The Treasure Hunter

I just finished the book The Treaure Hunter and it was a great read.  I could hardly put it down.  Does anybody know if Howard Jennings or Robin Moore are still alive?

Howard Jennings was killed in a plane crash at age 50 going to Turkey to look for a treasure. I talked to Robin about it a few years ago. He autographed and gave me one of his personal copies of The Treasure Hunter. Robin is still kicking though has a touch of Parkinson's. He is a great guy! As you know from reading the book he is also a treasure hunter.

I just finished reading this book today. It was a good read, and it did keep me interested. I must say though I did not find that it taught me much about how to look for or find treasure. One of the exploits in the book I would not really consider treasure hunting. Like I said it is a good book, but it is'nt helpful with how to find treasure.

I read this great book 20 years ago when I was just getting into treasure hunting....the book is GREAT!!! I personally got a lot out of the information presented. The progression to the use of pulse induction is discussed, along with examples of how to deal with hired help during a treasure quest. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

The book was a very good read.

the same robin moore who wrote "the green berets" the book based on the horrible john wayne flick?

Yes. And many others.  He is a super guy!

Yes. And many others.? He is a super guy!

                                                          Ok Sgt who wrote it what is the title where can I get it? what is the cost Buck

the same robin moore who wrote "the green berets" the book based on the horrible john wayne flick?

Here is a funny you wrote "the green berets" the book based on the horrible John Wayne flick Well I was serving in Viet Nam in a ranger unit when the movie came out  we saw it at  cheap Charlie's and it sure was one dumb a__ movie for it was not even close to being realistic sorry other time another place

OUTSTANDING!THAT BOOK IS A KILLER READ!ill have to look into some more of his writing for sure.ill  have to scrounge up a copy of the tresure hunter thankx for the input guys!

Great read.  I liked the part where he put the treasure in the spare tire to avoid the authorities 




Diamond Spike

I just finished reading the treasure hunter really did enjoyed it very much Buck

I am reading a great book now it is called GOLDEN MIRAGES THE STORY OF THE LOST PEGLEG MINE THE LEGENDARY THREE GOLD BUTTES AND YARNS OF AND BY THOSE WHO KNOW THE DESERT COPY RIGHT 1940  Buck

 Hey, I liked that movie! LOL! And what movie is true to life? Pretty much anything that comes out of Hollywood is embellished.... heheheheheh.?

 Stan Grist has more on Jennings and Moore I believe....

All I can say is that Robin told me the stuff in the book has been beat to death over the years. He should know.

I just finished the book The Treaure Hunter and it was a great read.  I could hardly put it down.  Does anybody know if Howard Jennings or Robin Moore are still alive?

From Wiki: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Moore

"Robert Lowell "Robin" Moore, Jr. (October 31, 1925 - February 21, 2008) was an American writer who is most known for his books The Green Berets, The French Connection: A True Account of Cops, Narcotics, and International Conspiracy and, with Xaviera Hollander and Yvonne Dunleavy, The Happy Hooker: My Own Story.

Moore also co-authored the lyrics for the "Ballad of the Green Berets", which was one of the major hit songs of 1966. The song was also featured in the film based on Moore's book which starred John Wayne. A new edition of The Green Berets was published in April 2007 and his last book, Wars of the Green Berets, co-authored with Col. Mike 'Doc' Lennon, was released in June 2007.

At the time of his death, Moore was residing in Hopkinsville, Kentucky (home to Fort Campbell and the 5th Special Forces Group) where he was working on his memoirs as well as three other books."

I am re-reading The Treasure Hunter, and continue to recommend it as a very good TH read.

Thank you, Robin! Godspeed.

At the risk of being a buzzkill I think The Treasure Hunter is a miserable book.  Most of it is BS - and the whole concept of looting graves and tombs for gold trinkets does our profession (or hobby, depending) a tremendous amount of harm.

People like Stan Grist push this sort of "literature" - how he has managed to obtain copyrights for the publications he peddles I don't know, but it must have been a tremendous amount of work for a relatively small return - but it won't do the rest of us any good at all.

Robin Moore co-wrote The Happy Hooker and as far as I am concerned The Treasure Hunter falls into the same category.

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo

At the risk of being a buzzkill I think The Treasure Hunter is a miserable book.  ...

Not a buzzkill; we can agree to disagree. That's why they still make neapolitan ice cream!

http://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Hunter-Robin-Moore/dp/0139305297

Dear Old Bookaroo,

How can you say that the contents of The Treasure Hunter are BS? Have you personally been to any of the sites mentioned in the book? I have been to them all. Every single chapter from The Treasure Hunter is fact. This book was largely responsible for sending me on a lifetime of wonderful adventures which continue as I write this.

Have I received a relatively small return for a tremendous amount of work from the publications I sell? I have received perhaps little in dollars from the publications I sell, but I have received many thousands of emails from the people whose lives were affected in a significantly positive way by these publications. The reason I share these publications is that they helped and inspired me to eventually discover enough alluvial gold in South America at a relatively young age to comfortably spend the rest of my life pursuing my adventurous passions.

