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3/03/2004         Here is a "re-print" of an article that appeared in my October 15th issue of LOST TREASURE USA.  There is a link to this story somewhere in this website, but I wanted to move it here ( temporarily ) to be sure everyone read it.  The author will be a frequent contributor and may justify having his own page of stories, in the near future.

CONFEDERATE GOLD AND KGC LEGENDS
By Randy ( Jesse James ) Sumpter
JesseJamesSumpter@Yahoo.Com  

                 CONFEDERATE GOLD and KGC LEGENDS

                              by: Randy JESSE JAMES Sumpter

     One of the great plans of the North during the Civil War was to split the South in half and to do this, the plan called for bottling up the southern harbors keeping the South split along the Mississippi River, and then slowly strangling her to death once food and other supplies had been cut off.

     In order to accomplish this feat the North needed an edge and found this by using sea power. The South was short of mechanics, factories and shipbuilding facilities. The North knew it had to seal off nearly 189 Confederate harbors and river mouths along 3,500 miles of coastline. The North eventually gained the strength they needed by having 670 ships, with 8,700 officers and 51,500 seamen.

     The South wouldn't let the blockade go unchallenged. Blockade runners were being built from materials secured from Europe. Eventually, the South had 1,650 vessels running the blockade. The blockade runners kept the Army supplied with arms and ammo as well as other things needed.

     There were many battles and skirmishes fought all along the southern coastline. Some of the major ones happened in Florida. Here are a few sites where Federal warships and southern blockade-runners collided. CEDAR KEY....Before its capture in 1862 by Federals, this was a bustling Gulf port heavily used by the Confederates. In a swift and devastating assault, the Federal warship HATTERAS sailed into Cedar Key harbor and sank four schooners, three sloops and a ferryboat. The wrecks of these ships remain untouched and each of these ships may have had a strongbox containing gold and silver, as was the custom.

     APALACHICOLA BAY....A Confederate blockade runner went down in the bay north of St. George Island, carrying $500,000 in silver bars and many Spanish coins. STEINHATCHEE RIVER..Three Civil War treasures are buried along the Steinhatchee River, which empties into Dead Man Bay in Taylor County. A Confederate blockade-runner chased by a Union ship was scuttled at the mouth of the river. The crew buried $500,000 in silver close by. Another blockade-runner hiding near the mouth of the river buried $140,000 in gold coins when a Federal gunboat appeared. After the war, members of the crew returned to claim the money, but were unable to find the location because a flood had taken away the markers along the bank of the river. Union Soldiers buried a cache of gold coins five miles from the mouth of the river.

     EVERGLADES....KGC .Captain John Riley trying to ship Confederate gold to Havana in the spring of 1865, was chased into the Everglades by Federal troops. Riley buried $500,000 in gold bullion in west central Broward County. A Confederate paymaster fleeing Federal troops buried $200,000 in gold coins in Hendry County and the area is supposedly between Alligator Alley and State Route 41.

     OTHER NOTABLE SITES......NORTH CAROLINA......FOLEY INLET...Six blockade-runners wrecked in this area and coins from the various wrecks periodically wash ashore. SHAKLESFORD BEACH...........A Confederate blockade-runner ran aground on Shaklesford Beach, located on the southwest side of Harker's Island, ten miles south of Beauford. The crew went ashore and buried a large chest of silver coins among the high sand dunes. By the way, all the Confederates were killed by Federal troops.

     KGC GOLD LEGENDS.....ALABAMA.....ATHENS...Two huge metal chests containing over $100,000 in gold and silver were dumped into a bog in 1865. The treasure is located approximately four miles north of Athens in Limestone County.  BIRMINGHAM....$1,000,000 in gold is buried around Birmingham.

     ARKANSAS......WICKES.....$1 million in gold bars are buried near Wickes in Polk County......White River.....A union gunboat carrying $150,000 in gold coins sank on the White River near Claredon....A man by the name of John Crittenhouse recovered this loot and placed it in a cave near Claredon but died soon afterward before he could spend any of it.

     LOUISIANA....NEW ORLEANS BANKERS entrusted $6 million in gold to several Confederate officers just before the city was captured..They buried the gold somewhere on the Walter C. Flowers estate located between Madisonville and Chinchuba. The officers were later killed and the gold remains lost.

     KGC GOLD IN SAVANNAH....In 1864, $20 million to $30 million in gold bars stamped, "CSA TREASURY" was being transported from Texas, bound for the banks in France and England. The shipment reached Savannah but Union troops were moving in hoping to capture the huge treasure and shorten the war for good. KGC operative, Major Miller, decided to bury the gold bars outside the city limits. The burial took 3 hours to complete from the time they left the outskirts until the wagons returned empty. The gold was never found and rumors persisted that Major Miller buried this golden hoard in an old graveyard. History states, Major Miller was known to say, "We buried it in the last place that anyone would think to look for it." General Sherman mounted a search for it but never found anything! Now, I've done some extensive research and found some documentation related to this incident. Here's what I discovered about it all. Major Miller retired a very rich man after the war and built a very large plantation in Georgia. I'm not saying he went back and recovered the gold since the amount was too large for transfer without some detection. There are records from the KGC that tells another story about this hoard. The gold was buried in an old Confederate cemetry under a false grave with the name of a certain General on the tombstone above. On each side of this false grave are two other names of Confederates and they too are false graves. I found the name of the original cemetry and did some research on it. Some KGC records indicate the gold was later moved to a Super Depository north of Atlanta and stored there while another document states the gold was never moved at all...Forget about going in and trying to locate this since it's against the law to search or dig in a cemetry....Of course, there are those who don't care and maybe this will all come to light someday.

     KGC SITES IN AMERICA.......North of Alexandria, Louisiana, North of Atlanta, Georgia,  North of Columbia, South Carolina, 2 major sites in Tennessee and another large site near Gatlinburg.  South of Lexington, Kentucky....AND MANY MORE THAT WILL APPEAR IN OTHER ISSUES OF THIS NEWSLETTER........

     Much of the info contained in this story is from other stories written by well known authors. KGC info is from my own extensive research, documentation that I've acquired over the years and personal observation. Please know that any KGC info I present here I do so by my own free will. I feel all treasure hunters should have access to information on any aspect of this hobby without the idea of paying for it or joining groups dedicated to KGC research and discovery. I will present future evidence that these depositories and sites used by the KGC belongs freely to all the people and not just to some of the people. I personally welcome all inquiries and questions and will answer you promptly. If you need help in your quest for discovery or clues to any site please don't hesitate to contact me since all will remain confidential.

