KGC Symbols

Is there a book you can buy or a web site you can go to that will explain treasure symbols? I have got a good marked beech tree and cant decipher a thing on it...d2

HaHa d2....me too!!!    Good Luck!

                 Nana  ;)

Try this one
http://www.knightsofthegoldencircle-kgc.com/index.htm

Yo!  Rebel here:     Try the TREASURE HUNTER'S UNIVERSITY  @ http://www.treasurehuntersuniversity.com   ;)

We have some very KGC-knowledgable members at our group where we have been researching the KGC and Bloody Bill Anderson for over 3 years.  Our Photos section includes several photos of KGC rock and tree carvings which our members have found over many years.  You are invited to join us at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bloodybillandersonmystery 

~Texas Jay

Just curious - this is such an intriguing subject...not sure just yet what, if any of it, I feel is true and what is probably bs but I have a couple questions if anyone's around and feels like answering...

1. Main one that sparked the post is the triangle symbol with the R over the 6 - what is that and what does it mean/ refer to? Same for the crecent moon with the stars inside.

2. I've got a couple treasure symbol books on the way and have already checked out the treasure hunters uni site, but I've seen the heart references all over the place. Do people really find (and document/photograph) these carvings or formations on here or is it more like seeing bunnies in clouds, open to interpretation?

3. Where would be the best resource (online for now) to find the most factual concise info on the symbols and their meanings/use, with specific regard to the KGC?

4. Do I understand this correctly or no: The KGC were a very real, verifiably documentedly real organization, or secret society (really secret at the time of their notariety), and the 'debate/controversy/argument' is mostly over how long they were in business and whether or not they actually hid treasure at all - OR - the KGC is urban myth and the argument is over whether they actually existed.

5. IF they actually existed, what is the best resource to find factual documentation or info about the reality of the group, without the typical book selling schemes.

Like several others who've become interested in the subject, and not real sure what's what, I too am seeking just the facts from the fiction and mythos and speculation first...and if that provides enough juice to deepen my interest then I'll automatically expand to see the various theories. I just would prefer to go into it with...to borrow the phrase..."just the facts" first.

Thanks!

PS it was the HC's program on Jesse James's Hidden Treasures that finally sparked my curiosity about this group and what they were about - IF they were a real group, that is...but at the moment I'm mostly confused on that point

Just curious - this is such an intriguing subject...not sure just yet what, if any of it, I feel is true and what is probably bs but I have a couple questions if anyone's around and feels like answering...

1. Main one that sparked the post is the triangle symbol with the R over the 6 - what is that and what does it mean/ refer to? Same for the crecent moon with the stars inside.

2. I've got a couple treasure symbol books on the way and have already checked out the treasure hunters uni site, but I've seen the heart references all over the place. Do people really find (and document/photograph) these carvings or formations on here or is it more like seeing bunnies in clouds, open to interpretation?

3. Where would be the best resource (online for now) to find the most factual concise info on the symbols and their meanings/use, with specific regard to the KGC?

4. Do I understand this correctly or no: The KGC were a very real, verifiably documentedly real organization, or secret society (really secret at the time of their notariety), and the 'debate/controversy/argument' is mostly over how long they were in business and whether or not they actually hid treasure at all - OR - the KGC is urban myth and the argument is over whether they actually existed.

5. IF they actually existed, what is the best resource to find factual documentation or info about the reality of the group, without the typical book selling schemes.

Like several others who've become interested in the subject, and not real sure what's what, I too am seeking just the facts from the fiction and mythos and speculation first...and if that provides enough juice to deepen my interest then I'll automatically expand to see the various theories. I just would prefer to go into it with...to borrow the phrase..."just the facts" first.

Thanks!

PS it was the HC's program on Jesse James's Hidden Treasures that finally sparked my curiosity about this group and what they were about - IF they were a real group, that is...but at the moment I'm mostly confused on that point :)

Answer: Real and historically documented but debatable as to its connections with specifics such as gold and Jesse James and to its survival in one form or another after the war. Much fantasy has been written about its supposed Illuminati/Masonic connections and/or other conspiratorial connections but many real and available online documents of their history exist. Many in the files sections of our group at:
 http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Knights_of_the_Golden_Circle/

Always choose history over innuendo.

Is there a book you can buy or a web site you can go to that will explain treasure symbols? I have got a good marked beech tree and cant decipher a thing on it...d2

d2,

Here are a few books that I have. Maybe one of them can help:

Handbook of Treasure Symbols (First Edition) by Dr. Arnold Kortejarvi Curator of Museum of Treasure and Archaeology

Follow the Signs A Treasure Hunter's Handbook by Dayne Chastain

Handbook of Treasure Signs and Symbols by Mary Carson

Treasure Signs & Symbols by Thomas Penfield

The Rocks Begin to Speak by LaVan Martineau

Timberwolf

This may sound like a "duh" but you need to learn to interpret the signs and not rely on any book because the answers just won't be there. And I do mean interpret and not "read". For the most part the outlaw (and any actual KGC symbols) you run across are topographical in nature. Think small. The majority of the symbols will be for traveling distances of 100 feet and less and you won't be able to see the majority of them on a topo or in an aerial photo. Some of these symbols will depict things, it may be a rock shaped like the symbol or a creek or part of a creek or fence/property line or anything else that was considered stationary at the time.

Think road signs, an "S" means curves ahead, the same type of reasoning applies to treasure symbols involving outlaws and the limited KGC spots that existed. These symbols are very subjective because they were made by an individual to help THAT individual get back to what they left. The symbols were not made as "code" with some special key that allows the right group or other people to read them. You will be trying to interpret a picture of something that was made as a shorthand to remind the maker of the information he needed to get back to what he left.

There are no easy answers and everything will change from one site to another even if the same outlaw marked the same sites.

Hi TQA Girl.  You ask some excellent and legitimate questions in your message.  Before you can understand the answers to the other questions, however, I believe you must convince yourself that the Knights of the Golden Circle were real and then expand your research from there.  The best way I know to do that is to read the official War of the Rebellion Records at the link below.  These are free and no one is selling anything.  Get ready to do some reading though once you do a "Simple Search" of the records using the keywords: Knights of the Golden Circle.

http://digital.library.cornell.edu/m/moawar/waro.html

Here is a link to the records of the 1860 KGC Convention in Raleigh, N.C.

http://gunshowonthenet.com/AfterTheFact/KGC/KGC0571860.html

~Texas Jay

The below is also from Jay's forum:

From: http://moa.cit.cornell.edu/moa/browse.monographs/waro.html -
run a simple search of this site for the keywords: Knights of the Golden Circle


It took me two and a half hours to transcribe this important Official
Record to post on this message board so I hope our members appreciate
my efforts. :) Please read the entire report carefully as it
explains many important things about the KGC. It also tells of their
resolve to go to any lengths to prevent the second inauguration of
Lincoln.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BloodyBillAndersonMystery
***