I have spent many months exploring the entire area of Coaque here in Ecuador. I have discovered many amazing, undocumented archaeological sites from the Jama-Coaque culture. I have never looted a tomb nor robbed a grave. I don't know any intelligent treasure hunters that do.

Unfortunately, it sounds like you have some sort of an axe to grind that perhaps stems from the frustration of never having pursued your own dreams in life. I hope you have the opportunity to change your negative perspective before it is too late. I'm sure others on this forum sense the same. Fortunately the positive inspiration left by wonderful people such as Howard Jennings lives on.

Stan Grist
sdgrist@yahoo.com

Dear Old Bookaroo,

How can you say that the contents of The Treasure Hunter are BS? Have you personally been to any of the sites mentioned in the book? I have been to them all. Every single chapter from The Treasure Hunter is fact. This book was largely responsible for sending me on a lifetime of wonderful adventures which continue as I write this.

Have I received a relatively small return for a tremendous amount of work from the publications I sell? I have received perhaps little in dollars from the publications I sell, but I have received many thousands of emails from the people whose lives were affected in a significantly positive way by these publications. The reason I share these publications is that they helped and inspired me to eventually discover enough alluvial gold in South America at a relatively young age to comfortably spend the rest of my life pursuing my adventurous passions.

I have spent many months exploring the entire area of Coaque here in Ecuador. I have discovered many amazing, undocumented archaeological sites from the Jama-Coaque culture. I have never looted a tomb nor robbed a grave. I don't know any intelligent treasure hunters that do.

Unfortunately, it sounds like you have some sort of an axe to grind that perhaps stems from the frustration of never having pursued your own dreams in life. I hope you have the opportunity to change your negative perspective before it is too late. I'm sure others on this forum sense the same. Fortunately the positive inspiration left by wonderful people such as Howard Jennings lives on.

Stan Grist
sdgrist@yahoo.com

Thanks Stan!

and Thank You to Howard Jennings and Robin Moore for sharing wonderful, true adventures that continue to inspire and encourage many TH'ers!

The Treasure Hunter is highly recommended!

Mr. Grist:

How kind of you to summarize my almost sixty years as frustration of dreams unfullfilled - based on your extensive knowledge of my life and work, of course.

Unfortunately, it is my personal opinion that you know no more about human nature than you do about successful treasure hunting.

I have been buying, selling and collecting treasure hunting books, pamphlets, maps and charts for over forty years, man and boy.  I have published dozens of articles about treasure hunting.  Some of these debunked famous treasures.  In the mid-1970's, long before the hulk was found, I published documented proof that there was not a gold payroll aboard the Brother Jonathan when she came to grief.  I wrote documented articles about the lack of treasure on the Yankee Blade and the wreck of the Rio in San Francisco Bay.

Why?

Certainly not because I didn't choose to go diving for them (granting that two out of the three are off limits).  It was because I believe in the truth.  One thing I learned many years ago is that over 95% of treasure hunting literature is simply not true.  There are the compliers who collect the work of previous writers, sometimes managing to re-write it a bit, and publish it as their own without attribution or further research.  Then there are those who claim to be treasure hunters - starting with the men's pulp magazines with the articles about finding the lost cave of Nazi gold on the island of bare-breasted women.  Their books claim extensive research in dusty and musty archives, desert campfire conversations with old timers, trips to mountain shacks to glean local knowlege, as well as huge successes finding lost mines and recovering lost treasure - yet their books never seem to show the results of such tremendous efforts...

Neither of these two categories manage to yield much useful information.

Your website suggests Jane Dollinger is a reliable source.  The wife of Ken Krippene - author of the very popular and extremely unreliable Buried Treasure (New York: 1951) - I don't find her particularly helpful at all.  Although I do find myself wondering if she was the artist's model for the drawing on page 70.

We can certainly agree that grave robbing is wrong.   But I must then ask why you call Howard Jennings a "wonderful person?"

I'll put my money on authors such as Karl von Mueller, Deek Gladson, Ed Bartholomew, Jesse (Ed) Rascoe, Bob Nesmith, and a host of others.  I can rattle off a hundred titles that provide more solid, useful, reliable, practical information for the average treasure hunter than the opus penned by Messrs. Jennings and Moore.  I can name several works of fiction that are much better, as well.

I do find it curious that when you obtained permission to reprint on your website a sizeable chunk of Leonard Clark's book the agreement didn't include the requirement to cite the original source.  Based on my limited knowledge of copyright law, copyright  holders generally require such information be included to keep the copyright intact.  Although I certainly do understand that "Reprinted from Leonard Clark's The Rivers Ran East (New York: 1953) - reprinted by permission of the copyright holder" lacks the exotic aura of mystery found in "From the Inquitos' Diary of Leonard Clark - August 15, 1946."

Same for the Victor von Hagen material (is that a Samuel Bryant map, by the way?).

Some people have a great deal of trouble handling the truth.  But I have never understood why such folks place the blame on those of us who do our level best to bring it to light.