     NATHANIEL SHELBY WATCHED THE MOONLIGHT DESERT FLOOR BELOW FOR ANY UNUSUAL MOVEMENT. THE LONE SENTINEL HAD BEEN HERE FOR THE PAST 4 YEARS GUARDING THE DEEP SECRET BELOW HIS FEET. HE WAS CHOSEN FOR THIS DUTY BECAUSE OF HIS UNENDING LOYALTY TO THE SOUTH AND THE BELIEF IN THE SECOND COMING. DURING HIS TENURE, HE NEVER ONCE FIRED HIS RIFLE FOR THIS WAS SUCH A REMOTE AREA OF ARIZONA.

     OFF IN THE DISTANCE, TWO RIDERS CAME TOWARDS THE LARGE MOUNTAIN IN HOPES OF UNCOVERING THE CONFEDERATE GOLD TOLD TO THEM BY AN OLD INDIAN WHO HAD WATCHED ODD-DRESSED MEN PLACE IT IN THE LARGE UNDERGROUND CAVERN. THE INDIAN TOLD THE MEN IT TOOK 257 WAGON LOADS TO BRING ALL THE YELLOW METAL ACROSS THE DESERT FROM CALIFORNIA. THE MEN KNEW NO ONE WOULD BE WATCHING SINCE THIS AREA WAS VERY REMOTE AND HUMANS JUST DIDN'T SURVIVE IN THE HOT HEAT OF THE DAY AND THE COLDNESS AT NIGHT.

     THE SENTINEL PERKED UP AND LOOKED OFF IN THE DISTANCE AND NOTICED MOVEMENT. WITH A KEEN EYE HE FOUND THE RIDERS COMING TOWARDS THE MOUNTAIN. SLOWLY, HE PICKED UP HIS RIFLE AND TOOK AIM AS THE TWO RIDERS CAME INTO VIEW. HE KNEW HE WOULD ONLY HAVE 2 SHOTS TO GET THESE INTRUDERS BEFORE THEY COULD HIDE IN THE ROCKS BELOW. AIMING HIS RIFLE, HE PULLED THE TRIGGER AS THE FIRST SHOT PIERCED THE NIGHT AIR AND THE BULLET FOUND ITS MARK AS ONE RIDER QUICKLY FELL TO THE SANDY FLOOR. THE SECOND RIDER PAUSED FOR A BRIEF MOMENT AND PULLED HIS RIFLE. BY THE TIME HE FIXED HIS SIGHT ON THE ROCKS ABOVE A SECOND SHOT FIRED AND THE MAN FELT THE BULLET ENTER HIS CHEST AND A GREAT PAIN CONSUMED HIS BODY AS HE FELL FROM THE HORSE AND SILENCE ONCE AGAIN PREVAILED.

     THE SENTINEL WALKED OFF THE ROCKY HILLSIDE AND MADE HIS WAY TOWARDS THE FALLEN MEN. AS THE MOON CAST A LIGHTED PATH, THE SENTINEL STRIPPED THE MEN OF THEIR POSSESSIONS AND HURRIEDLY MADE HIS WAY BACK UP THE ROCKY HILLSIDE. WITH A LINGERING SMILE, THE SENTINEL KNEW HE HAD DONE HIS JOB AND THIS DEPOSITORY WAS SAFE FOR THE MOMENT. AS HE TURNED TO LOOK ONCE MORE AT THE NOW NUDE FIGURES LYING IN THE SAND, HE STARTED WHISTLING DIXIE AS THE DARKNESS STARTED TO FADE INTO LIGHT.

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MY OPINION ON JESSE WOODSON JAMES

     In, "JESSE JAMES WAS ONE OF HIS NAMES" by Del Schrader the legend of Jesse Woodson James takes on a completely different meaning and we are led into an area that takes Jesse from his faked death to the Comptroller of the legendary Knight's of the Golden Circle. Mr. Schrader along with Jesse James the 3rd weaves a story of intrigue, mystery and leaves us all with many unanswered questions. In the book, we find out Jesse lived 73 incredible lives and eventually ends up as J. Frank Dalton, a man living in Granbury, Texas and who happens to be 107 years old.

     Jesse Woodson James, was born in Kentucky, April 17, 1844 and was reportedly  killed by Bob Ford in St. Joseph, Missouri, on April 3, 1882. This is the story we grew up with and was expected to believe. Some doubt Jesse was ever killed by Bob Ford and many books point to this as being accurate. While other books state that Jesse was killed by Ford and now we have a dilemma that doesn't want to go away.

     Outlaws never die, we simply keep them alive and sometimes we do this for amusement. There are many who love the idea that Jesse was never killed and stories have continued in his life and from this we get many legends. It's easy to place Jesse James with the Knight's of the Golden Circle and to place him alongside such characters as Maximilian, Henry Ford and even links to Howard Hughes. Not only does it make good print, it keeps the presses rolling and our fantasies of this fabled character ever expanding. To some, Jesse was a hero and heroes never die, they simply fade into the sunset to be called upon at a future date. To others, Jesse was a ruthless outlaw who showed no mercy and gunned his way through the border areas and into history.

     There are over 4,500 books on the subject and I guess one can draw any conclusion he or she wants.  

     While growing up, Jesse James was my hero. I enjoyed pretending to be the outlaw with my black holster and silver gun and having my sisters hold up their hands whenever I would rush into a room with my black hat on. I enjoyed the power of being Jesse and watched those around me scream and run whenever I chased them with my six-shooter. Yes, it was fun back then and Jesse stuck with me all those years and the years I'm now living. Jesse is someone I don't want to let go since he stood for the right thing and that's something this country is missing today. Where are the heroes of today that will be the legends of tomorrow?  There are many outlaws out there in America and most of them are known. You have the greedy oil companies who just can't get enough. You have big corporations stealing money from investors and let's not forget those Savings & Loans that stole money. Why point the condemnation finger at Jesse for robbing banks, stages and railroads when you have the same thing going on but in a different way. At least Jesse did it in the open and wasn't afraid to share the wealth among his gang and to some of those less fortunate. Are the children of today making heroes of Playstation characters, t.v., movie characters, big corporations? No! They are looking for a real hero and most I know are going back through the history books and finding them.