From: The War of the Rebellion Official Records
"OFFICE PROVOST-MARSHAL,
MIDDLE DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA,
Sacramento, August 10, 1864
Brig. Gen. JOHN S. MASON,
Acting Assistant Provost-Marsal-General, San Francisco, Cal.:
SIR: I have the honor to report the result of my investigations of
the secret work of the association called 'Knights of the Columbian
Star,' through Hiram Potter, one of their number. This has been a
very tedious and slow business, for the reason that the whole system
is so cloaked and guarded that but few of the members really know
anything about it. The organization, as near as I can now determine,
is as follows: There is a governor-general for the State, and a
lieutenant-governor-general for each locality, who has a deputy
lieutenant-governor-general to assist him. There are no large
meetings held of the order in their capacity as an association, but
few only of the officers and trusted members get together to initiate
new members and devise the work which is to be carried out. Potter
has only lately learned that there is a third degree, which he has
not yet obtained, but it is proposed to give it to him soon. I may
here remark that it is one of the cardinal principles of the order
that no member of an inferior degree knows of a higher until he is
prepared and expected to receive it. In the first degree, which is
called thirty-three defenders, the candidate is first examined and
[if] found to be a suitable person for their use, he is then sworn in
a solemn and imposing manner. The substance of the obligation is that
he will not support in any election or employ in business an
abolitionist if any other person can be had; that he will obey his
officers in all things; that he will resist the enforcement of any
and all unconstitutional laws by the Administration, his officers
being the judges of the unconstitutionality of the laws; that he will
furnish himself with a rifle or double-barrel shotgun if possible,
and positively to furnis a revolver pistol and bowie knife, and
always to keep on hand a supply of ammunition for a three-days hunt.
After taking this obligation they are invested with the signs,
password, and grip, to enable them to recognize their brothers and
make themselves known, which are: First, to attract attention of any
brother present, take hold of the breast of the coat or about the
third button, carrying the hands about an inch out from the body and
back twice, as if in the act of fitting the coat to your body. The
answer to this sign is to throw the left hand to the small of the
back carelessly. This satisfies the party that they are recognized,
but they will have no communication until they have been further
proved. After selecting a proper place the challenger proceeds to
prove his brother as follows: Q. 'Do you know Jones?' A. 'What
Jones?' Q. 'Preacher Jones.' A. 'Yes.' Q. 'Have you the password?'
A. 'I have.' Q. 'Will you give it to me?' A. 'That is not the way I
obtained it.' Q. 'What will you do with it?' A. 'I will divide it
with you.' Q. 'Well, you divide it, and begin.' A. 'No; you begin.'
Q. No, you begin; the word is yours.' A. 'Death.' Q. 'To.' A. 'All.'
Q. 'Traitors.' They then take hands, the questioner giving the grip,
which is given by inserting the little finger between the little
finger and the next one and then clasping the hands, the questioner
giving one shake and saying 'Right,' the answering man another shake
and saying 'Brother.' This completes the proof of each belonging to
the thirty-third or first degree, and any communication between them
is proper. So far neither man is supposed to know that any other or
higher degree exists. But for the purpose of explanation we will
suppose that they both have the second degree, or what is called the
fifty-seventh degree, meaning 'constitution.' The first hailing sign
in this degree is made by taking off the hat with the left hand,
bringing it down to the side of the head, and placing the right hand
on the top of the head in an easy, careless manner; this is answered
by taking off the hat with the left hand in the same manner. Test
sign follows: The thumb and forefinger of left hand rub the under
lip; the answer is made by touching the pit of the stomach with the
thumb and forefinger of the right hand, as in the act of holding a
pen. This having been properly answered the question may be
asked: 'Have you the password?' Upon the reply in the affirmative the
password is given with the same ceremony as before, being divided.
The word is 'Andalusia,' being divided An-da-lu-sia. The questioner
then asks, 'Have you the sacred password?' and upon an affirmative
answer the same process of getting is observed, with this difference,
that this word is lettered. The word is 'Eloi.' After this grip is
given. The right hand of each is placed together and thrust up until
each grasps the wrist of the other, and the questioner gives one
shake, saying 'Right;' the other party then reaches with the left
hand and takes the left hand of the questioner in the same manner,
giving it one shake, and says 'Brother.' This completes the proof of
membership in the second degree. There are some other signs for
special occasions. Sign of caution or danger: Place the left hand
upon the breast and raise the right vertically, the elbow as high as
the shoulders. Sign of distress: Clasp the hands together, unlocking
the fingers; raise them to the chin, saying, 'Santa Maria.' Sign of
recognition on horseback: Grasping the left breast of the coat with
left hand, giving two moves of the hand and coat about two inches and
back, the party answering salutes with right hand. There is a night
sign, made by clasping the hands and calling out 'Ho!' which is
answered by saying 'Hi!' Before being invested with these signs the
candidate is carefully examined as to his age, occupation, residence,
former place of residence, birthplace, what military service he has
done, his opinions upon the political views of the day, State rights,
slavery, the right to resist unconstitutional laws, &c. If this
examination is satisfactory, he is sworn. The oath is very long and
elaborate. The substance only can be given, which is to resist the
election of Lincoln for President by all possible means, including
the force of arms; to adhere to and obey the call of the governor-
general of the State or the lieutenant-governor-general of your
district in all cases and at all times; that you will resist any and
all unconstitutional laws by the Administration; that you will adhere
to and support the old State rights doctrines and the right of each
State to protect itself, and assist it to carry out the right to
maintain slavery or any other domestic institution to which it is
entitled, by force of arms if necessary; that you will resist with
arms any attempt upon the part of the U.S. authorities to execute any
unconstitutional law of any kind or character, your officers being
the judges of the unconstitutionality. In addition to this, Potter
says he has ascertained that there is a third degree, and has the
promise of having it conferred upon him. Beriah Brown, editor of the
Press in San Francisco, is the present governor-general of the State;
C.L. Weller, who has lately been arrested, is lieutenant-governor-
general of the State, or of the district of San Francisco; not
certain as to the extent of his jurisdiction. It is contemplated to
elect a governor-general of the Pacific Coast, including Nevada
Territory and Idaho, who shall have the general supervision of the
order. Joseph P. Hoge, of San Francisco, is talked of for that
position. This will not be done until after the nomination at the
Chicago Convention, when a meeting of the governors and lieutenant-
governors is to be held at some point not yet known. Each member of
the order pays money into the treasury, and when parties cannot get
arms for themselves they are to be furnished by the society, the
intention being that every man who is with them shall be armed for
instant service when required by his officers. They only make one
member of the fifty-seventh degree for from three to seven of the
thirty-third degree, and it may well be imagined that the third
degree is still less in number than the second and still more
dangerous, all the power resting in a small council or single
governor. The officers in the Sacramento district are: General J.L.
English, lieutenant-governor-general; J.C. Goods, deputy; Thomas
Edwards, secretary, and A.A. Bennett, treasurer. Ex-Governor John
Bigler is a prominent member, and has lately left as a delegate to
the Chicago Convention; he is reported as having carried $160 in
money to be delivered to the rebel sanitary fund; the money was sent
from here to Maggie Perry, in San Francisco, to be delivered to
Bigler there. John R. Ridge, at present of Nevada City, was a
traveling agent of the order, and is now an officer in the Nevada
district. Doctor Fox, of San Francisco, is one of the most active
agents of the order in the State. He estimates that there are 24,000
men at present in the order and reliable for their purposes, and that
this order, with the Knights of the Golden Circle and the men they
can control, will reach 50,000. The actual number is very hard to
arrive at by any one below the head of the order, or a general agent,
as the utmost secrecy prevails between all its parts, and all are
subject to the power of an officer whom they do not know. Amongst
themselves it is freely talked of that there will be war in
California; they expect it and are all the time providing for it.
General J.L. English here talks peace, and the other officers and
prominent men say he is an old fogy and afraid he will lose his
property. Whenever they feel strong enough to make resistance to the
laws they intend to do it. This seems to be the tendency of all the
circumstances that come to my knowledge, and their conversation
reported by Potter will bear no other construction. There is also a
regular system of raising money to be transmitted East under pretense
of giving to the rebel sanitary for rebel prisoners. Since I reported
to you that trouble was expected in San Francisco at the time of the
meeting an order has been issued by Governor Brown (as is reported)
that all Democrats cease to carry arms until further orders, but to
have them always ready where they can find them. In relation to the
arms heretofore spoken of, the only further information we have been
able to gain is that the muskets, 'about 1,000,' were under the
control of Don Juan de Dias, a Mexican, who disappeared about two
weeks since, and whether the arms went with him or not cannot be
ascertained. The result of my observation is that the secret
political organization is very powerful and very dangerous. Second,
that the moving power which controls it is in sympathy with and
acting for the benefit of the Southern rebellion. Third, that it is
most important now to ascertain exactly who they are and what they
are doing. Fourth, that more men should be employed in this service
unknown to each other, so that their information may be compared.
Almost any man who takes upon himself these obligations is more or
less unreliable to us, and I do not feel safe in relying altogether
upon one man, more especially as I have some reason to believe that
he does not push his inquiries as fast as he might, or else keeps
back something that he ought to inform us of.
I submit, then, this matter to you, in addition to what I have
heretofore reported, for your consideration and advice.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant.
ROBERT ROBINSON,
Captain and Provost-Marshal."


