As promised, I am posting my theory about the location of the New Orleans Casque. I will also report the results of my "search" in New Orleans. As there are many pieces and combines a picture and a verse not generally accepted as the correct combination I thought it was worthy of a new topic. Also if any of these items have been discussed in great detail before I beg forgiveness. But as far as I know the combination of clues I am discussing amount to a unique solution not discussed before. First, there is of course the already known fact that the Longitude and Latitude of New Orleans are present in the image, as well as the known tidbit about Preservation Hall. I further put forth the well known fact that Louis Armstrong grew up in New Orleans and Played in the Preservation Hall band. So now, consider the following picture from a Louis Armstrong album cover... Look familiar? It does to me. In fact I believe this image or one very similar was used by Palencar as a reference for the painting known as Image 7... Let's call this Louis Armstrong clue #1. Now consider the following picture of the archway at the entrance to Armstrong Park in New Orleans (pic taken by me about 1 week ago)... Look familiar? It does to me... Let's call that Louis Armstrong Clue # 2. (Just to be clear I did not take the picture that is inset into the painting. I made that image long before I took the trip). Also there is the already well known concept that "Preservation" in this image most likely refers to Preservation Hall (or the Preservation Hall Band which Armstrong was perhaps the most famous member). We'll call that Armstrong Clue # 3. To me, this all screams "ARMSTRONG PARK!" Now I know the generally accepted theory is that the casque is in City Park or somewhere else. But to me the arches and the image of Armstrong's face sell it. Also, for future reference, please note the smokestack in the background in the image of the arch. Finally, please make a mental note of the similarity between the moon and stars in the painting and the Sewerage and Waterboard imagery present on many manhole covers in the city... I will refer to these both again when we discuss the verse. {Continued in next post. Please refrain from replying until I have posted the my complete theory...}

So now, I had a location in search of a verse. I am well aware of the generally accepted theory that verse 2 belongs with this image. The argument for this is strong. The whole "Here is a sovereign people" quote would seem to indicate a New Orleans connection. However, with one half of my theory being that the location was Armstrong Park, and the fact that I could not make verse 2 relate to Armstrong Park in any way shape or form, I began a search for another verse that would identify a specific location in Armstrong Park or the region around the park. It didn't take long. But first, for your viewing pleasure, a map of the area immediately around Armstrong Park... The first line of verse 7 reads "At stone wall's door" (right now some of you are thinking about Jackson square. But that's Andrew Jackson Square, not Stonewall Jackson square, so don't go there . But, here's an interesting fact for you. New Orleans was originally based on a traditional walled French city. In fact, there used to be a stone wall (called a Rampart) surrounding what is today known as the Vieux Carré  (Old Square) known more commonly as the French Quarter. In fact, there is a street just northwest of the quarter called Rampart street. This street runs where the northwest wall used to stand. This street runs immediately southeast of Armstrong Park. In fact I have images of old maps that show a door in the wall near where Armstrong park is today. This door apparently allowed access to the cemetery that to this day exists just North West of the quarter. So, my theory goes, "At stone wall's door" refers to Rampart Street, bordering the park. After another line, the verse goes on to say " Not far away,  High posts are three". If you refer to the map above,  you will see that there are three streets immediately NorthWest of the park, named Vilere, Robertson, and Claiborne. These are interestingly enough the first three governors of Louisiana. The "post" of governor is of course the highest post in the state. (High posts are three). The next two lines read "Education and Justice for all to see." Well, skipping St. Anne street, we next have Ursulines and Gov. Nicholls streets to the north east of the park. Ursulines of course refers to the religious order well known for their role in education, and Gov. Nicholls was not only a Governor but chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court. So we have... Our verse seems to fit. In fact it seems to outline the park in question quite nicely. After a few more verses that I haven't figured out yet, it then says : Running north, but first across In jewel's direction Is an object Of Twain's attention Since these lines rhyme, I interpret them as a single phrase thusly: Running north, but first across (in jewel's direction) is an object of Twain's attention. Most other theories I've seen seem to break out these lines and interpret them separately, but because they rhyme, and because the Chicago verse follows a similar pattern ("L sits and left,  beyond his shoulder, is the Fair Folks Treasure holder") I believe this is the proper way to interpret it. If we take out the part in parentheses for just a moment, we have, "Running north, but first across, is an object of twains attention." What runs? A river of course. What was Mark Twain interested in? The Mississippi . In fact, it runs North past the city, after first running across (east) beneath the city, as shown here... What does this tell us? I think it tells us most importantly, that this verse refers to a city on the Mississippi river. This helps support the theory that this verse goes with New Orleans. If it's not New Orleans, it certainly is a city on this river. Also, I believe it is referring subtly to a direction (east). "In Jewel's Direction" means the treasure is East of something. But East of what? Answer next post... {Continued in next post. Please refrain from replying until I have posted the my complete theory...}