     So, where does this leave us? Did Jesse James fake his own death and join up with the Knight's of the Golden Circle and do all the things that Del Schrader and Jesse James the 3rd wants us to believe? The answer rests with you, the reader. You have the freedom to believe whatever you want to believe and that's something you should feel proud of. We each have our own opinion about Jesse James and that's what makes us so unique. Believe what you want to believe and respect others who might differ with you.

     Am I partial to a man who killed and robbed? Does my fantasy want me to be just like him? No! Simply put, I like the wilder side of life and Jesse was very much part of that. I'm not one who will run out and start robbing banks, shooting up the countryside nor will I kill others just for kicks. What I do like about Jesse James is the mere fact he was real, a tangible part of history that is based in fact, a man who walked down a darkened road without fear and a man who went against the odds and won. I don't condone the other aspects of his life nor would I ever support then. It's the character of Jesse that pulls my appeal. The Jesse James of the past couldn't exist in our society today with the success he enjoyed back then. Jesse would eventually get caught, found guilty and either executed or  given life in prison.

     Personally, I hope proof does come forth about Jesse's involvement with the Knight's of the Golden Circle and all those other legends that have sprung about about the man. Until that time, I too must accept the fact that Jesse was a real outlaw who eventually greeted death in 1882. Facts are the basis of life and the society we live in. In reality, it  doesn't matter which side of the fence I stand on since the fence doesn't have any memory and I can sit here and give my opinion over and over again and what would be gained by me doing so? Nothing! That is, until I can prove otherwise. There's proof out there and maybe someday it will come forth. The real truth will come about and then maybe we can put Jesse Woodson James to rest until we want to call upon him one more time. Remember, heroes are heroes and we never let them die.

RANDY "JESSE JAMES" SUMPTER

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ANOTHER article submitted by Randy "Jesse James" Sumpter:

         JESSE JAMES GANG MEMBERS

     Much has been written about the various names of those involved with Jesse James and his brother Frank. Many an outlaw would state he once rode with the James Gang and then there were those who boasted of robbing this train, bank or other things which have been proven to be false. Enclosed here are the actual names of those bandits who did ride with Jesse and Frank and a brief description about what happened to them on the outlaw trail.

BUD MCDANIELS......died in Lawrence, Kansas jail.

THOMPSON MCDANIELS...shot by farmer in West Virginia.

ED MILLER....Jesse killed him.

CLELL MILLER...died at Northfield, Minnesota.

CHARLIE PITTS...killed after Northfield raid.

BOB YOUNGER...died in Minnesota prison in 1889.

WOOD HITE....killed by Bob Ford.

JACK KEENE...locked up for 14 years.

ARCH CLEMENTS....killed at Lexington, Missouri.

ANDY MCGUIRE....mob action killed him in Missouri.

DICK BURNS....died from a head injury.

PAYNE JONES...killed while trying to steal a horse.

COLE YOUNGER....died in Missouri.

JIM YOUNGER...shot himself over a love affair.

TUCKER BASSHAM...killed in Kansas.

CLARENCE HITE...contracted tuberculosis and died.

BILL RYAN....was killed after falling off a horse.

JOHN YOUNGER...killed by a Pinkerton detective.

JIM READ...killed by a Texas deputy sheriff.

BILL CHADWELL...dropped dead on the streets of Northfield.

JACK BISHOP....died in Colorado.

DICK LIDDIL...killed after turning state evidence.

JIM CUMMINS...died in a Confederate Home in Missouri.

FRANK JAMES...DIED IN 1915

OLIVER SHEPHARD...died by a deputy sheriff.

     Other men rode with James on a very limited basis. They were:

Allen Parmer, Jim White, Tom Little, Ike Flannery, Bill Hulse, Jack Hines, John Jarette, Bradley Collins and Jim Anderson.

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     The rain was falling down from a blackened sky as Jesse James rode his horse hard through the dark countryside trying  to reach the boundary line of the Arkansas/Oklahoma border. In hot pursuit,a 12 man posse rode just as hard to catch the outlaw before crossing the border. A loud clap of thunder echoed throughout the trees as Jesse spurred his steed to gain more speed. A quick flash of lightning  lit up the sky as Jesse's eyes spotted a ridge off in the distance and for that moment a smile crossed his face as he remembered caching $100,000 in gold coins near an old farmhouse that burnt down many years before.

     The wet trail dipped slightly  as Jesse and his horse jumped a small stream and hurriedly galloped up over the rising hillside and found flat ground. The horse and rider sped on as the posse was taken by surprise at the stream and two of the three lead horses fell and caused the other riders to fall off their horses as the rain kept falling down. Jesse made some distance with the confusion back at the stream and found himself now in Oklahoma and another smile crossed his wet face as he realized that freedom was now at hand.

     As the lightning flashed and the thunder clapped Jesse slowed  his steed and found the trail he knew too familiar. Off in the distance, an unknown marksman spotted the lone rider and took sight. Jesse reached back and touched his saddlebags to make sure they were still there. With another smile he softly spoke to himself, "the boys are gonna like this haul," and with that he pulled the reins of the horse and turned westward as a shot rang out. The deadly bullet sped towards its target as Jesse looked up. The sky flashed white as a large lightning bolt raced its etched fingers in all directions. The marksman looked down as the bullet hit its target with accuracy. The sound of the horse falling, along with a loud thump, caused Jesse to turn and see the fallen posse man. Turning back, Jesse pointed his finger upward towards a small draw and yelled, "Frank, you always did have the eye of a hawk." With this, Jesse rode to meet his brother Frank as the rain continued to fall.

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STATE OF ALABAMA:

ON MARCH 11, 1881, A U.S. ARMY PAYMASTER CARRIED $5,000 PAYROLL IN HIS SADDLE BAGS AS HE RODE ALONG TOWARD THE TENNESSEE RIVER. SUDDENLY, THREE MASKED BANDITS ON HORSES JERKED THE SADDLEBAGS FROM HIS HORSE. THE THREE BANDITS WERE JESSE JAMES, DICK LIDDIL AND BILL RYAN. THIS INCIDENT TOOK PLACE NEAR MUSCLE SHOALS.