Good luck to all,

~Fred Hollister
"The Old Bookaroo" & "The Old Bookaneer"
BOOKS of ADVENTURE

.....I'll put my money on authors such as Karl von Mueller, Deek Gladson, Ed Bartholomew, Jesse (Ed) Rascoe, Bob Nesmith, and a host of others.............
~Fred Hollister
"The Old Bookaroo" & "The Old Bookaneer"
BOOKS of ADVENTURE

This has the feel of a GREAT thread!
Old Bookaroo wrote: "I'll put my money on authors such as Karl von Mueller, Deek Gladson, Ed Bartholomew, Jesse (Ed) Rascoe, Bob Nesmith, and a host of others."

As a fan and purchaser of all of Karl von Mueller (Carl Miller)'s books and gold recovery plans, my impression was that Karl had a great imagination and writing ability, but that his 'facts' often were less than accurate. For example, the bloviation and misdirections by Karl regarding the Lue Treasure. I recall an online communication by Paul Tainter, who took over NPG/Exanimo/Research Unlimited that Karl was a 'good story teller'  and care should be taken with stories and implications....I also recall that Charles Garrett was providing a lot of assistance with the publications by von Mueller, and that the Garrett line of detectors was always highly touted in NPG and other publications (to the exclusion of White's).

I had the impression that Deek Gladson was a nom de plume for Carl Miller....the writing style was very similar. I could easily be in error on this impression.

I appreciate Stan Grist's post and Old Bookaroo's reply, and anticipate a great 'campfire'  thread, from which all treasure hunters can benefit.
BTW: Stan has a great web site http://www.stangrist.com/adventures.htm

The Treasure Hunter can also be purchased inexpensively on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Hunter-Robin-Moore/dp/0139305297 and http://www.stangrist.com/ebooks.htm#Hunter

 

Dear Mr. Hollister,

I will begin by saying that I deeply respect your lifelong work of researching and publishing the truth about treasure hunting fallacies and untruths. I completely agree that the vast majority of treasure literature is either purposely misleading or that it is published by people who simply combine and repeat the inaccurate writings of others.

It seems that you have therefore had a fulfilling and productive life. My hat is off to you for that too. It is rare to find.

May I then please ask you why you think that The Treasure Hunter falls into the category of being misleading or deceitful? I also repeat my previous question to you that went unanswered, "Have you ever been to any of the sites in the book?" How do you know that the book is not accurate?

Once again, I have been to the sites in the book over a period of 20 years. I have tracked down the people mentioned in the book. Even their names were all the exact same as in the book.

I started off by going to Honduras in 1980s. In Honduras I visited the site of Old Olancho, near Juticalpa. The ruins were still unexcavated.
Then I went to the Paulaya River on the Mosquito coast. I went up the river in a dugout canoe with a group of Mosquito Indians. I arrived at the tiny village of Las Champas and immediately met Howard's main assistant who had helped him with the dredging operation many years before. He went into great detail of the months they spent working together there. Everything matched with what is in the book. I also discovered the source of the Paulaya River gold, an ancient river channel above Las Champas.

Years later, I came to Ecuador. My first visit was to Coaque where I met Atahualpa (mentioned in the book). For the last 20 years, Atahualpa has been one of the best friends I have ever had. After showing me the locations of Howard's old camps and workings, Atahualpa took me to the Conquista River. No gringo had ever been to the Conquista River site since Howard was there.

Coaque, the Conquista River and the entire area for dozens of miles in all directions remains unstudied and unexcavated to this day. It is an explorer's dream. Mr. Hollister, I guess you have never been to Coaque either or Atahualpa would have told me.

I'm currently writing a book about 2 decades of following in Howard Jenning's footsteps and the amazing things and places I have discovered in the process. Of course, you will likely call my book rubbish and deceitful too.

So, in the spirit of telling the truth, I had to challenge you on your assessment of The Treasure Hunter. While I am absolutely sure you are an amazing expert on many other aspects of history and treasure hunting, unfortunately, you are no expert on Howard Jenning's book.

Is Jane Dollinger a reliable source? Apparently, you think not. Ok, I'll take just a little more time to tell you another story.

In my humble opinion, the true test of a book's veracity is to actually go to the places described in the book, talk to the locals, study the geology and history, and then make an actual physical investigation. Some people believe that just reading books and maps is enough. I disagree. I like to go get my hands dirty.

Inca Gold, chapter 6, A Fortune in Emeralds. Have you ever been to the archives of the Director of Mines in Quito, Ecuador? I have; dozens of times. The key to success in this story is the "River of Blood" mentioned by Jane on page 89.

If you haven't physically been to the area, you probably would not be able to figure out the modern day name of this river. It was called the River of Blood because every time it rains hard, the iron-rich clay at the headwaters bleeds into the river turning it into a blood red color for miles below.

The modern day name of this river is the Bermeja. It is not far from the border with Colombia. It is a dangerous place because of the Colombian FARC. I went there.

I obtained emeralds from some Cofan natives who live on the river. I have a GIA appraisal of the emeralds that states that they are authentic, but not from the mines near Muzo in Colombia. They are unique. I know exactly where the black, crumbly slate, barren hills are, in the midst of the jungle. As soon as tensions with the FARC problem subside, I'm returning. If you care to join me, I sincerely will be happy to take you there. I'll be publishing the documentation in a new web site I am creating this month.