***
~Jay~
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/BloodyBillAndersonMystery

  Thanks for the info!

Thanks for the info!

Granny,

You and Stoney are not allowed to search for KGC treasure...you have to be a member of the club.

TW

                                            

The truth is that all of us naysayers are the real present day KGC.  SWR is the Most Exalted Bearer and Keeper of the Templates.  I and others are Sentinels, and we haven't kept records of how many Cowans we've taken out, but it was a bunch.  We go to all treasure web sites and attempt to deter KGC treasure seekers with logic and facts.  Kinda funny, but it should be just as believable as the opposite theories.  And come to think of it, can anyone prove this ain't true?

The following is a message that was posted earlier this year by one of our members on the Bloody Bill Anderson Mystery message board.  It is a quote from Confederate Guerrilla George T. Maddox's memoirs "Hard Trials and Tribulations of an Old Confederate Soldier".

***
Group :
Here is something interesting....
George T.Maddox wrote in his book on page33
" I will try to describe  to you how Shelby's command , recruited officers, Quantrell's ( sic)
command , and all the bushwhackers managed to keep from coming in contact with each other. As they were all dressed in yankee uniforms, they were compelled to have some way by which they could know each other when they met. If they had not they would have had many fights among themselves.
They had certain signs which they made to recognize each other. That rule was adopted by a regularly organized lodge, and every man who knew the signs had been thoroughly initiated. A regular iron-clad oath  was taken, and if any man betrayed the order or gave away the signs he knew it was death.  Just as far  as we could see we could recognize each other and know whether we were meeting Southern men or not. Traveling anywhere up North in the Federal lines we could tell who lived at a house -whether Southern or Union people.
In a short time after we organized that order any Southern scout passing through that country who knew people who lived in a house knew whether they were Southern people or not. They would make marks in a certain way on the gate posts or house so that the next scout who came along would know that Southern people lived there. By so  doing they could converse with them freely , and would know that they had met a friend and could get all the information about Federals that could be had. ( I now leave out some of the text).
......
page 34
I will not undertake to describe the marks we used for signs nor the signs we would make when we met each other, nor the oath we took when we organized, but will never forget any of them as long as I live, and I am satisfied there are a great many men living to-day who will remember the same."   
 
Stew

***

~Texas Jay

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bloodybillandersonmystery

KGC signs

http://okietreasurehunter.blogspot.com/

Ron ...., oops I mean Alec - Why don't you just come out and tell the members that you own the okietreasurehunter's websites and that you don't really believe that the signs you post photos of are KGC?   You claim to believe they all belonged to "outlaws" as you call them.  Let's have a little honesty here, please.
~Texas Jay

Ron ...., oops I mean Alec - Why don't you just come out and tell the members that you own the okietreasurehunter's websites and that you don't really believe that the signs you post photos of are KGC?   You claim to believe they all belonged to "outlaws" as you call them.  Let's have a little honesty here, please.
~Texas Jay

I was thinking the same thing.  This thread is about KGC treasure symbols which you don't think your's are, so why are you referencing your blog.  Some of your info is good, some of it is not.
Boattow

Ron ...., oops I mean Alec - Why don't you just come out and tell the members that you own the okietreasurehunter's websites and that you don't really believe that the signs you post photos of are KGC?   You claim to believe they all belonged to "outlaws" as you call them.  Let's have a little honesty here, please.
~Texas Jay

I was thinking the same thing.  This thread is about KGC treasure symbols which you don't think your's are, so why are you referencing your blog.  Some of your info is good, some of it is not.
Boattow

Probably for the same reason(s) Jay keeps soliciting his conspiracy theory group on yahoo   

Yammy Elf:  Your "don't know" icon is accurate as you really don't have a clue.  Unlike Ron West (Alec), I use my real name in our group.  If you don't believe that KGC treasures exist, then why in the heck are you here badgering others who do or who want to learn more?
~Texas Jay (Longley)   

Texas Jay and Boattow you guys aren't very good investigators. That's my blog and Alec/Ron writes for me. I guess you could say it's both of ours though. He has done a great job posting articles and information. He has posted information that you won't find anywhere else on the internet and as far as I care to say it's the best treasure blog out there. We don't fill you full of bull.

Texas Jay and Boattow you guys aren't very good investigators. That's my blog and Alec/Ron writes for me. I guess you could say it's both of ours though. He has done a great job posting articles and information. He has posted information that you won't find anywhere else on the internet and as far as I care to say it's the best treasure blog out there. We don't fill you full of bull.

Though we don't claim to be private investigators as (Ron) Alec does, we are finally getting some truth out of you, 2late2dig.  If you are so sure of your investigative abilities, why is it that you are so ashamed to use your real identities when you tell these whoppers to your readers?   
~Texas Jay

[several times]

Ron ...., oops I mean Alec - Why don't you just come out and tell the members that you own the okietreasurehunter's websites and that you don't really believe that the signs you post photos of are KGC?   You claim to believe they all belonged to "outlaws" as you call them.  Let's have a little honesty here, please.
~Texas Jay

Well, "Texas Jay", apparently you don't even read your own posts. My post referring the readers of this thread to the blog is so that they could read the information about the "secret signals" the KGC used to identify each other. Even though in your post you alluded to these signals you failed to enlighten the readers as to what they were. 2late has gone to the trouble of detailing that information for the readers of this thread.