DE KALB COUNTY:

JESSE JAMES USED THE AREA OF DAWSON FOR A HIDEOUT. LOCATED ON SAND MOUNTAIN NOT FAR FROM COLLINSVILLE. JESSE CACHED SOME OF HIS OUTLAW TREASURE SOMEWHERE IN THIS AREA.

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STATE OF ARKANSAS:

CLAY COUNTY:

JESSE BURIED SEVERAL CACHES OF OUTLAW LOOT IN THE AREA OF PARAGOULD AND ONE CACHE KNOWN TO HAVE $65,000 IN GOLD COINS.

ONE LOCATION MENTIONED IS ALONG THE BLACK RIVER NEAR PARAGOULD.

ANOTHER CACHE IS ALONG THE ST. FRANCIS RIVER ALSO NEAR PARAGOULD.

WASHINGTON COUNTY:

JESSE AND HIS BROTHER FRANK ALONG WITH BELLE STARR AND HER HUSBAND PONY STARR ROBBED A BANK IN MISSOURI OF $34,000 AND FLED TO ARKANSAS WHERE THEY CAMPED NEAR SHILOH (NOW SPRINGDALE). IT'S BELIEVED THE LOOT WAS CACHED IN A CAVE ON A BLUFF WHOSE ENTRANCE WAS CLOSED WITH A LARGE ROCK ON WHICH WAS CARVED THE HEAD OF AN INDIAN. THE CAVE WAS LOCATED IN A FLINT BLUFF FLECKED WITH REDDISH-COLORED ROCK ALONG THE OLD BUTTERFIELD STAGE ROAD. ANOTHER SMALLER ROCK BELOW THE LARGE ONE WAS MARKED WITH A LADDER.

YELL COUNTY:

IN 1874, JESSE, COLE YOUNGER AND CLEM MILLER HELD UP A STAGECOACH ABOUT 1/2 MILE FROMTHE OLD GAINES PLACE, 5 MILES FROM HOT SPRINGS. THE OUTLAWS TOOK ABOUT $28,000 FROM THE MAIL POUCHES AND GATHERED AN ADDITIONAL $4,000 IN CASH AND JEWELRY FROM THE PASSENGERS. BEING HOTLY PURSUED, THEY TOOK THE LOOT INTO THE OUACHITA MOUNTAINS NEAR THE TOWN OF BLUFFTON ON TOP OF POLLUCK'S BLUFF WHERE THE TREASURE WAS BURIED.

POLK COUNTY:

THE TOWN OF MENA HAS A HISTORY WITH JESSE JAMES AS REPORTS HAVE BEEN MADE OF SOME OUTLAW LOOT BEING BURIED OUTSIDE OF MENA. THERE WAS A DISCOVERY OF GOLD COINS MADE IN 1998 BY TWO BROTHERS FROM CALIFORNIA. THERE ARE ALSO MORE REPORTS ABOUT OTHER OUTLAW CACHES IN THIS AREA.

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STATE OF INDIANA:

STEUBEN COUNTY:

SILAS DOTY, A REPORTED MEMBER OF JESSE'S GANG, ROBBED TRAINS AND BANKS BACK IN THE 1870'S. HE BURIED HIS HOARD OF GOLD AND SILVER COINS IN OR NEAR HIS SECRET CABIN IN A SWAMP ON A SMALL ISLAND NEAR FREMONT.

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STATE OF KANSAS:

KIOWA COUNTY:

BOTH JESSE AND COLE YOUNGER OUTLAW GANGS USED THE OLD GREAVER CABIN, LOCATED IN A GROVE OF TREES A SHORT DISTANCE E OF BELVIDERE, AS A HIDEOUT. LEGEND SAYS THAT THE BANDITS CACHES SOME OF THEIR LOOT HERE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND.

JOHNSON COUNTY:

JESSE AND HIS GANG STOLE $64,000 FROM THE STATE FAIR AT KANSAS CITY AND BURIED MOST OF IT IN THE RIVER BOTTOMS NEAR DOWNTOWN KANSAS CITY.

CRAWFORD COUNTY:

THE GANG ROBBED A TRAIN OUTSIDE OF OTTERVILLE IN MISSOURI, IN 1876 OF MORE THAN $20,000 IN GOLD COINS AND JEWELS. MUCH OF THE LOOT WAS TAKEN TO COX'S CREEK AND SOME BELIEVE MUCH IS BURIED THERE.

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STATE OF MINNESOTA:

PIPESTONE COUNTY:

AFTER THE JESSE JAMES BANK ROBBERY AT NORTHFIELD IN 1876, THE GANG WAS RECOGNIZED WHILE STAYING AT A FARM 2 MILES NW OF PIPESTONE. JESSE BURIED A LARGE SUM OF MONEY ON THE FARM INTENDING TO RECOVER IT LATER. THE TREASURE, $50,000 IN GOLD COINS STOLEN EARLIER DURING A TRAIN ROBBERY IN OTTERVILLE, MISSOURI. SO FAR THE CACHE HASN'T BEEN RECOVERED.

NORTHFIELD:

JESSE JAMES AND HIS GANG ATTEMPTED A DARING BANK ROBBERY AT NORTHFIELD ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1876. THIS ACT TURNED INTO A DISASTER SINCE THEY DID NOT GET THE BANK'S SAFE OPEN. MANY OF THE GANG WERE SHOT AND CAPTURED AND JESSE AND FRANK GOT AWAY.

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STATE OF MISSOURI:

NODAWAY COUNTY:

JESSE AND HIS GANG ROBBED A BANK IN LIBERTY OF OVER $60,000. IT'S BELIEVED THAT MOST OF THE LOOT WAS BURIED IN THE  VICINITY OF HIS HOME IN A LARGE GROVE OF BURR-TREES NEAR MARYVILLE.

CLAY COUNTY:

MANY BELIEVE THAT LOOT FROM JESSE JAMES OUTLAW GANG REMAINS BURIED IN OR AROUND THE OLD JAMES HOMESTEAD, A 36 ACRE PLOT JUST NE OF KEARNEY.

ON FEBRUARY 14, 1866, THE CLAY COUNTY SAVINGS BANK WAS ROBBED OF $72,000 IN GOLD COINS AND CURRENCY. THE LOOT WAS NEVER RECOVERED AND RESIDENTS BELIEVED THE ROBBERY WAS DONE BY THE COLE YOUNGER AND JAMES BROTHERS. A NUMBER OF SEARCHES WERE MADE ON THE SLOPES OF N OF LIBERTY, NOW WITHIN THE NE SECTION OF KANSAS CITY.