Ok so continuing our theory we have the next lines of the verse which read: Giant pole,  Giant step,  To the place, The casque is kept. I interpreted this as "Find something that looks like a giant pole, stand with your back against it, and take a giant step (East of course - see previous post for the reason) and then dig. Now remember that smokestack that I told you to remember in the first post? It is in Armstrong park. It qualifies in my book as a giant pole and, interestingly enough, the only place you could dig surrounding the pole is to the East of it (in support of or East direction theory). Here is a view from the air... So now we have a very specific location to dig! Also, remember the moon and stars that I told you was the logo for the Sewerage and Water Board? Well, guess who's building that is with the smoke stack? you guessed it. It's the Sewerage and Water Board building right inside the park. So (my theory goes) the moon and stars in the painting are a clue to the whereabouts of the treasure within Armstrong Park. The SWB building! {Continued in next post. Please refrain from replying until I have posted the my complete theory...}

OK so there you have my theory. Now if you've read my other post you may know that I just returned from a trip to New Orleans. So you may be wondering if I dug a hole in the park. After attempting for some time (I have about 30 emails that I sent to various departments in N.O.) to get in touch with someone when I finally was referred to a very nice person in charge of the park named Jeniece (thanks to Mr. Watermeier) . Jeniece was extremely helpful and a pleasure to talk with - and I think somewhat interested in the hunt. She told me it would be ok to dig in the park but, because of the close proximity to the SWB building, I would need their permission. I had already sent them numerous emails to the SWB but had not received any response. Jeniece did however provide a few phone numbers FOR THE swb so I continued to call them. I was referred to person after person and ultimately could not get anyone interested enough to return my phone calls or send me an email. I was referred to one man who kept promising to call me "right back" if I managed to get him on the phone but then he never would. But then again the City certainly has more important things to worry about right now. Finally I had to leave for New Orleans and continued to try to get someone to return my calls, but alas I hit a brick wall. I decided to enjoy my vacation and not worry about it. So that is where we stand. If you believe my theory, and you wish to dig, you will require permission from the Sewerage and Water Board. You will also have to coordinate with Jeniece (if you are serious I can provide her contact info to you) and make sure the park is still ok with a dig should permission be granted from the SWB. DO NOT DIG WITHOUT PERMISSION! Also, the police drive right by about once every 3 minutes just so you know. Also, I did debate keeping this information to myself since I will be going back to N.O. next year. But in the interest of contributing I put this together. I only ask that if someone does manage to obtain permission that they credit me (if something is found) and hold me blameless (if nothing is found). I wouldn't mind helping in the dig either. Now I didn't totally waste my opportunity. I did visit the site and get a few pictures from "ground Zero". I will post some more pictures of the park at a later time (it's getting late and I have to work in the morning)  but here are a few which show the exact spot I think the casque may be hiding (below). I also have a theory about the head in the lower right corner of the painting but I will send that in another post because it is actually quite involved. I now open the thread for comments. Kibitz.

Very well laid out indeed Kibitz.  Some of those ideas have been put out before but surely not tied together as well as you have done.  I too have been trying to argue that V7 fits our NO site but others sure have a Damn Fine Argument showing this with San Fran.  I really like your tie ins with the streets around Armstrong Park being our 3 high posts as well as education and justice.  That really fits nicely. As a person who has been sold on City Park, Jackson Sq & Lafayette Park....this site definitely needs some exploring.  Don't worry Kibitz...you will definitely get the deserved credit if something is found...and more than likely, whoever decides to follow up and put a shovel in the ground will probably try to arrange for a meeting with you there.  Nice work! Let's get us another one guys

kibitz! thank you! i'm not sure i'm a believer of the park or the verse, hehe, but i love the whole story and everything you did! maybe you can work with Janiece since she is there, and can help you. i love the mississippi for twain, that would fit perfectly, but....he had so many interests;  fences, horses, frogs, everything.. of course, it's thundering, so i have to unplug the computer, and then i'm going to be gone a week (no dig for me, just babysitting some animals), good luck!

slappybuns wrote:: (no dig for me, just babysitting some animals), good luck! Where?  In SF?  Or perhaps NO?  How bout Milwaukee? I've heard they have lots of animals. As far as I know...most of the animals in Chicago & Cleveland no longer need babysitters.