It's called facts, something you seem to leave out of your posts. You have the tendancy to try to make the information fit your theories instead of basing a theory on the actual facts. I personally have come to believe it is a waste of time to try to convince you and some others about the facts of the KGC but you seem to get upset when a different opinion about your alleged super secret billionaire society is stated. I guess there is no room for discussion in your world unless everyone agrees with you.

Boattow, what I call outlaw signs are outlaw signs. These are actual signs I have found in the field and interpreted and followed the trail on. They are outlaw signs because I did the research to find out who was in the area where and when the signs were left. No big secret conspiracies, no templates used, just regular old treasure carvings left by ordinary people who became outlaws.

I have stated on the blog (and this forum) several times what my beliefs about the KGC are. I'm not keeping any secrets about my beliefs or ignoring any facts like the true believers of the KGC myths do. You seem to have ignored the facts again "Texas Jay".

Well then, Alec, please share the facts with us as to your reasons for spending two months with Dan Pastore while he was working on his KGC sites.  I don't believe you ever replied to that question when posed by another member so I'm asking again. 
~Texas Jay

[UNTIL]

Do you need glasses there Texas Jay? His name is Ron Pastore, not Dan and I clearly answered your question before by stating that I had been sucked into believing the myths about the KGC UNTIL I started doing my own research and stopped believing the things on the forums about the KGC. Once I started my research it became very obvious, very quickly that the treasure myths attributed to the KGC could not have happened. That was ten years ago.

You seem to be trying to mis-direct the readers. I have answered your posts and I have done so with facts, not myths or theories.

 What is important is what is in the hill that he is uncovering that gives off the "glowing" reading on the magnetometer.  If it turns out to be a room of gold or other treasure as it very well may, then you will surely have to modify your "outlaws" theory because you will not find a robbery or heist of such magnitude anywhere in the history of this country.    
~Texas Jay

Texas Jay I used the okie treasure hunter because that was the name of the blog. I'm not hiding my name and in fact it's plastered today across the front page of a major newspaper in my state. You've always gotten the truth out of me in my postings. I'd sure like you to point out the whoppers we are telling in our blog/forum posts.

If you have been following the forums for the past two years then you would have known it was me who started the blog. I did it so that people could learn something useful and enjoy a treasure story or two. I don't make a cent from the blog. Since you make comments about it must mean you're one of our regular readers.

Us bringing opposing views to the KGC thread just balances out the forum. I have brought more information out about Orvus Lee Houk, "Jesse James III" than any of you. It was his maps that Pastore kept flipping through on the show. So, if as the show stated J.Frank Dalton was a JJ imposter, then the maps Pastore kept flipping through would be fake as well since Howk claimed they came from Dalton. So much for KGC treasure maps huh. So much for a treasure vault being 8 feet below where Pastore stopped digging too!

How about the so called secret KGC signs, grips, tokens, passwords that I posted on the blog? I've got tons of KGC info. I never stated I didn't believe in them, just not the BILLIONS of hidden loot as some claim.

http://okietreasurehunter.blogspot.com/

Oh, my e-mail address is at the top of my blog. I'm so ashamed I just have to hide my identity. LOL I host a get together for treasure hunters each year that everyone is invited to. Payed for out of my pocket. You crack me up. I'd like to get some truth out of you. LOL

The following is a message that was posted earlier this year by one of our members on the Bloody Bill Anderson Mystery message board.  It is a quote from Confederate Guerrilla George T. Maddox's memoirs "Hard Trials and Tribulations of an Old Confederate Soldier".

***
Group :
Here is something interesting....
George T.Maddox wrote in his book on page33
" I will try to describe  to you how Shelby's command , recruited officers, Quantrell's ( sic)
command , and all the bushwhackers managed to keep from coming in contact with each other. As they were all dressed in yankee uniforms, they were compelled to have some way by which they could know each other when they met. If they had not they would have had many fights among themselves.
They had certain signs which they made to recognize each other. That rule was adopted by a regularly organized lodge, and every man who knew the signs had been thoroughly initiated. A regular iron-clad oath  was taken, and if any man betrayed the order or gave away the signs he knew it was death.  Just as far  as we could see we could recognize each other and know whether we were meeting Southern men or not. Traveling anywhere up North in the Federal lines we could tell who lived at a house -whether Southern or Union people.
In a short time after we organized that order any Southern scout passing through that country who knew people who lived in a house knew whether they were Southern people or not. They would make marks in a certain way on the gate posts or house so that the next scout who came along would know that Southern people lived there. By so  doing they could converse with them freely , and would know that they had met a friend and could get all the information about Federals that could be had. ( I now leave out some of the text).
......
page 34
I will not undertake to describe the marks we used for signs nor the signs we would make when we met each other, nor the oath we took when we organized, but will never forget any of them as long as I live, and I am satisfied there are a great many men living to-day who will remember the same."   
 
Stew

***

~Texas Jay

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bloodybillandersonmystery

This is interesting, the KGC did mark the property (wagons, etc.) of friends and enemies. They call it the guard sign in the 2nd degree.

What is important is what is in the hill that he is uncovering that gives off the "glowing" reading on the magnetometer.  If it turns out to be a room of gold or other treasure as it very well may, then you will surely have to modify your "outlaws" theory because you will not find a robbery or heist of such magnitude anywhere in the history of this country.   
~Texas Jay

I guess you're right Jay, the facts are not important. It doesn't make any difference what his name was or the fact they were using GPR and not a magnetometer and the fact they stop digging when they could have easily finished and found out what wasn't there, not to mention the several other facts you have over looked. Deciding which facts to ignore seems to be a specialty of yours.

I have always said I would be the first to offer my apologies and eat my words to anyone that found a KGC "vault" and could prove it. I will still do that but Pastore won't be the person to find it and I doubt that anyone else will either. That is my opinion, which I am entitled to.

I would have to gather from your posts that you think every carving out there belongs to the KGC and nothing can just be left by an outlaw or some other group. Nobody like the French or outlaws, or pirates or miners or the Spanish or the Chinese or just regular folks ever buried anything in the ground and left carvings and markers behind to find it?

I'm amazed at your response to me posting the blog address. I posted the address simply so people reading this forum could go and see the "secret" signs and signals of the KGC that you apparently didn't know about or didn't think was "important" to mention. I didn't even disagree with your original post, I thought I was being helpful but instead of being grateful to have the sourced information readily accessible you chose to attack me personally.