Inca gold, Chapter 12, Gold from the Files. Have you ever been to the Nangaritza River Mr Hollister? I have dredged it. It is one of the richest rivers in the world. I'll take you there too if you wish to try to prove me wrong. I have discovered extremely valuable information throughout the entire book, Inca Gold. I know this because I have physically proved it by visiting the sites. Have you?

So, you don't think I know much about successful treasure hunting Mr. Hollister? I guess you are certainly entitled to your opinion, especially because you believe in the truth. I believe in the truth too. Perhaps there are different versions of the truth, who really knows.

Please do not take this post in a negative way Mr. Hollister. It is just that I have to stand up for the truth as I know it when I see someone make negative statements about things they know nothing about. I would love to see your collections someday.

Sincerely,
Stan Grist
sdgrist@yahoo.com

Dear Mr. Hollister,

I will begin by saying that I deeply respect your lifelong work of researching and publishing the truth about treasure hunting fallacies and untruths. I completely agree that the vast majority of treasure literature is either purposely misleading or that it is published by people who simply combine and repeat the inaccurate writings of others.

It seems that you have therefore had a fulfilling and productive life. My hat is off to you for that too. It is rare to find.

May I then please ask you why you think that The Treasure Hunter falls into the category of being misleading or deceitful? I also repeat my previous question to you that went unanswered, "Have you ever been to any of the sites in the book?" How do you know that the book is not accurate?

Once again, I have been to the sites in the book over a period of 20 years. I have tracked down the people mentioned in the book. Even their names were all the exact same as in the book.

I started off by going to Honduras in 1980s. In Honduras I visited the site of Old Olancho, near Juticalpa. The ruins were still unexcavated.
Then I went to the Paulaya River on the Mosquito coast. I went up the river in a dugout canoe with a group of Mosquito Indians. I arrived at the tiny village of Las Champas and immediately met Howard's main assistant who had helped him with the dredging operation many years before. He went into great detail of the months they spent working together there. Everything matched with what is in the book. I also discovered the source of the Paulaya River gold, an ancient river channel above Las Champas.

Years later, I came to Ecuador. My first visit was to Coaque where I met Atahualpa (mentioned in the book). For the last 20 years, Atahualpa has been one of the best friends I have ever had. After showing me the locations of Howard's old camps and workings, Atahualpa took me to the Conquista River. No gringo had ever been to the Conquista River site since Howard was there.

Coaque, the Conquista River and the entire area for dozens of miles in all directions remains unstudied and unexcavated to this day. It is an explorer's dream. Mr. Hollister, I guess you have never been to Coaque either or Atahualpa would have told me.

I'm currently writing a book about 2 decades of following in Howard Jenning's footsteps and the amazing things and places I have discovered in the process. Of course, you will likely call my book rubbish and deceitful too.

So, in the spirit of telling the truth, I had to challenge you on your assessment of The Treasure Hunter. While I am absolutely sure you are an amazing expert on many other aspects of history and treasure hunting, unfortunately, you are no expert on Howard Jenning's book.

Is Jane Dollinger a reliable source? Apparently, you think not. Ok, I'll take just a little more time to tell you another story.

In my humble opinion, the true test of a book's veracity is to actually go to the places described in the book, talk to the locals, study the geology and history, and then make an actual physical investigation. Some people believe that just reading books and maps is enough. I disagree. I like to go get my hands dirty.

Inca Gold, chapter 6, A Fortune in Emeralds. Have you ever been to the archives of the Director of Mines in Quito, Ecuador? I have; dozens of times. The key to success in this story is the "River of Blood" mentioned by Jane on page 89.

If you haven't physically been to the area, you probably would not be able to figure out the modern day name of this river. It was called the River of Blood because every time it rains hard, the iron-rich clay at the headwaters bleeds into the river turning it into a blood red color for miles below.

The modern day name of this river is the Bermeja. It is not far from the border with Colombia. It is a dangerous place because of the Colombian FARC. I went there.

I obtained emeralds from some Cofan natives who live on the river. I have a GIA appraisal of the emeralds that states that they are authentic, but not from the mines near Muzo in Colombia. They are unique. I know exactly where the black, crumbly slate, barren hills are, in the midst of the jungle. As soon as tensions with the FARC problem subside, I'm returning. If you care to join me, I sincerely will be happy to take you there. I'll be publishing the documentation in a new web site I am creating this month.

Inca gold, Chapter 12, Gold from the Files. Have you ever been to the Nangaritza River Mr Hollister? I have dredged it. It is one of the richest rivers in the world. I'll take you there too if you wish to try to prove me wrong. I have discovered extremely valuable information throughout the entire book, Inca Gold. I know this because I have physically proved it by visiting the sites. Have you?

So, you don't think I know much about successful treasure hunting Mr. Hollister? I guess you are certainly entitled to your opinion, especially because you believe in the truth. I believe in the truth too. Perhaps there are different versions of the truth, who really knows.

Please do not take this post in a negative way Mr. Hollister. It is just that I have to stand up for the truth as I know it when I see someone make negative statements about things they know nothing about. I would love to see your collections someday.

Sincerely,
Stan Grist
sdgrist@yahoo.com

Wow!

Talk about substantive post....

Thank you Stan!

