy as new orleans did not have paper boys (they had paper men), its a schoolchild (mcdonaugh statue), and at least three other references combined. it is however a po'boy. and its not the marking location.

Diceycat wrote:: Just a thought and it’s only a possibility but it seems like in each image the visual reference for the final location of the casque is depicted near or in the center of each image . For example the fence in Grant park, the planter box in Cleveland and possibly the outline of the lions face in Milwaukee , the paperboy in NewOrleans , the fence pattern on the box for Boston etc. ( and the flagstone in Quebec City ) Could some of the other visual clues be referenced to the final location,north, south, east and west of the central clue or above and below? Yes I think you are spot on!

The fountain in McGovern lake at Herman Park as seen in image 8

Agreed. I think the image confirmers fall into two categories at the burial site: ‘nearby’ or ‘visible at burial spot’. Most I think are nearby with maybe one (or two) where you are supposed to dig. Others are general area references (buildings, road maps) etc.

Let me add to that when it comes to location. I think it’s safe to say every line in the verses applies to standing in the park itself and making observations from within.

Diceycat wrote:: Let me add to that when it comes to location. I think it’s safe to say every line in the verses applies to standing in the park itself and making observations from within. false. look at my montreal map...

also look at milwaukee, you clearly either start at mitchell hall or the wisconsin club, neither of which are in lake park...

JoshCornell wrote:: false. look at my montreal map... And that’s why you haven’t found a casque yet. Just my theory . Tell me how it doesn’t apply to Cleveland or Chicago?

Unknown: I think it’s safe to say every line in the verses applies to standing in the park itself and making observations from within. I don't think it's safe to say that at all. While it might be true for Box puzzles like Cleveland and is mostly true for Modified Path puzzles like Chicago, it is certainly not true for Path puzzles like Milwaukee or Roanoke. I don't think Preiss intended for us to run all over town collecting clues in some demented scavenger hunt, but a somewhat linear path (even if that line is circular) from the start to the finish (which may or may not be the Treasure Ground) certainly seems to be part of the process.

Erpobdelliforme wrote:: I don't think it's safe to say that at all. While it might be true for Box puzzles like Cleveland and is mostly true for Modified Path puzzles like Chicago, it is certainly not true for Path puzzles like Milwaukee or Roanoke. I don't think Preiss intended for us to run all over town collecting clues in some demented scavenger hunt, but a somewhat linear path (even if that line is circular) from the start to the finish (which may or may not be the Treasure Ground) certainly seems to be part of the process.

Maybe that’s why no one has found a casque since no one can agree on the starting point.

Diceycat wrote:: Let me add to that when it comes to location. I think it’s safe to say every line in the verses applies to standing in the park itself and making observations from within. Well are you saying at the casque site or in the park in general because then I might agree.

Unknown: Maybe that’s why no one has found a casque since no one can agree on the starting point. You don't need consensus to find a casque. You just need a good idea, a shovel (and a willingness to use it), and perhaps a little luck.

maltedfalcon wrote:: Well are you saying at the casque site or in the park in general because then I might agree. What lm saying is you probably locate yourself at an entrance way or along the edge of the park or in the park itself and you should be able to see , ( hear or feel),everything that the verses describe . There is no long stroll through the city to get to the park. The casque is in the park.

dude, really? let the verse direct you...stop making stuff up!

JoshCornell wrote:: dude, really? let the verse direct you...stop making stuff up! Not making anything up it’s just a theory based on observation ,each to their own

assumptions almost always stifle...stop stifling yourself!