Here is the link to the newspaper article that mentions Alec and 2late2dig:

http://www.newsok.com/hunters-trail...ement/article/3424702#ixzz0ZaRLrlQC

~Texas Jay

Attention to detail Jay. Even though Alec/Ron deserves as much or more recognition than I, he wasn't there at the time the article was written, so he wasn't not mentioned in it. I did give his name and credit for the work on the blog he does, but it wasn't included in the article that came out in the paper.
I've hunted with him and can say without a doubt he is one of the most practical and common sense treasure hunters you will meet. You also don't have to worry about him cheating you as so many treasure hunters claim their partners have done. He's honest and straight forward.

http://okietreasurehunter.blogspot.com/

Texas Jay, this article is a good example of how you can't rely on newspaper articles for accurate information. I didn't learn to treasure hunt from my dad, the age of my kid was wrong, I don't have squinty eyes, TJ and Mark weren't lagging behind they were looking at a spot where old carvings had been, and they were joking about waiting around to get their picture taken, Jesse and Frank didn't bury the 18 jack loads of gold in the Wichitas during the blizzard, etc.

Now if I was ashamed of giving out my name do you think I would have allowed it to be put in a featured article? Would I answer all the e-mails that come to me through the blog?

If you can't get the little details right how can people trust that the information you spout about the KGC etc. is accurate? I'm with Ron on this one. Why argue and drag yourself down to the depths. If people want some common sense information about the KGC and treasure hunting we will keep posting it on the blog.

Alec and 2late2dig.  I readily admit I made a mistake, that I didn't originally make in stating Pastore's crew used a magnetometer.  I posted many message on our group regarding the ground penetrating radar being used and have watched the program several times and notice important new details on every viewing so it was an innocent slip on my part.
Let me remind you that whenever you attack our Bloody Bill Anderson Mystery group for its research, you are not only attacking me but you are attacking over 150 other members as well.  These members combined have spent thousands of hours, free of charge, researching Bill Anderson, Quantrill's Guerrillas, the KGC and any other related topic anyone asks them to look into in the past 4 1/2 years of our group's existence.  When you attack my knowledge of the KGC, you are talking about something that you know absolutely nothing about as you have not seen all the KGC signs and symbols that I have seen in the central Texas area nor have you studied our local history enough to know what was happening here after the War. 
~Texas Jay
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bloodybillandersonmystery
 

Texas Jay, this article is a good example of how you can't rely on newspaper articles for accurate information.

FROM YOUR BLOG:
In an effort to prove to the treasure hunting community that the Knights of the Golden Circle (KGC) (33) were not the super secret organization that many are claiming today, I'll be bringing you newspaper articles from the 1850's and 1860's.

So the article about you is full of inaccuracies but the one about the KGC is gospel???!!!  The KGC was NOT the bumbling idiots you and Ron want to make them out to be.  Your "investigations" are very slanted and inaccurate.

Here is the link to the newspaper article that mentions Alec and 2late2dig:

http://www.newsok.com/hunters-trail...ement/article/3424702#ixzz0ZaRLrlQC

~Texas Jay

Great article about guys looking for some Jesse James loot. No wild and wacky conspiracy theories to muddle through 

Let me get this right.  You don't believe that Jesse W. James and his brother Frank were members of the Knights of the Golden Circle?
~Texas Jay

Not only were they not bumbling idiots...they were able to come back from the dead. Like ole Jesse and Bloody Bill!

Oh please do elaborate elf...  I'm sure you aren't referencing anything I've said.

Boattow, I never stated that the article I posted was without mistakes, but only gave it as an example of how much was known of the KGC. I happen to have many other sources on the KGC other than newspaper articles.
Texas Jay I've never attacked your Bloody Bill group and you are making a huge assumption of my lack of knowledge of the KGC in Texas, or any other place, as a matter of fact. I'm just pointing out there hasn't been up to this point any proof of any large KGC treasure brought forth. You mention Griffith and Brewer but once again nothing that can be verified. I can claim to have dug up a uhaul truck full of gold and reburied it, but doesn't make it true. I could even show you a double fistfull of coins but doesn't mean I dug them up. People will believe what they want no matter how much evidence there is against such claims. J. Frank Dalton would be a good example of that one. As far as the James Boy's being members of the KGC maybe they were, or maybe they were Mason's. It wouldn't prove a single thing toward there being billions of dollars of KGC money buried. There were a number of men in the KGC and continue to be many fine men in the Masonic Lodge, but as of now neither organization has taken over the world. Conspiracies are entertaining and thought provoking, but I hunt real treasures that I can find real clues to. If you want to hunt KGC treasure then that is fine and dandy as well. To each their own. I just think I will have a better chance is all. I also want to help others find their pot of gold along the way as well. Hence the blog and the useful information it brings to others.

Boattow, the next two KGC blog articles I post will be just for you. Articles about how the KGC bumbled their plots. What about taking over Mexico and Cuba? How did that work out for the most powerful KGC? In my opinion it looks like Mexico might be taking us over before long.

Boattow, the next two KGC blog articles I post will be just for you. Articles about how the KGC bumbled their plots. What about taking over Mexico and Cuba? How did that work out for the most powerful KGC? In my opinion it looks like Mexico might be taking us over before long.

The KGC's filibustering efforts were failures but they were very effective in pushing Texas into secession and they formed some of the first confederate units. I am not convinced of the KGC's post war existence, but I keep an open mind.

The whole point here is if the KGC put down the mega "depositories" or "vaults" with stacks of treasure in them. The only source for this information seems to be Orvus Howk and the black book, both being very dubious sources for real information. Howk was a lier and con man and was making up stuff faster than it could be written down.

There is no other source of information that even alludes to any mega treasures put down by the KGC. We all know that they existed and what their intentions were but they didn't accomplish their main goal and that was mainly because of a lack of funds. Why would the KGC be putting massive amounts of silver and gold (and copper if you believe Howk) in the ground when the South was having to borrow money from France? If their goal was to take over more land and help with the Civil War at the same time don't you think if they actually had any real money they would be putting it into the ongoing effort instead of putting it in the ground?

The whole point here is if the KGC put down the mega "depositories" or "vaults" with stacks of treasure in them. The only source for this information seems to be Orvus Howk and the black book, both being very dubious sources for real information. Howk was a lier and con man and was making up stuff faster than it could be written down.

There is no other source of information that even alludes to any mega treasures put down by the KGC. We all know that they existed and what their intentions were but they didn't accomplish their main goal and that was mainly because of a lack of funds. Why would the KGC be putting massive amounts of silver and gold (and copper if you believe Howk) in the ground when the South was having to borrow money from France? If their goal was to take over more land and help with the Civil War at the same time don't you think if they actually had any real money they would be putting it into the ongoing effort instead of putting it in the ground?

My belief is that the KGC evaporated into the confederate army in the south and northern members possibly joined or became other organizations such as OAK and the SOL. The CSA by 1865 had become a socialist state which couldn't supply its troops. So far I see no proof of hidden caches by the CSA or the KGC but like I say I keep an open mind.

Being a member of the current day KGC, who sit around and do nothin, texas jay, what do you think ' Haga bien a los pobres, tenga compasion de los infortunados, y dios cuidara de lo demas' means, and what is it doing at the top of a KGC missive?  Tu sabi o no?

RGINN, once again you are wrong.  I am not a member of the current day KGC because there is no such organization.  The KGC, operating under various aliases, closed shop in 1916.  Are you drunk or something?  It's obvious that you know nothing about me because sitting around and doing nothing is certainly not on my busy daily schedule and anyone who knows anything about me knows this truth.  I also have more to do than sit around here and replying to obnoxious insulting messages from you and other naysayers.  Adios.
~Texas Jay

  Tu sabi o no?