Mr. Grist:

One thing we can all be sure about - there are always at least two sides to every story:

Roatan Odyssey, by Anne Jennings Brown

"This is a true story of love, courage, treachery and determination that reads like the finest adventure fiction. Nurtured in a select boarding school, with a degree in art and a privileged London society lifestyle, the author re-marries to a Texan adventurer. She finds herself treasure hunting in a magnificent, uninhabited harbour on Roatan in the Bay Islands of Honduras, whereupon she designs and helps build a home on the site of an old pirate fort, accessible only by sea. Anne believes she has at last found true happiness until her handsome new husband, Howard Jennings, unwilling to share his treasure trove, tries to kill her during their search for Inca riches in the jungles of Ecuador. But Jennings has met his match in the upper-class girl who could swim, sail, ride, shoot and fight with the best and the worst of them, and then dress for dinner. When Howard is deported, Anne is left to live alone on Roatan in her now-derelict home, ravaged by a powerful hurricane, with only local wildlife and Moller, the resident ghost of a buccaneer, for company. With Moller s help, Anne survives the Caribbean elements, lost love, threats, arrest and interrogation, compounded by suicides, murder and disaster."

for more informatin please see the source:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roatan-Odys...y-Anne-Jennings-Brown/dp/0955760003

Good luck to all,

~Fred Hollister
"The Old Bookaneer"

Mr. Grist:

One thing we can all be sure about - there are always at least two sides to every story:

Roatan Odyssey, by Anne Jennings Brown

"This is a true story of love, courage, treachery and determination that reads like the finest adventure fiction. Nurtured in a select boarding school, with a degree in art and a privileged London society lifestyle, the author re-marries to a Texan adventurer. She finds herself treasure hunting in a magnificent, uninhabited harbour on Roatan in the Bay Islands of Honduras, whereupon she designs and helps build a home on the site of an old pirate fort, accessible only by sea. Anne believes she has at last found true happiness until her handsome new husband, Howard Jennings, unwilling to share his treasure trove, tries to kill her during their search for Inca riches in the jungles of Ecuador. But Jennings has met his match in the upper-class girl who could swim, sail, ride, shoot and fight with the best and the worst of them, and then dress for dinner. When Howard is deported, Anne is left to live alone on Roatan in her now-derelict home, ravaged by a powerful hurricane, with only local wildlife and Moller, the resident ghost of a buccaneer, for company. With Moller s help, Anne survives the Caribbean elements, lost love, threats, arrest and interrogation, compounded by suicides, murder and disaster."

for more informatin please see the source:  http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roatan-Odys...y-Anne-Jennings-Brown/dp/0955760003

Good luck to all,

~Fred Hollister
"The Old Bookaneer"

Sounds like an interesting story, whether replete with fiction or absolutely true.


I'll probably purchase her adventure novel, but will have my critical detector tuned.

I don't see the late Howard Jennings being capable of attempted or actual murder, and perhaps this is just an interpretation provided by the book reviewer

Mr. Grist:

One thing we can all be sure about - there are always at least two sides to every story:..................
Good luck to all,

~Fred Hollister
"The Old Bookaneer"

Fred,

Appreciate your contributions to this thread. 

Mr. Grist, with alacrity, took time to provide a synopsis of his research and adventures that you, perhaps unintentionally, impugned in your previous post. If you can not refute his post, I think you owe him an apology.  The citation of Ms Brown's novel, as a rebuttal to Mr. Grist's post, is not even in the ball park, but is nevertheless interesting as a footnote. The libel of the late Howard Jennings is unfortunate, and Ms Brown will have to look herself in the mirror as she attempts to sell her book and life. I have invited Ms Brown to peruse this thread and comment.

I am now re-reading The Treasure Hunter, by Robin Moore and Howard Jennings, with renewed interest and credulity, thanks to this thread and the contributions of Treasurenet.com posters. I plan to also check out Stan Grist's website, due to his taking the time to document and challenge within this thread.  http://www.stangrist.com/

Great site!

Exanimo!

chirper97:

Are you suggesting that Mr. Grist is entitled to his opinions and I am not entitled to mine?

You characterize Ms. Brown's work as a novel.  Why is that?  The review I quoted states that it is a true story.

As for the late Howard Jennings, I am more than happy to let his book speak for itself.  As for your statement that I "libeled" him, please be so kind as to point that out to me.  May I remind you that opinions are protected speech, as are most critical reviews.  And truth is generally considered to be the perfect defense.  You suggest that if Mr. Jennings wanted to murder someone he would have - based on your knowledge of the man.  Are you defending or accusing him?

And if you are going to throw around accusations such as libel - it is my personal opinion that you should use your own name to do it and not hide behind the flimsy veil of Internet anonymity.  Some people out there take this sort of thing seriously.

I noted you signed off with "Exanimo."  Were you associated with the late Karl von Mueller?

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo

[I knew I couldn't do any such thing]

There may be some folks who read this Topic and have not yet seen a copy of the book in question.

The address of Mr. Grist's website has already been posted.  Read Chapter 4 for yourself.  Howard Jennings takes off into the jungle with a beautiful young woman who apparently has fallen in love with him at first sight - or, at the very least, fallen for his charm and tales of treasure hunting.  In such a conservative country she leaves a good job at the local bank (a conservative institution - and a position a young lady of that day would be most fortunate to have secured) on one day's notice to join a complete stranger on a dangerous expedition to bandit-infested (sorry - it's always "bandito" in this sort of book) territory.  Not to mention the head-hunting Spanish-speaking Indians...