JACKSON COUNTY:

FRANK & JESSE JAMES ALONG WITH COLE YOUNGER ROBBED THE TICKET OFFICE OF A COUNTY FAIR ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF KANSAS CITY IN 1872, MAKING OFF WITH $8,000. THE LOOT, ACCORDING TO LEGEND, WAS BURIED IN THE AREA OF BLUE SPRINGS.

LAFAYETTE COUNTY:

JESSE JAMES IS SAID TO HAVE BURIED $50,000 IN GOLD COINS IN THE WOODS ON A FARM NEAR MAYVIEW, ABOUT 12 MILES FROM LEXINGTON. THE GANG CACHED THE LOOT UNDER A ROCK MARKED WITH A CARVED TURKEY FOOT AND NEVER RETURNED TO RECOVER THE CACHE.

ST. CLAIR COUNTY:

THE JAMES GANG USED AN OLD LOG CABIN ABOUT 1 MILE FROM ROSCOE AS A HIDEOUT. IT'S BEEN SAID THE OUTLAWS LEFT TREASURE BURIED NEAR THE AREA.

PULASKI COUNTY:

JESSE AND MEMBERS OF HIS GANG  USED AN OLD FORD THAT IS LOCATED NEAR POSSUM LODGE, A FISHING CAMP ON THE GASCONADE RIVER E OF WAYNESVILLE AND ALMOST ON THE PHELPS COUNTY LINE. THE GANG WOULD MEET THERE AND IN THE NEARBY HILLS WHERE THEY HAD A HIDING PLACE.  IT'S BEEN SAID THAT THEY LEFT TREASURE CACHES BURIED IN THE AREA ESTIMATED NEAR $175,000.

IN THE 1800'S, JAMES AND THE YOUNGER BROTHERS HELD UP A TRAIN A FEW MILES W OF ST. LOUIS AND MADE OFF WITH $18,000 IN COINS. THET HEADED FOR THE OZARK MOUNTAINS WITH A POSSE HOT ON THEIR TRAIL. THEY HID THE LOOT IN A CAVE IN THE AREA OF WAYNESVILLE. THE OUTLAWS NEVER RETURNED. THIS TREASURE MAY BE HIDDEN SOMEWHERE ON THE GROUNDS OF THE PRESENT-DAY ARMY CAMP AT FORT LEONARD WOOD.

CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY:

JESSE AND HIS GANG SUPPOSEDLY BURIED A CACHE OF LOOT IN THE VICINITY OF JACKSON. IN 1968, $20,000 IN CURRENCY AND SILVER WAS FOUND BY TREASURE HUNTERS IN A CAVE NEAR JACKSON. NO ONE KNOWS IF IT WAS PART OF THE JAMES GANG'S LOOT.

JASPER COUNTY:

THERE ARE RUMORS THAT THE JAMES GANG BURIED LOOT IN THE ORONGO AREA.

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 STATE OF KENTUCKY:

ON MARCH 20, 1868, JESSE & FRANK JAMES, COLE YOUNGER, JOHN JARRETTE, ART MCCOY AND OLIVE AND GEORGE SHEPHERD ROBBED THE NIMROD LONG & NORTON SAVINGS BANK IN RUSSELLVILLE OF $14,000.

ON APRIL 29, 1872, JESSE, FRANK, COLE AND CLELL MILLER ROBBED THE COLUMBIA DEPOSIT BANK IN COLUMBIA. THEY NETTED ABOUT $600.

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STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

WASHITA COUNTY:

JESTER'S CAVE IS LOCATED IN W GREER COUNTY AND RUNS 15 MILES UNDERGROUND BEFORE SURFACING AGAIN IN A CANYON ABOUT 10 MILES N OF REED. LEGENDS ABOUND ABOUT JESSE JAMES OUTLAW LOOT CONCEALED IN THE CAVERN.

KIOWA COUNTY:

$180,000 IN TREASURE, THE LOOT TAKEN IN A PAYROLL ROBBERY AT DODGE CITY, WAS SECRETED IN THE ROCKS NOT FAR FROM CUTTHROAT GAP IN THE WICHITA MOUNTAINS. THE GOLD WAS HIDDEN IN A SEALED CAVE AND SIGNS TO THE TREASURE INCLUDED A NATURAL STONE CORRAL KNOWN TO THE OUTLAWS AS HORSETHIEF CORRAL, A LOG CABIN IN THE GAP, AND A WINCHESTER RIFLE MOUNTED IN THE FORK OF A TREE.

A ROCK CORRAL WAS FOUND IN THE 1950'S ON LEVEL GROUND AT THE BASE OF MOUNT PINCHOT. A ROCK OUTPOST USED BY THE OUTLAWS WAS LOCATED 2 MILES TO THE N ON TOP OF A LONE HILL.

A RUSTED RIFLE WAS FOUND HANGING IN AN OLD OAK TREE JUST TO THE W OF THE OUTPOST.

CANADIAN COUNTY:

OUTLAW TREASURE IS BURIED IN THE AREA OF CARNEGIE. THE JAMES GANG IS KNOWN TO HAVE BEEN ACTIVE IN THE AREA AND SOME OF THIS LOOT MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO THEM.

IT IS REPORTED THAT THE JAMES GANG BURIED A LARGE CACHE OF LOOT IN THE AREA OF FT. COBB.

JESSE JAMES IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BURIED $64,000 IN BANK ROBBERY LOOT IN THE KEECHI HILLS NEAR ANADARKO. THE GANG USED THE HILLS AS THEIR HEADQUARTERS IN THE 1860'S-1870'S.

AROUND 1867, FRANK AND JESSE CACHED GOLD ON THE OLD MINING CLAIM OF GEORGE ISON AT THE FOOT OF THE CHARON GARDENS WILDERNESS.