Diceycat wrote:: Maybe that’s why no one has found a casque since no one can agree on the starting point. That is a good point. And I think we can even take it a step further. As I peruse the various posts, I have found in several cases, we can’t seem to definitively say or even sort-of agree which verse connects with which image, or what all of the objects within the Images even are, or what the specific lines of the verses are really referring to, and so on. As soon as one person has a ‘solution’, another is quick to point out the fallacies, because of their own ‘solution’. There are many great ‘solutions’ out there, but until you are standing next to a hole holding a little painted box, nothing has truly been solved. I think the reason we have not solved anything recently, is that we are looking in the wrong places. We have been able to find potential references to various people, places, and things in different cities. We have matched particular lines of verses to some parts of images or to the locations. We have interpreted all of the clues and are so certain of their meaning, and yet we still really don’t know for sure if we are making the right connections. (For example: Edwin clearly refers to San Francisco, therefore Verse 6 is SF. But Verse 7 is SF, and Edwin actually refers to Charleston. Therefore, Verse 6 is Charleston. But verse 5 is Charleston. No, Verse 5 is Roanoke, which really isn’t Roanoke. No, Verse 5 is Canada… Who’s in Canada? I don’t know. Third Base!) Round and round we go. Until someone actually digs up the next one, we could all be right, or we could all be wrong. And that is part of the fun. It’s all just part of the game for some. For others, it is frustrating or even maddening. I can’t tell if Preiss just got lucky, or if he was truly some kind of evil genius who was able to find a few things that are so specifically-generic, or generically-specific, as to throw us all into this infinite loop of, ‘Yeah, but… No, but… Yeah, but…’ What are the odds that so many possible references are leading to so many different locations and proposed solutions? This could easily be explained if that was his plan all along. If you know you are going to center the searches around parks (or wherever), and you have a basic structure for the verses and a plan for seeking out the clues, you really could go anywhere and make anything fit with seemingly translucent references. And that is exactly what we are doing. It is said that he thought this would all be solved in a year or so, but I am starting to think maybe he had other intentions. Like, ‘Yeah there really are treasures out there. If you find one, great. I don’t really think they will all be found, but I am going to love watching you look for them!’ When you create puzzles or challenges of any kind, you have a couple options: Make it possible for the everyman to achieve, or make it so difficult that almost no one will succeed. I think if the goal was for the treasures to all be found, upon seeing this has taken so long, Preiss would have updated the story with additional clues. Now, I realize he was a busy man with other things to do, but it would have made for a great ten-year anniversary addition “The Secret – Redux” complete with new clues and a decoder ring! To get back on track here with the location, location, location of the casques, I think we are close to finding another one. The only problem is we seem to be going full bore with the misinformation of our own creation, or in some cases, others’ disinformation. Until we know for certain the correct city-image-verse combinations and what they really mean, we won’t be able to find what we are looking for. I am reminded of Raiders of the Lost Ark. If we only have one side of the head piece medallion, our pole won’t be long enough, and we will be ‘Digging in the wrong place.’ Poor little monkey.

Well if he thought these puzzles would be solved in a year then we are making the solve more complicated than need be. I think it’s time to join Sherman and Mr. Peabody in the Wayback machine.

the reason you guys havent found anything is cause you arent following the verse...you are picking single clues and attempting to guess the treasure's location from that.thats not how you do it, and is why little progress was made in upwards of 30 years. ive been following path of least resistance from start to finish of verse, while travis has been following the very hard clues to potential locations. and neither of us have found anything either (other than maybe pieces in nyc)... clearly at least roanoke has been disturbed...probably also charleston...seeing as i dug up that whole garden with no results.

Unknown: the reason you guys havent found anything...and neither of us have found anything either There are only two valid reasons IMO. You are looking in the wrong spot, or you are looking in the right spot, but the casque is gone without a trace. Unfortunately, with Preiss gone, there is no way to tell one from the other with the information we have presently. That may change, but for now, there is an unavoidable randomness to this puzzle.

theres two other possibilites...i dug near the spot but missed the casque...or alternatively, i just didnt dig deep enough lol. last night was def the deepest hole i dug...it went to below my elbow, so near to a couple feet.

has anyone sent in a solution to the publisher and actually gotten a response? from what i hear, noone gets responses...positive or negative...

JoshCornell wrote:: has anyone sent in a solution to the publisher and actually gotten a response? from what i hear, noone gets responses...positive or negative... yes you get a form letter saying they know nothing and are not accepting anything as a solution unless you find a casque or key.

fair.

Unknown: theres two other possibilites If the solution resolves to a precise spot, as you maintain Matt, then those aren't really different. Probing the sides and bottom of an empty hole is usually enough to know if you are in the right spot or not. Unless it's gone without a trace.

I remember reading somewhere that someone was supposed to get all the solutions if BP died. Everyone is denying they have them, but JPP is the only one I’m aware of who’s denying the solutions still exist, and he already had a lot of info. He supposedly even suggested one of the burial slots. That’s why I’m convinced he has them, but I don’t think we should bother him with it because of how many would flood his email box. I don’t think helping people find the exact spot was part of BP’s plan, which is why it wouldn’t make sense to bug whomever has the solutions. It was never part of the game, and BP never planned on it, but with how long it took the second casque to be found, he broke his own rules. That’s my opinion. If it’s true, anyone sticking to the rules wouldn’t give out any important information, at least not openly.

Erpobdelliforme wrote:: If the solution resolves to a precise spot, as you maintain Matt, then those aren't really different. Probing the sides and bottom of an empty hole is usually enough to know if you are in the right spot or not. Unless it's gone without a trace. To be accurate,... as I used to maintain... lets just say a vague, possible, nearby spot...

Unknown: I don’t think helping people find the exact spot was part of BP’s plan Of course he did. That's what the "Treasure" page at the end of the book is all about, and why he sent the Chicago group the picture. Perhaps if he had been a little more engaged in the beginning, or during the early stages of the revival, we wouldn't still be working on this puzzle 36 years later.