Mr. Jennings happily describes simply heading into the bush and plundering the first graves and tombs he can find.  Permits?  Permission?  He doesn't need any stinking permits or permission.  His local friend - quite properly - objects to this behavior.  Perhaps when he was suaving her he failed to mention that he was a grave robber.  However, I suggest you read it for yourself.  And pay particular attention, if you will, to where Mr. Jennings writes:

I saw I wasn't going to win this argument, so clearly it was time to quit. "Look, Anita," I said, "would it make you feel better if I worked with your government?"

She smiled and nodded. "Okay," I said. "If I find anything, I'll take it to your government and let them decide what I can keep. They can pay me for whatever they want."

That seemed to pacify her. I knew I couldn't do any such thing, but I would have to continue her education another time.  [emphasis added]

What a wonderful fellow, indeed!  He does manage to loot some graves - but then he must get his plunder out of the country.  Mr. Jennings writes:

I was now faced with the inevitable problem of how to smuggle Ecuadorian gold artifacts out of antiquities-conscious Colombia.

Call me old-fashioned - this isn't treasure hunting in my book.  People go to jail for this - and it is my opinion that they should.  Treasure hunting is tough enough without this sort of activity.  There is a difference between being a ghoul and being a treasue hunter.

Finally, on a minor historical note, in the same chapter Mr. Jennings includes:

In 1848 the old sourdough panners discovered gold at Sutter’s Mill, California,...

I'm tempted to suggest panning sourdough would produce a soggy mess.  I'm sure, however, he's trying to sling the lingo and sound like an old hand.  Unfortunately, there weren't any "old sourdough panners" or gold panners or gold prospectors in California in '48.  Gold was discovered by accident by James Marshall at Sutter's Mill.  Until that amazing event, there weren't any old or young people looking for it.  Sourdough, by the way, was a gift from Basque sheepherders who came to California somewhat later.

Is this a major error?  No.  But it certainly is an insight to the author's experience.

Again - let the book by Mr. Jennings and Mr. Moore speak (or, perhaps I should say, read) for itself.

Good luck to all,

~Fred Hollister
"The Old Bookaroo"  & "The Old Bookaneer"

I have invited Ms Anne Brown, the author of the controversial Roatan Odyssey, to visit Treasurenet.com, read this thread, and to post her response.

As for you Bookaroo, I merely posted that you had not, in any reasonable manner, answered Mr. Stan Grist's substantive post, and that you should issue an apology for your very negative posts.

Ex animo; and hope to see you in the field!

chirper97:

Have you read The Treasure Hunter?  Howard Jennings was following the ghost of his claimed ancestor.  So he believed in ghosts, spirits, Dupees and the rest.  Now you make fun of his widow who has the same beliefs?  And do so while you continue to hide your name?

How about responding to Chapter 4 of the book?  I said grave robbing was wrong.  Period.  Mr. Grist spoke up for Howard Jennings as a wonderful guy.  I quoted the book to show Howad Jennings was a self-confessed liar and a thief.  You said I libeled him.  I asked you to point it out and you didn't.   Now you say I should apologize for quoting the book?

I said I don't believe the story of the beautiful young woman falling under Mr. Jennings' spell and leaving her work on a day's notice to traipse off on a dangerous treasure hunting expedition.  Guess Mr. Jennings didn't get around to writing about her dark eyes flashing in the light of the candle stub thrust into an empty rum bottle, sitting on a packing crate in the rustic camp...eyes that were pools of mystrey, hiding the secrets of four hundred years...her proud bosom thrusting against the taunt fabric of her khaki jungle shirt...

He did manage to pack most of the rest into his tale, however.

Do you support people heading off into the jungle and plundering the first burial mound they can find?  Is that your concept of treasure hunting?

Instead of tossing off anonymous accusations and long-distance analysis, perhaps you could actually discuss the topic and refute my points about the book?

Good luck to all,

~Fred Hollister
"The Old Bookaneer" & "The Old Bookaroo"

Bookaroo,

I think enough 'back and forth'  has been posted by us on this thread. Food for thought, and plenty of good reading to go around!

Exanimo, and keep those pages turning!

 

[This is a book that every sincere TH-er should own and read, and then re-read]

I just finished the book The Treasure Hunter and it was a great read.  I could hardly put it down.  .....

In National Prospector's Gazette, Vol. 9, No. 3, December-January 1977, Karl von Mueller contributed this review of The Treasure Hunter by Robin Moore and Howard Jennings.

"The Treasure Hunter, by Howard Jennings, ix-261 pages, preface, contents, photos, maps. Cloth, $8.95. Prentice-Hall, 1974. Co-authored by Robin Moore, this book covers 14 years in the life of a professional treasure hunter and adventurer, and it makes exciting, interesting, and educational reading. Some of the valuable artifacts and relics that Jennings found are illustrated and there are a couple of fascinating maps.

Since most of his reported operations are in the Caribbean area and South America, following in his footsteps will be impossible for most people, but he does set up some good possible locations for those who are interested.