IN 1875, JESSE AND FRANK AND 10 MEMBERS OF THEIR GANG ROBBED A MEXICAN PACKTRAIN CARRYING 18 BURRO LOADS OF GOLD BULLION IN N CHIHUAHUA, MEXICO, JUST S OF EL PASO, TEXAS. THE OUTLAWS TOOK THEIR LOOT-LADEN MULES WORTH 2 MILLION N TO THE TERRITORY THEY KNEW SO WELL, THE WICHITA MOUNTAINS WHERE THEY ENCOUNTERED A SEVERE WINTER STORM. THE MEN WERE WEARY AND THE MULES GIVING OUT AND THE GOLD HAD TO BE BURIED. AT THE HEAD OF A SMALL ARROYO E OF CACHE CREEK AT TARBONE MOUNTAIN, THE GOLD WAS DUMPED INTO A RAVINE AND COVERED THE CACHE WITH ROCKS AND BOULDERS. AS A MARKER, A MULESHOE WAS NAILED INTO A NEARBY TREE.

COMANCHE COUNTY:

THERE ARE MANY RUMORS OF JESSE JAMES OUTLAW LOOT BURIED IN THE WICHITA MOUNTAINS NEAR LAWTON.

ONE TREASURE CACHE IS BELIEVED LOCATED IN THE W PART OF THE RANGE.

ANOTHER JAMES CACHE CONSISTS OF $160,000 IN GOLD, JEWELRY AND CURRENCY AND IS BELIEVED TO BE ON THE N RIM OF THE WICHITAS.

A HUGE STORE OF GOLD BARS WORTH $784,000 IS BURIED IN HOBBS CANYON, ABOUT 6 MILES WNW OF MEERS.

A REPORTED HIDEOUT OF THE JAMES GANG IS LOCATED ON THE W BANK OF CACHE CREEK ABOUT 1/4 MILE S OF HWY. 277 E OF PORTER HILL ON THE E SIDE OF THE WICHITA MOUNTAINS AT THE RUINS OF A STONE CABIN. SEVERAL RUSTED PISTOLS HAVE REPORTEDLY BEEN RECOVERED FROM THE DIRT FLOOR OF THE CABIN SITE.

JESSE REPORTEDLY BURIED A CACHE OF GOLD COINS ON CACHE CREEK.

FRANK JAMES ONCE REVEALED THAT A CACHE OF TREASURE WAS BURIED ALONGSIDE THE OLD CHISHOLM TRAIL BETWEEN FT. SILL AND THE KEECHI HILLS.

A MAN WHO CLAIMED TO HAVE RIDDEN WITH JESSE JAMES SAID THAT "A BEAN POT OF GOLD TOPPED WITH A LARGE DIAMOND" WAS BURIED BY THE OUTLAWS AROUND THE SIDE OF A HILL NEAR CRATER LAKE AND NEAR A SHARP MOUNTAIN PEAK.

ONE OF THE MANY CIRCULATING TREASURE MAPS HAS LED SEARCHERS OF THE JAMES LOOT SEVERAL MILES N OF CACHE AND W TO THE MOUNTAINS FROM CRATER LAKE WHERE THERE ARE 2 SEPARATE TREASURE CACHES: $200,000 IN GOLD AND THE SECOND IS 13 JACKLOADS OF GOLD WEIGHING 2,020 POUNDS. APPEARING ON THE MAP ARE A STONE FORT OR BOOT, A SINGLE BOULDER, A LARGE TREE AND A TRAIL. A TREE STUMP SHOWS A HOLE THROUGH IT; A SPRING AND INDIAN ENCAMPMENT, A BUILDING WITH A FLAG AND ANOTHER TREE CARVED WITH A DAGGER ARE ALSO SHOWN. ON EITHER SIDE OF A SMALL STREAM RUNNING W TO E ARE 2 STANDING MEN LOOKING AT EACH OTHER. ONE TRIANGLE IS DRAWN OVER ANOTHER AND ALONG THEIR SIDES ARE THE DISTANCES 22 PACES, 52 PACES, 104 PACES, 114 PACES AND 164 PACES, ALL LEADING FROM A "STONE FORT."

TULSA COUNTY:

JESSE JAMES AND HIS GANG BURIED LOOT IN THE AREA OF LEONARD.

CREEK COUNTY:

COLE YOUNGER SPOKE OF A CACHE OF $63,000 IN OUTLAW TREASURE THAT HE BURIED ON THE S SIDE OF THE ARKANSAS RIVER, 1 MILE DOWNSTREAM FROM THE SAND SPRINGS BRIDGE. THE GOLD HAD SUNK DEEP IN THE MUD AND HE NEVER RECOVERED IT.

JESSE AND HIS GANG BURIED $88,000 WRAPPED IN LEATHER IN A NARROW CREVICE COVERED WITH ROCKS ABOUT 2 OR 3 MILES SE OF SAND SPRINGS AT A PLACE CALLED "LOST CITY."

YEARS LATER AFTER HIS RELEASE FROM PRISON, FRANK JAMES RETURNED AND SEARCHED FOR HIS LOOT, BUT FAILED TO FIND IT.

JOHNSTON COUNTY:

THERE ARE MANY RUMORS OF JESSE JAMES TREASURE LOCATED IN AND NEAR BROMIDE. MANY SIGNS AND SYMBOLS USED BY JESSE AND HIS GANG HAS BEEN FOUND ON MANY ROCKS IN THIS AREA.

MANY STORIES  OF LOST OUTLAW LOOT ATTRIBUTED TO THE JESSE JAMES GANG AND CACHES OF GOLD AND SILVER ARE FOUND IN LOCAL LEGEND.

ROGERS COUNTY:

WHILE WORKING IN A FARM FIELD NEAR CLAREMORE IN 1913, A LABORER NAMED GEORGE HARDSOOK FOUND $37,000 IN $20 GOLD PIECES. AFTER THE $37,000 WAS FOUND, A FORMER MEMBER OF THE JAMES GANG CAME FORTH AND CLAIMED THAT THE MONEY WAS PART OF A $70,000 PASSENGER TRAIN ROBBERY AT MOSSCREST AND THAT THE GOLD WAS BURIED IN 2 SEPARATE CACHES NEAR A TREE, BUT WHEN THE OUTLAWS RETURNED TO RECOVER THE TREASURE, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY OF THE LANDMARKS.

MAYES COUNTY:

THE JAMES GANG IS BELIEVED TO HAVE BURIED $20,000 IN GOLD COINS IN THE PRYOR AREA.

LATIMER COUNTY:

ROBBER'S CAVE STATE PARK IS LOCATED ABOUT 7 MILES NNW OF WILBURTON. THE PLACE WAS USED BY MANY OUTLAW GROUPS AND BELLE STARR REPORTEDLY CACHED PART OF HER LOOT IN ONE SECRET CHAMBER THERE. JESSE JAMES ALSO CACHED TREASURE IN THIS AREA.