I think you have Jay confused with another member of this forum. If he has taken offense to that it is understandable. I hope that is just an error on your part and we can dispense any rudeness. As for the proverb, it is a beautiful one and as to why it was included there I can only suggest that when songs or poems are included with other documents they sometimes substitute as some type on anthem.  It brings comfort to the reader even today.

The 1916 date comes from page 188 of Jesse James Was One of His Names. What Houk didn't make up in that book Schrader did. The book is about 95% lies and fantasy. Anybody who is basing their KGC theories on information provided by Orvus Lee Houk aka Howk,Hawk, Jesse Lee James, Jesse James III, Frank Hawks, The Hawk, etc. are doing so on false information.

Determining where Howk or Schrader elaborated on the actual story of Jesse James and what came from Jesse James himself is not an easy chore but one that must be done if anyone is ever able to learn the truth.  "Jesse James Was One of His Names" was not the only source of the 1916 date.  I never said that, in the later part of the War and after the War, the KGC "merged" with any other organization.  I said they used aliases.  Some of these are well-documented in the War of the Rebellion Records, the Holt Report and many other places.  These aliases included Sons of Liberty, Order of American Knights, White Camelias, and many others.  Instead of snickering, some members of this forum should be reading.
~Texas Jay
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bloodybillandersonmystery 

Determining where Howk or Schrader elaborated on the actual story of Jesse James and what came from Jesse James himself

Just which Jesse James are you referring to? The real one or one of the many imposters? The real one wasn't around to be interviewed for Howk and Schrader's book and if you have read or seen any of Howks papers you would know that 99.9% of his information is bogus.

It's fairly well known The KGC changed their name a once or twice but which group was actually the KGC after the war? Just what did they do up until the alleged 1916 date? Are you saying that they continued to watch the alleged mega depositories and even continued to add to them? If so then why did they die out? If they had all of those assets I would think the group would continue to exist until all of the funds were exhausted. Does this mean there are no mega-deposits anywhere because they did use up all of the funds trying to continue to exist or did they die out because there were no funds to continue?

Jay, I don't see any large group dying out if they had the billions in the ground that you seem to think is there. The group just dries up and leaves billions all over the world? I thought they were supposed to be the smartest people on earth and that's why nobody can find those mega-depositories. How does a group that is supposedly that smart and organized just die out with billions of dollars just sitting around?

Alec, the KGC closed shop in 1916 for two basic reasons: 1) the older Knights were dying off and 2) the country became united to fight in World War I.
Most of the depositories were created many years after the Civil War ended and contained some of the profits from KGC-financed businesses such as banks and other profitable enterprises that were the reason the South once again began to prosper after Reconstruction without slavery.  One of the main reasons for these depositories was to store gold and silver that the KGC was removing from circulation in an attempt to weaken the federal economy while strengthening the economies of Southern states.  Even before the War ended, you will find that the KGC was actively involved in removing gold from circulation during the Northwest Conspiracy as described by James D. Horan in his book "Confederate Agent".
~Texas Jay   

So they closed up shop with all of the old members dying and just left the money in the ground never to be seen again? None of the old dying KGC tried to give the money to help in the world war effort or took it for themselves or told their families about it so they could get it? They just said Oh well, and let the gold disappear into history? Really???

Again, this gets back to what the group was alleged to be. How does a supposed super organization like the KGC just die out with billions of gold and silver in the ground? Doesn't seem logical in my opinion. And now you're saying the KGC was trying to take down the norht by taking gold out of circulation? How does that hurt the north without hurting the south at the same time?

Alec, you mean Pastore didn't teach you these basic facts when you were working with him?   
~Texas Jay

Jay, if you mean J. Frank Dalton was Jesse James, then I hate to break it to you, he was one of the fakes. Joe Hunter, Smitty, and Houk were all in on a scam to promote him as Jesse in an attempt to make a little money. Now as far as the southern states go they didn't recover until many decades later. If Booth was a KGC agent,as some claim, then you can blame the Souths slow recovery on the KGC. Lincoln was going to help the southern states to rebuild but that plan died with him.

I'll give you a hint as to who I believe was the real Jesse Woodson James.  Hint:  I believe he was the same man that FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover believed he was.   
~Texas Jay

Alec, you mean Pastore didn't teach you these basic facts when you were working with him?   
~Texas Jay

First off, they aren't "facts" and they sure aren't "basic". Pastore didn't know squat when I met him and he still doesn't or else he wouldn't be spouting the "party line" put out by the true believers in the KGC mega bucks and he sure wouldn't be using Howk's maps as real information. He hasn;t done any real research, ever. He just steals what he can and calls it his own.

J. Edgar Hoover of the FBI?

You mean this guy who says the FBI doesn't have any information on the identity of Jesse James?

Nice try, Alec, but no that is not the letter I am referring to.  The letter you show is probably in regard to an imposter of Jesse James and was dated many years earlier than the solid evidence that has been shared with me by a trusted friend.  Now, can we get back to the topic - "KGC Symbols"?
~Texas Jay

Well I guess, since you seem to be relying on that "secret evidence" that you can't share, just like all of the other true believers. It seems everybody has "secret documents" that apparently imperically proves the myths about the KGC mega-deposits that they just can't share. If there's that many secret documents about the KGC out there I would think they would have shown up somewhere by now.  I guess it's easier just to change the subject.

Got any symbols you want to discuss?

Alec,
The KGC operated into the 1900s (approximately 1916), continually putting caches in the ground until that time. They also came back and moved some caches to other spots within the originall areas the cahce was located in, changing the clues/carvings along the way.

I have this information from a very good source.

Good luck in your hunting!

Anybody ever seen a three-legged horse like the one represented in this photo I took a couple of years ago?   
~Texas Jay

I take it from the total silence that has accompanied my posting of this 3-legged horse photo, that no one can confirm that any "outlaws" rode such a horse?   
~Texas Jay
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bloodybillandersonmystery

We might all be surprised at what a 3-legged horse can do.   
~Texas Jay

Does three front legs count???

   Where is THAT from? 

Well it ain't KGC! 

That is about one third of a carved map. The carving was so big I couldn't photograph it and get all of the detail in just one photo so this is just part of the map.

Can your horse carve steps?  Apparently mine could.  This carving is just a few yards from the 3 horseshoes.  I took this photo on one of my visits to this site in central Texas.
~Texas Jay

Steps you say?

SWR, and what is my "agenda" according to you?  You don't have a clue.     "Graffitti" you say?  One thing is for certain, it is not modern graffitti as these dates from the same site testify.
~Texas Jay

Come on Jay, no grafitti? I'm not saying you carvings aren't old but you have to admit that there is grafitti there. Almost every site that has actual treasure carvings has grafitti just because that's what people do. They see a carving and decide to leave one of their own.

This site is on secured private property and has been for as long as I've been alive and longer so, unlike many sites, this one has not been plagued with modern graffitti except for a very few that were initials, names and dates carved by high school friends of the landowner's kids.  My "agenda" was originally to follow up on a story my grandfather (born 1892) told me when I was about 10 years old.  He told me that he had carved his name on this site when he was a very young man.  I got permission from the landowner, who I have known for about 35 years, to look for his name.  I finally found it a few years ago after several trips to the area looking for it. 
~Texas Jay 

See there, that wasn't so hard! 