Kibitz, Nicely put together. I'm still a fan of Lafayette, but you certainly have supported your theory well. What about the other 3 lines? The air smells sweet  (I can't imagine this line near a sewage building) Sounds from the sky Near ace is high

Cormac wrote:: What about the other 3 lines? The air smells sweet  (I can't imagine this line near a sewage building) Sounds from the sky Near ace is high I thought perhaps "Sounds from the sky" meant the radio station WWOZ which up until recently (I'm guessing Katrina time) operated out of a building in Armstrong Park. It was very poetic. But they didn't move there from Tipitina's until 1984. So I'm trying to figure out if perhaps another station was there first. But since I have no evidence of that at this time I left it out.  Same with other parts of the theory that I can't necessarily back up. kibitz

Kibitz, I think you did a Damned Fine Job!! Nice work. Armstrong park was my first choice, also, and I don't think there is any interpretation that fits better for the lines "running North but first across"--I believed it was the River long ago. The location you found is pretty neat also--it seems like a place Preiss would have used--a bit out of the way, but tied into the verse and pic with enough markers to make it viable. I think the rest of the verse and pic are simply markers for the city itself--the Lafayette statue on the clock--hell, even the clock itself is on the streetcar line (I think I posted a pic in an old post). As for "at Stonewall's Door", I think this is the only thing I didn't necessarily agree with. But it doesn't matter much. My interp. of Stonewall's Door is this: Stonewall JAckson is buried at Metairie Cemetery, on the highest geographical point in New Orleans on Metairie Ridge. (It's not in Metairie it's in the city.) Stonewall's door, IMHO, is the door to the cemetery, and I'll just bet that there is something nearby that would cause the air to smell sweet--such as the number of flowers usually present in cemeteries.  This might also explain the "sounds from the sky" part--since it overlooks the entire city. But other than that, I liked your solution and your ideas.

CORRECTION:  Stonewall's remains are not buried in Metairie Cemetary. They were originally on display in New Orleans, (at Gallier Hall near Lafayette Park--sound familiiar?) But they were eventually interred in Viriginia. However--his MONUMENT is still in Metairie Cemetary--on top of a--er--"giant pole."  Have a look-see: hxxp://nutrias.org/photos/jeffd/jeffd.htm Sorry for the confusion.

It was Jefferson Davis' remains that were moved, not Stonewall's...but yes, Stonewall's statue sits atop the pedestal. hxxp://www.flickr.com/photos/8126909@N08/1128999803/ I visited that monument while in N.O. and took some photos of it which I am currently trying to find where I posted them so you can see them.  There is a large statue of Stonewall atop the pedestal.  On each side of the pedestal are busts of:  A.S. Johnston (Gen Albert Sidney Johnston); Gen Robert E Lee; Gen Leonidas Polk; and Gen Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson. ok, now I am confused.  I just googled the Stonewall Jackson pedestal in Metairie Cemetery and it is not the same thing I have pictures of.  I am now trying to determine what I took pics of.  It does have a Confederate looking soldier atop with the aforementioned busts on each side.

Now that is really embarrassing.  Apparently, I was in Greenwood Cemetery thinking it was the Metairie Cemetery and the monument I have been describing is the Confederate Monument. hxxp://www.flickr.com/photos/8126909@N08/2212936075/ So sorry for the confusion.  Looks like Stonewall is everywhere.

Fox, are you stonewalling again?

Wow kibitz, this is a really excellent theory!! I don't believe a word of it but man, it's so well put-together it makes me weep.

fox wrote:: It was Jefferson Davis' remains that were moved, not Stonewall's...but yes, Stonewall's statue sits atop the pedestal. You are so right....doh!!! That's what I get for doing something slapdash. But the giant pole is there--no matter who is on top of it.