Very few of the known personalities in treasure, today, can match Jennings' history. This is a book that every sincere TH-er should own and read, and then re-read.

It is quite obvious that some of the stories have been shaded and doctored up a little, but it is still a recommended book. To his everlasting credit, Jennings made his marks in treasure before he became a public figure. Co-author Moore is also the author of The French Connection and the Green Berets. Need more be said?".......Karl von Mueller

chirper97:

I'm still waiting for your response regarding Chapter 4 of The Treasure Hunter.  Howard Jennings writes that he is a liar and a thief.  Yet you still regard this to be worthwhile book?

You've certainly proved yourself to be a adept user of the cut-and-paste feature. 

KvonM was entitled to his opinion.  I would certainly agree with his review that "It is quite obvious that some of the stories have been shaded and doctored up a little..."  As they say, to put it mildly...

I would also suggest KvonM must have changed his mind about the value of this book.  Otherwise, why can't it be found in Estee Conaster & Karl von Mueller's The Journals of El Dorado; Being a DESCRIPTIVE BIBLIOGRAPHY on Treasure and Subjects Pertaining Thereto, A Waybill to Discovery an Adventure (Dallas, Texas: 1977)?  One thing we know for sure about Karl - he wasn't afraid to change his views when new information was presented.

Good luck to all,

~Fred

Who was Howard Jennings, The Treasure Hunter?  The following is an ongoing mini-biography; sources include The Treasure Hunter, by Robin Moore and Howard Jennings, unless otherwise notated.

Born February 27, 1925, Tulsa Oklahoma.

Grew up in Texarkana, on the Texas side, the son of an oil wildcatter. Played high school basketball, but his real loves were hunting and fishing.

World War II, enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps, receiving his commission at 18, thanks to a just instituted accelerated training program, becoming the youngest aircraft commander in the 8th Air Force. Piloted a four engine Liberator bomber in the 329th Squadron of the 93rd Bomb Group.  http://www.globalaircraft.org/planes/b-24_liberator.pl

On February 6, 1945, while on his 25th mission, Howard's plane was shot down over Holland. He and his crew to bailed out. Howard was held as a prisoner of war until April, 1945, when he was liberated by Patton's Third Army at Moseburg, near Munich.

Returning the the United States, he enrolled at the University of Oklahoma, majoring in geology. Howard left college for personal reasons and became a roughneck in the oil fields.

His next position was flying a crop duster BT-13. http://www.warbirdalley.com/bt13.htm After 2 crashes, he left that job, moving to Tulsa, becoming a scout for Amerada Petroleum.

He was recalled to active Air Force duty in the Korean War, and was assigned to Kelly Field in Texas, flying C-47s for the Military Air Transport Service.

Leaving the Air Force in 1952, he became  a member of the Amerada Land Department. This job took him to long explorations into Utah, Wyoming, and other parts of the Northwest. He took several trips into old ghost towns or prospector's settlements utilizing an army surplus mine detector. In South Pass, Wyoming, he ran his detector around the hearth of a burned out log cabin and got a strong signal. Howard dug and recovered 15 twenty dollar gold pieces, 153 silver dollars, and a a well preserved .41 Remington derringer.

Became head of the Land Department of Amerada.

From Tulsa he moved to Jamaica, and was involved in the formation of the Jamaica Air Service, the first commercial airline to run scheduled flights within Jamaica. 

In Jamaica he met author Robin Moore in 1960.

Full time professional treasure hunter from that date.

Jennings died in a commercial airplane crash in Istanbul while on the trail of one of the greatest treasures of his career. http://images.google.com/imgres?img...:en-US:official%26hs%3DONG%26sa%3DN

 

chirper97:

Your resume for Howard Jennings doesn't do him justice.

Where is his romantic role as an artifact and gold smugglar?  His swashbuckling occupation as a huaquero?

Perhaps some day you'll get around to answering some of my questions I asked about Chapter 4 and your previous post...but I rather doubt it.

Good luck to all,

~Fred

Robin Moore, author of The Green Berets  http://www.amazon.com/Green-Berets-...bin-Moore/dp/0517507145/ref=ed_oe_h co-author of The Treasure Hunter was provided with this funeral with military honors:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/9y407PzVQUo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/9y407PzVQUo</a>

Ballad of the Green Beret (The sobriquet "Green Berets" was tagged by Robin Moore, and he co-wrote the Ballad, after undergoing grueling Green Beret training)
Here is a nice video of The Ballad of the Green Berets; Robin is not pictured in this video.
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/sBdQJsWPWmo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/sBdQJsWPWmo</a>
.............................
Thank you Robin Moore for your wonderful contributions, and condolences to his family and loved ones.

ex animo

Along with The Happy Hooker, unfortunately Mr. Moore was also the co-author of The Hunt for Bin Laden.  He was thoroughly hoodwinked by a poseur - Google his name if you're interested in learning more about him.  Since Mr. Moore recently passed away, I do not post this for any reason other than to cast some possible light on The Treasure Hunter.

from:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robin_Moore - footnotes are from the original.