Congrats on finding your grandfather's name. I hope you got some very good photos! That's the kind of family history that is nice to pass down.

Grafitti doesn't have to be modern. The people leaving the names and dates from the 1800's are still eaving grafitti when you get right down to it. It's everywhere. Like I said, if it's a place where people have visited and they see carvings they always want to leave one of their own. Sometimes that's a good thing but most of the time it's not.

Alec, I did get some excellent photos of my granddad's carved name (some with me pointing to it) and sent copies to everyone in our immediate family along with his story to me that led me on the search.  Now, it will be handed down to future generations or at least that is my hope.  I admit that even I was tempted to leave my own dated name on the rocks but found that they are not easy to carve on and I didn't have hours to spend doing it.  I can only imagine how long it took those men to carve the intricate carvings they left in the 19th century.
Well, that ends my "Show and Tell" session for the foreseeable future.  I hope some members got something beneficial from it.   
~Texas Jay   

I hope some of the younger folks in your family appreciate the carving.

I'm disappointed your show and tell is over. I was just starting to have fun!!

Unusual Rock Carving Discovered in West Virginia
http://naturalplane.blogspot.com/20...ock-carving-discovered-in-west.html
TUESDAY, MARCH 30, 2010

Image urls listed:
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iq2vQY1Je...AAAS1Q/FnYbP2wA-aA/s400/rockWV1.jpg

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iq2vQY1Je...AAAS1I/_NDUfJJ6f8I/s400/rockWV2.jpg

I found an interesting post today:

A few days ago, a gentleman was walking in the woods, in an undisclosed location in WV, when he happened upon a curiously carved rock. This particular gent has been all over this ground, for years, and had never noticed this rock carving before.

He came back and reported the find, and so far no one else has ever noticed it before either. Keep in mind these gents have been all over this territory hunting and such, and are keen observers due to that pursuit. No much gets by them, but no one has noticed this rock before.

I went out this morning in the company of one of them to see this rock for myself, as I was not a little dubious.

The rock itself is embedded in the bed of a small mountain stream, around 200 meters or so away from the nearest road, up a small hollow. The stream I think is mostly dry, but has had some water running in it lately due to heavy rains. The area it's in is little frequented, and mostly uninhabited.

The circle is 22 inches wide at the inside edge of the circle, and 21 1/2 inches tall at the inside edge of the circle. The depth that the circle is cut to is between 5/8 and 3/4 of an inch. The orientation of the stem of the central "tree" is east by north-east.

I did a cursory search of Google images (just the first 20 pages) and found similar, but not identical, figures. They were the Norse "World tree" (Yggdrasil), the Celtic "Tree of Life", and a Buddhist figure somewhat resembling the carving. None of these explains how THIS carving would be found in the middle of nowhere in West Virginia, with this obvious patina of age.

The "branches" of the central "tree" vaguely resemble the layout of the surrounding hollows. There has been some lively discussion today of whether or not this could be some sort of "map" of the surrounding one or two square miles. Some say it most likely IS, others are equally certain that it ISN'T. So far, no theory has been advanced as to why anyone would take the time to rock-cut a map of such a small area.

An idea has been advanced that it is some sort of Indian carving, but no purpose for it has been suggested.

Why the "tree"? Why the circle? Why in the middle of nowhere, off the beaten path, in an uninhabited area? Why in the middle of a stream bed? Who would take the time to carve it, and for what purpose?

Any ideas? Explanations? suggestions for further research? I have to admit my perplexity in the matter once again.

NOTE: The thread can be found at ATS. There were references about the patina of the carving not matching the surrounding rock surface, though on closer inspection it does seem that there is some overlap. Could it be a Knights of the Golden Circle map used to mark buried gold from Confederate sympathizers? Possible Native American? Take a look and judge for yourself (click the images for a larger version)...Lon

I would say this was probably Indian or derived from the Indians. It appears to be what I call an "ancient juicer". The Indians would place whatever they were smashing to get the liquid out of inside the center of the circle and as they smashed it the "juices" would run off the rock and into the outside circle and to a spot where the liquid would run out into a pot. It appears the run out spot has been broken away or chipped off near the bottom just left of center. The "veins" inside the circle helped catch the liquid and direct it toward the bottom of the circle.

KGC GREAT SEAL
image:
http://knights-of-the-golden-circle...al-of-knights-of-golden-circle.html

   CCC, are there mountain ridges around the "map"?   Looks like mountain ridges, with "circle" around 'em saying... PROTECTED AREA.   The "gateway" at the "bottom" of the circle (depending on "direction" of N,S,E,W), appears to be saying... approach from the SOUTH.   GOOD LUCK! HH!

Rare KGC pin
The 2010 Texas Division Sons of Confederate Veterans Reunion Convention was recently held in Dallas, Texas on June 4th through the 6th.  During the Reunion one of the programs was a presentation by Mr. Randy Farmer on the Knights of the Golden Circle and the Confederate Home Guards. Mr. Farmer became interested in the KGC after discovering a KGC pin. Mr. Farmer displayed during his power point presentation the following photograph of a rare KGC pin.

The photo was sent to me by Mr. Paul Ridenour of www.paulridenour.com

http://knights-of-the-golden-circle...6/knights-of-golden-circle-pin.html

Rare KGC pin
The 2010 Texas Division Sons of Confederate Veterans Reunion Convention was recently held in Dallas, Texas on June 4th through the 6th.  During the Reunion one of the programs was a presentation by Mr. Randy Farmer on the Knights of the Golden Circle and the Confederate Home Guards. Mr. Farmer became interested in the KGC after discovering a KGC pin. Mr. Farmer displayed during his power point presentation the following photograph of a rare KGC pin.

The photo was sent to me by Mr. Paul Ridenour of www.paulridenour.com

http://knights-of-the-golden-circle...6/knights-of-golden-circle-pin.html

What does a Masonic Knight Templar watch fob have to do with the KGC?

Rare KGC pin
The 2010 Texas Division Sons of Confederate Veterans Reunion Convention was recently held in Dallas, Texas on June 4th through the 6th.  During the Reunion one of the programs was a presentation by Mr. Randy Farmer on the Knights of the Golden Circle and the Confederate Home Guards. Mr. Farmer became interested in the KGC after discovering a KGC pin. Mr. Farmer displayed during his power point presentation the following photograph of a rare KGC pin.

The photo was sent to me by Mr. Paul Ridenour of www.paulridenour.com

http://knights-of-the-golden-circle...6/knights-of-golden-circle-pin.html

What does a Masonic Knight Templar watch fob have to do with the KGC?

Walker Colt:  you apparently have not been paying close attention.   
~Texas Jay

Did anybody ever notice the fountain drink cups @ Kentucky Fried Chicken??  One side says "KFC" the other-side of the cup says "KGC", are they tied in with the Knights of the Golden Circle? 