Kibitz, I like it. It was at least 4 years ago (?) when I first laid out a theory that the object of twain's desire was the missiissippi, but I didn't go as far as you. Nice detective work. Is it right? who knows.  The SFers will argue, but I've always liked it. wilhouse

Nice job kibitz. My comments: 1-. There is a electrical wire buried just where you are planning to dig... so be carefull. 2-. Do you have any picture "standing with your back against the pole"? I mean, how is the view from that spot? (Look for details in picture 7 that you saw in the area, just like Chicago site [fence] and Cleveland site[wall]). 3-. keep going...

I took a bunch of pictures in the park but didn't think to take a pic from that particular angle. Also a good portion of the park is still blockaded off so I could not explore as much of the park as I wanted to.

Hi everyone, I've been lurking and interested in this search for about a year but haven't had anything relevent to add.  It was very exciting to see Kibitz's post inject some new life into the search.  The greatest asset to this search is people sharing what knowledge they have, the more people the higher probability of finding casques. You've probably already come across this audio clip, The Rise and Fall of Armstrong Park hxxp://www.wwoz.org/programs/street+talk/2008/04/rise+and+fall+armstrong+park It sounds like the park is reletively unchanged since it was opening in 1980.  They also mention at the end of the clip that you can see photos of the park in its heyday at hxxp://www.robinrileyarchitect.com/ , although I only found three photos. I wish I had more to add, but thanks again to Kibitz for the the great update.

fox, i would love to go on a hunt if i had someone to go with me,  but unfortunately i only have stodgy- old- grumpy -old -stuck in ruts- stinky  people that have their own interests and won't get involved in what i want to do, around me people...ummmm u know what i mean. and i'm not good at being sneaky, i always get caught.  and also, i'm not close to any of the hunts......well charleston is the closest, and i went there once just to see all the places everyone had memtioned, and soon i'm going to be in austin, which is about 3 or 4 hours from houston, which i can't wait to see everything wilhouse has talked about, but, i'm sure i'll never be on a dig. so i'll just keep trying to come up with ideas for all the hunters, while i stay here and keep the home fires burning

Hi, Thought I would throw in my two cents. I absolutely agree that the picture indicates New Orleans and specifically Armstrong park. There is the minor issue with the route to the treasure ground. in Chicago it followed a straight road from the water tower(shown in the picture) several miles until it got to the treasure ground then turned left twice to the final area. In Cleveland it started at the building downtown (shown in the picture) went straight several miles to the parks then turned left and left into the final area. Here preservation hall is only blocks away from armstrong park, but its on the wrong street, if Preservation Hall was on St Ann's it would be a straight shot through the arch, then left to your final spot. but you have to go down st peters to rampart turn right then turn left to go through the arch. next in Chicago the treasure was located in the back corner in a very unobtrusive location In cleveland the treasure was located hidden behind a wall Your location is A, right out in the open, B. not on public property. C. if located there would probably have required the use of a line like "get permission to dig out" Your high posts are a bit of a stretch. in that they arent posts as in governor they are people I would buy that more if it was Governor st. etc. but they are the names of governors therefore not the names of posts. Post keepers are three or postholders are three... not posts are three.  But wait you forgot Gov Nichols, so in reality according to you High posts are 4, but I cant find any fault with your ursulines logic. If Rampart meant stone wall, I would beleive in stonewalls door, but a rampart is an earthen mound, or a tall berm - very rarely would a rampart be made of stone. I could get nitpicky on some other things, but Your solution has 1 thing that 90% of all the other solutions posted doesnt have. A specific place to dig. Therefore until proven wrong your solution is Excellent and extremely well though out. I cant beleive you didnt stick a shovel in the ground just to see. in that location you could have ruled it correct or incorrect in probably two minutes. and put the sod back after so that no one knew you had dug. what were you thinking?

Sounds interesting. I also thought Armstrong Park was a potential place but when we used verse 2 I did not see anything in armstrong park that looked like it matched or could have matched. This therory sounds interesting. Rember though nearly 30 years have passed from when the clue was written. You should try to do some research to eliminate things that may have been added after the book was written.

Another possible place to check useing verse two could be Auabon park. I do not know if it would match anything but it is worth a look.

Bump