THE JAMES AND YOUNGER BROTHERS USED ROBBER'S ROOST AS AN OUTLAW RETREAT. THE OUTLAW HIDEOUT IS LOCATED IN THE SAN BOIS MOUNTAINS N OF WILBURTON NEAR THE N COUNTY LINE.

LEFLORE COUNTY:

JESSE AND HIS GANG HAD A CAVE HIDEOUT IN THE TURKEY MOUNTAINS NEAR WISTER JUNCTION. WITH A POSSE HOT ON THEIR TRAIL THEY HID 4 SACKS OF GOLD AND SILVER COINS WORTH $40,000 IN THE CAVE, FILLED THE OPENING WITH SANDSTONE ROCKS AND FLED TO ANOTHER OF THEIR HIDEOUTS.

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STATE OF TENNESSEE:

STEWART COUNTY:

IN 1879, JESSE OPERATED A GRAIN AND CATTLE BUSINESS USING THE NAME J.D. HOWLAND AT BIG BOTTOM IN DOVER. HE IS BELIEVED TO HAVE CACHED LOOT ON THE PROPERTY THERE.

THERE ARE RUMORS JESSE AIDED THE CONFEDERATE SECRET SOCIETY OF THE KNIGHT'S OF THE GOLDEN CIRCLE WHILE IN NASHVILLE.

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STATE OF TEXAS:

CULBERSON COUNTY:

FRANK AND JESSE JAMES HAD A CABIN IN THE GUADALUPE MOUNTAINS NOT FAR FROM THE MOUTH OF MCKITTRICK CANYON.  THE OUTLAWS BURIED A CACHE OF LOT ESTIMATED AT $20,000 BETWEEN TWO JUNIPER TREES IN FRONT OF THEIR CABIN.

CRANE COUNTY:

OUTLAW CLELL SHEPHERD AND HIS BROTHER OLIVE RODE WITH THE JAMES GANG IN THE 1880'S. THE PAIR BURIED $250,000 IN MEXICAN GOLD COINS IN 1866-1867 IN SEVERAL RATTLESNAKE DENS ALONG THE PECOS RIVER NEAR HORSEHEAD CROSSING AND RATTLESNAKE GULCH. THE 15 CHESTS, STOLEN FROM A MEXICAN WAGON TRAIN, WERE HIDDEN IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT SMALL CAVES IN THE SANDSTONE BLUFFS ALONG THE N SIDE OF THE PECOS RIVER. IN 1910, SHEPHERD'S SON DAVE RETURNED TO TEXAS IN SEARCH OF THE TREASURE AND FOUND 2 IRON CHESTS IN 2 SEPARATE CAVES CONTAINING 4,000 MEXICAN 10 AND 20 PESO GOLD COINS.

PECOS COUNTY:

FRANK AND JESSE ESTABLISHED A REST RANCH NEAR PONTOON CROSSING AND BURIED A CACHE OF LOOT IN THE AREA.

GRAYSON COUNTY:

JESSE AND HIS GANG ROBBED THE DALLAS STATE FAIR OF $40,000. THEY BURIED THE LOOT NEAR A BEND IN THE RIVER AT TWIN HILLS. THE LOCATION WAS BETWEEN A PINE TREE AND A FLAT ROCK. THIS AREA MIGHT BE UNDERWATER TODAY FROM THE CREATION OF LAKE TEXHOMA. THE LOCATION IS N OF POTTSBORO.

DALLAS COUNTY:

AN OLD FARM USED BY BOTH SAM BASS AND JESSE JAMES WAS LOCATED  IN N DALLAS AT SCHNAULT SPRINGS AT THE BASE OF FLAG POLE HILL. LOOT IS SUPPOSED TO BE BURIED THERE.

AT A SPOT NEAR WHAT IS CALLED CHALK HILL IN DALLAS, ONE CAN STAND AT A CERTAIN SPOT AND LOOK ACROSS AT A HEADLAND ON A LARGE HILL. AT THIS POINT, JESSE JAMES AND SAM BASS ARE ALLEGED TO HAVE HIDDEN A WAGONLOAD OF TREASURE IN AN OLD ABANDONED SPANISH MINE TUNNEL, THEN SEALED IT WITH DYNAMITE.

A RICH MINE ONCE EXISTED IN THE HILLSIDE AND TUNNELS EXTENDING SEVERAL HUNDRED FEET INTOT HE HILL AND SEALED ROOMS WERE LOCATED AT THE END OF THE SHAFTS.

NEAR DALLAS, JESSE SHOWED A FRIEND WHERE HE BURIED $20,000 IN GOLD AND SILVER COINS.

THE GHOST TOWN OF SCYENE WAS A HAVEN AT ONE TIME FOR THE JAMES GANG, YOUNGER BROTHERS BELLE STARR, SAM BASS AND JIM REED. REED OWNED A FARM TO THE S OF THE TOWN WHICH BECAME AN OUTLAW LAIR.

BELLE STARR IS REPORTED TO HAVE LIVED IN AND AROUND MESQUITE AND RUMORS HAVE LONG-CIRCULATED THAT SOME OF HER GANG'S LOOT IS BURIED IN THE REGION.

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     SAN ANTONIO & AUSTIN STAGE HOLD-UP...

     The sun, a flaming ball of red fire cast its glow upon the bandits faces as they watched the far horizon for any type of movement. Jesse and his brother Frank were getting tired waiting around for the stage that was supposed to have been crossing the canyon an hour ago. Arthur McCoy along with Jim Greenwood talked with Jim Reed who was married to Belle Starr at the time. The men were getting impatient.

     As evening descended, Frank noticed some dust on the horizon and knew the stage was making it. Alerting the others, Frank and his brother mounted their horses and the rest followed. They rode down off the draw and hid themselves near some old cactus and brush that dotted this canyon. The stage came into view as the five men pulled up their blackened cloth to partially cover their faces. Frank leaped out first and fired a quick shot into the air. The stage driver pulled back on the reins of the eight horses and brought the mail stage to a complete stop.