Rare KGC pin
The 2010 Texas Division Sons of Confederate Veterans Reunion Convention was recently held in Dallas, Texas on June 4th through the 6th.  During the Reunion one of the programs was a presentation by Mr. Randy Farmer on the Knights of the Golden Circle and the Confederate Home Guards. Mr. Farmer became interested in the KGC after discovering a KGC pin. Mr. Farmer displayed during his power point presentation the following photograph of a rare KGC pin.

The photo was sent to me by Mr. Paul Ridenour of www.paulridenour.com

http://knights-of-the-golden-circle...6/knights-of-golden-circle-pin.html

What does a Masonic Knight Templar watch fob have to do with the KGC?

Walker Colt:  you apparently have not been paying close attention.  
~Texas Jay

More than likely Knights of Pythias, here is one for sale on ebay.

There is a strong resemblance between the two.

I have no doubt it is Pythias, here are some more Pythian symbolism from another topic on this site.

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,325259.0.html

Looks like Walker Colt was paying attention afterall. Good catch on that one WC.

I also own a very old Knights of Pythias medallion with the hooded knight on the front.  Our group's members are aware of or should be aware of the importance of the Knights of Pythias in any study of the KGC after the War.  Hint: the Knights of the Golden Circle did not operate under their old name after the Civil War ended.  In fact, they stopped using the name (KGC) late in the War because the Federals understood the power of that secret organization and were beginning to infiltrate it.  
~Texas Jay

    NAW... KGC is KINKY GIRLS CLUB for THers!   From KFC...  
BTW, TJ is correct... "google" ORDER OF AMERICAN KNIGHTS 

Another "branch" of the KGC, after the War, was the Knights of the White Camellia.   

http://www.antiessays.com/free-essays/8018.html 

Members will need to read this soon because articles like this, related to the KGC, have a way of "mysteriously disappearing".  Wonder why?
~Texas Jay

I also own a very old Knights of Pythias medallion with the hooded knight on the front.  Our group's members are aware of or should be aware of the importance of the Knights of Pythias in any study of the KGC after the War.  Hint: the Knights of the Golden Circle did not operate under their old name after the Civil War ended.  In fact, they stopped using the name (KGC) late in the War because the Federals understood the power of that secret organization and were beginning to infiltrate it.  
~Texas Jay

KGC members possibly crossed over into OAK, OSL, White Camelia, KKK, and many others but to say they joined a fraternity that was chartered by radical republicans in congress in 1864 and endorsed by Lincoln is pretty laughable. It is like saying George Bush joined the Taliban.

Another "branch" of the KGC, after the War, was the Knights of the White Camellia.   

http://www.antiessays.com/free-essays/8018.html 

Members will need to read this soon because articles like this, related to the KGC, have a way of "mysteriously disappearing".  Wonder why?
~Texas Jay

I thought all of this had been discussed before, the KGC didn't exist after the war.

Alec, it appears you are misinformed and haven't been keeping up with the latest research.  I suggest you check some of the reliable websites that you have used in the past to "document" that the KGC "died out during the War."  Then come back and report your findings once you've caught up with your homework.   
~Texas Jay

Well now there's your problem. I use more than just the internet to do my research.

The KGC is dead and gone, long gone, no more, nada, zilch. They did not have millions/billions to put in the ground, they did not continue on as some other group or continue to hide and and preserve mega million dollar vaults and they aren't chasing you around in helicopters or bugging your phone.

Well now there's your problem. I use more than just the internet to do my research.

The KGC is dead and gone, long gone, no more, nada, zilch. They did not have millions/billions to put in the ground, they did not continue on as some other group or continue to hide and and preserve mega million dollar vaults and they aren't chasing you around in helicopters or bugging your phone.

Then who is chasing us , bugging our phones , and pilfering our mail ?

The logical person in me says nobody, but apparently you have reason to believe someone is.

Have you tried to prove that your phones are bugged and identify the source? If it's internal you should be able to find the physical bugging device and remove it fairly easily. If it's external (somewhere other than inside your home or the box on the outside) you may never really know unless you want to spend the big bucks to find out.

The problem I have is everything you are claiming is easy to prove one way or the other. Helicopters are required by law to have FFA I.D. numbers which can easily be traced. If someone is pilfering your mail then put up a trail camera and find out who, if your phones are being bugged then find and defeat the bugs.

You have to admit that any rational person would wonder why only the true beleivers of the KGC and their mega millions are being followed, harassed, bugged and stolen from and no one else.

You guys are quick to jump on the band wagon with Pastore and his "finds" which are supposed to be KGC but they didn't get buzzed by helicopters or harassed on the site. Is that because it wasn't a KGC site and they didn't really find anything or are they not "in the loop" either?

I, for one, do not rely on Pastore for anything.  I have my own proof from many hundreds of hours spent in the field.  I also don't feel any need to prove to you or anyone that my phone is wiretapped or anything else that I know and have proven are strategies used by thieves to steal what doesn't belong to them.  Also, I challenge you to find one statement that I have made saying the Knights of the Golden Circle are still in operation.  They aren't, so I wish you would stop putting words in my mouth.  I know who is "watching" me and it isn't the Knights of the Golden Circle. 
~Texas Jay
http://bloodybillanderson.webs.com

"Then who is chasing us , bugging our phones , and pilfering our mail ?"

I was simply answering the question Texas Jay. And I think you missed the point about Pastore.

If you know who is watching you then why all of the mystery? Knowing "who" should tell you "why" and if it doesn't have anything to do with the KGC then why do they care if you are looking for KGC treasures?

We had a local guy who claimed to be getting late night phone calls, people following him, etc. He used to tell me of all the treasure signs that he found. The only problem was that the stories he told came from other people and he just used them as his own. The last I heard he moved away and was selling used cars. That may be the reason I have a hard time buying into the conspiracy theory. Like Ron mentioned, it seems only KGC treasure hunters get buzzed by choppers, harrassed by armed men, etc, etc. Of the scores of treasure hunters I know none of them have had such luck. You would think old timers like Bill Mahan, Joe Hunter, and their likes would have had the "others" trying to scare them off.

Bill Mahan would have gotten his own helicopter and chased THEM.   

One of my hunting partners told me a story about visiting with Bill Mahan years ago. He said Bill asked if he wanted to see a gold bar, of course my partner said yes. Bill proceeded to pull a big pistol out and set it on his desk after which he brought out the gold bar.

Could you guys help me out re: these symbols found on these rocks. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
UL

Could you guys help me out re: these symbols found on these rocks. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
UL

Ulhiker,

I do not claim to be any sort of an expert, but it appears to me that you may have found some markers pertaining to a Viking Land Claim. Google Runes. (form of Viking writing) all of your symbols are covered except one and that one may be a combination of two and may tell you the person/groups name. The last symbols may be in a circle because the older explorers marked their claims off in a circle instead of in a square as is presently done. This is an important find and while it may not be linked to the KGC, does not mean it is not either. (they could have found them also and measured off from them....in that case I would suggest that you try and identify the circle on the ground. (should be a few more markers?) If you can do this..then the Squaring of the Circle comes to mind. Good Luck in your searches.

Oddrock

UTHiker, your rock resembles a typical RX Precription Stone left by Dr Hook.