     It was now seven o' clock in the evening and about thirty miles southwest of Austin, on route to San Antonio, Texas. Jesse quickly told the passengers to put all their valuables in the grain sack Jim Greenwood was holding. The bandit reached out his hands and held on the sack as the passengers started unloading their valuables. One noted passenger was C. Breckenridge, President of the First National Bank of San Antonio. He gave the bandits $1,000 in cash. All in all, Jesse and his gang completed this robbery in satisfactory order.

     Before departing, the bandits cut loose some of the stage horses, slowing down the horsepower and delaying the stage arrival until early morning.

     Jesse and his gang headed east and traveled all night. The next morning they divided up the $3,000 among them and made a quick camp to sleep for a few hours before heading out to find another stage traveling in the desert.

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 LOST TREASURE CAVE

                                                      by

                           RANDY "JESSE JAMES" SUMPTER

The sun started its downward slope on the western sky as 4 men rode to the top of the bluff overlooking the large plain below. It had been a hot day in Oklahoma as the temperature had soared near 100 degrees. The men were weary from their journey and they were looking for the right spot to make camp before evening approached. With a turn of the reins, the black horse Jesse James was riding headed down the familiar old trail. The other riders followed as the last hints of daylight started to melt into darkness.

Jesse found his old hiding place nestled on a cliff overlooking the Delaware Creek. John Trammell, a tall, powerful Negro tended to the horses as the others quickly made camp. Besides his brother Frank, John was a man Jesse trusted. He knew, whatever the situation, the Black Cobra would be there. Frank James looked over and noticed Aaron Shelby starting a small fire for them to make coffee and beans on. Aaron had joined up with Jesse and Frank down in Mississippi and he was as quick as a cat pulling a Colt 45. Frank liked this young lad and knew in a tight situation where gun play was needed, young Aaron wouldn't back down nor fold like so many others had done. Bold Eagle, a Cherokee Indian, was a good friend of the James brothers and knew this country well. During the Civil War, he personally killed 56 Yankees and once saved Jesse's life from a back-shooter. Three days earlier, Bold Eagle told Jesse about an old Indian legend associated with this area and Jesse brought him along since he needed some information only he could provide. The distant sound of coyotes howling out into the cool night air could be heard as the outlaws settled in for the night.

Jesse knew this country well. This part of South-Central Oklahoma was his favorite hideout. On one section stood an old rock building used during the Civil War as a Confederate Hospital. On another section was a very large rock quarry with much white stone. Another section held the underground caves where some of the Confederate gold was hidden. Another section had the various caves Jesse used to store some of his loot from campaigns. But, he wasn't here to oversee these treasures, no! He was here to find one of the largest Indian treasure caves ever filled by a long-lost race of Aztec Chiefs. Bold Eagle told him the story that had been handed down by his ancestors many times over. The Aztecs came to this land hundred's of years before and found a large cavern well suited for their plans. It took 10,000 warriors 5 days to unload the massive Aztec treasure and another 2 days for them to cover the entrance. The Aztecs left some clues to the whereabouts of the cavern. A large rock had been sculpted likened to a winged bird and buried about one foot below the ground on top of a hill overlooking a valley. A large sun disc was also made and broken into 5 pieces and scattered over the top of the hill. Finding the pieces would be hard but Bold Eagle knew things that others didn't.

The darkness gave away to light as the birds started chirping. The four men rose and built a small fire to brew some coffee. This day was going to be hot and the outlaws knew they needed to get an early start. Once finished, the four made their way down the slopened hillside and across the creek which led them up to the high hill above the rock quarry. As they made their way into the thickened woods, Bold Eagle suddenly stopped and told John Trammell to stick a shovel in the ground near an old tree that had a large carved snake running down its skinned area. After a few minutes, the shovel hit something solid and Trammell continued to clear away the dirt exposing the large sculpted rock. Jesse and the others looked on as a large winged bird shaped rock came into view. The head pointed southwest as Bold Eagle told the others to follow. As the day started to become hot, the gang started finding the other pieces of the puzzle which would eventually unlock a massive hoard of Aztec gold.

The sun was now directly overhead as the gang found themselves on a steep hillside facing a wall of rock. Bold Eagle was confident this was the place where the Aztecs had stored their treasure train. Sitting down, Jesse told the others to rest as they sipped from their canteens to refresh themselves from the hot sun.

Trammell was the first to start clearing away the loose rocks and boulders from the rock facing. In little time, the others joined as the hunt was on for ancient gold. They worked throughout the afternoon and well into the evening making some headway. As darkness finally fell, the men retreated back to the campsite and settled in for the evening. Conversation started up as the men ate their meager dinner and eventually the talk ended as each felt the need to rest. That night, a light rain fell that added coolness.

Over the next couple of days much work was done by the group to clear away the rocks and boulders from the old cavern entrance. By the morning of the fifth day, an opening started to emerge as the outlaws finished up removing the rest of the rubble around the site. By late afternoon the cavern entrance was now exposed as young Shelby lit a torch to light the way but it wasn't needed since the evening sun was now making a lighted path through the darkened room. Jesse looked on as everything came into focus and now he realized what treasure hunting was all about. The large room was completely empty except for a few human skeltons that dotted the dirt floor. The others in the group just shook their heads for they knew the long-lost Aztec treasure had been removed and sent to another place of secrecy.

Bold Eagle felt a deep sense of puzzlement come over him and he just couldn't understand why the massive hoard of gold wasn't here anymore. Jesse let out a laugh and told the rest of the gang how funny it was. As each listened, Jesse spoke, " Boys, figure it out, we came here with nothing and we leave with nothing but we'll always remember this day. This adventure was just that, an adventure! Just think how others will feel someday in the future when they come looking for the loot I hid and they can't find it. It's the search boys that makes the adventure so promising and others will follow and dig empty holes and open up caves where only bleached bones will greet them. Ha! We gave our best and that's all that can be expected." The others nodded their heads and all turned and made their way out of the partially darkened cave. Frank turned and spoke, " Yes, we made an effort and it only makes me laugh to think how others in the future will come to this land and search for the gold the old Confederates buried down in the tunnels. If the snakes don't get them the dynamite will." Laughter rang out as the outlaws headed back over the hill and made their way up the steep incline to the bluffs above. At camp, they all sat down and reflected for a moment about this trip. The silence was finally broken when Jesse yelled out the command to break camp.

As the last hints of daylight started to fade, the outlaws galloped their horses past the old rock building and onto the open plain. They were now set on a new adventure.

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4/24/04