Shortly after the publication of The Hunt for Bin Laden, controversy arose over the veracity of the book, particularly regarding the involvement of Jack Idema. Idema, who was one of Moore's major sources, provided what later proved to be fabricated accounts of his exploits. In order to portray himself as having a greater role in the operation, Idema apparently went as far as to rewrite much of Moore's and Chris Thompson's text prior to publication. Special Forces soldiers who were on the mission (including those whom Moore interviewed) disputed Idema's claims.[1]

With Idema thus discredited, Moore eventually disavowed The Hunt for Bin Laden and the book remains out of print.[2] Despite the unfortunate fate of the book, Moore continues to enjoy the respect of the Special Forces community.[3]

Good luck to all,

~Fred

["This [The Treasure Hunter] is a book that every sincere TH-er should own and read, and then re-read"]

I agree with Karl von Mueller: "This [The Treasure Hunter] is a book that every sincere TH-er should own and read, and then re-read"  I disagree with second guessing Karl's review based upon one's own prejudice, negativity, or lack of treasure hunting experience.

Chapter 4 of The Treasure Hunter is thought provoking and could be a book all by itself. It is wonderfully written and is filled with information and fast paced real-life drama. Thank you Bookaroo for directing attention to this chapter.

Howard Jennings candidly shares with the reader his concerns about excavating remote and unknown Incan tombs to recover valuable and interesting artifacts. Removing treasures from the Incan tombs is a way of life for the indigenous people, and had been ongoing for many years. Jennings is obviously conflicted and in constant danger as he gets progressively deeper with a danger-fraught Peruvian operation.  He learns that their plan includes killing him as soon as they learn how to operate the metal detectors.

He shares first hand experience of the sale of these artifacts to EAGER museum executives, and notes how much of many museums' holdings include artifacts and valuable objects obtained from 'illegal' or 'grey market' sources. This, of course, is denied or just ignored by so called authorities. http://www.elginism.com/20081126/1573/

The character Indiana Jones could have been modeled upon Howard Jennings. Handsome, adventurous, fearless, resourceful, and driven by a loving pursuit of antiquities, both characters inspire and challenge us to live adventurous lives. A counterpoint is illustrated by Dr. Oscar Muscarella, outspoken critic of the antiquities trade and the removal of artifacts from archaeological sites:
<a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/lGZwAOy0z7M" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/lGZwAOy0z7M</a>

I wondered what I would do if I owned property that had an undiscovered pre-Columbian Incan tomb.  Would I call authorities to excavate and remove the valuables? Or would I carefully and respectfully recover gold artifacts, research their origins, and personally donate the objects to a worthy museum?

How about metal detecting on a long forgotten battlefield? Is it ethical to remove artifacts from hallowed ground containing the remains and blood of fallen combatants?  Excessive concern for sanctity of tombs, graves, skeletons, and any possible 'final resting' place could easily become a fetish, and make the entire Earth 'off limits' to exploration.

The pre-Columbian Incan, dying thousands of years ago supposedly ascended to 'other side'. The added pottery and jewelry was supposed to provide a more comfortable transition. Why should their ancient tomb get eternal protection? The Incan's spirit is in their heaven, the body simply decays into the earth.

The truth is that grave sites are routinely moved, disrupted and exhumed during highway and building construction. Should we make a loop around each grave when constructing interstate and county highways? Of course not.

What really is the difference between a tomb digger who has an archeological degree and a responsible treasure hunter who has spent years researching and discovering an ancient burial site? Doesn't it depend upon the individuals involved?

It is easy to cast dispersions and judgments upon others especially if one is not, himself, a treasure hunter.

It is more difficult to walk a mile in a treasure hunter's moccasins, and to understand their sacrifices, research, quandries, dangers, and rare fulfillment.   

chirper97:

Mr. Jennings is "conflicted?"  Hardly.  He willingly lies to his beautiful local assistant because it will shut her up and she will then continue to assist him in his grave-robbing.

Mr. Jennings justifies his ghoulish behavior because he has a market for his finds (why doesn't he just sell drugs?  EAGER customers who've purchased before!) and because others have done it before him?

Obviously among the many things you don't understand is the character of Indiana Jones.  As a young lad he tries to save Coronado's Cross from a pothunter remarkably much like Jennings.  Indiana Jones would hate Howard Jennings - Mr. Jennings is a looter.

You don't understand archaeology, either.  Donating trinkets to museums really doesn't convey much information about the objects themselves.  They are virtually worthless - once plundered from the tomb they offer little, if any, historical information.

"Walk a mile in his moccasins?"  Please.  I certainly wouldn't want to be in his moccasins, given his bragging about being a gold and artifact smugglar, liar and a thief.

Finally - while you continue to hide your own name - please share with the rest of us what you know about my activities as a treasure hunter.  I'm certainly looking forward to reading about that.

Good luck to all,

~Fred Hollister

chirper97:

Just stumbled across your January 9th post.  While it probably won't do any good, I'll try to correct a few things:

Charles Dean Miller used Karl von Mueller as one of this pen names.  When he wrote with his wife Gladyce M. Miller they used the pen name "Deek Gladson."

You wrote: "...my impression was that Karl had a great imagination and writing ability, but that his 'facts' often were less than accurate. For example, the bloviation and misdirections by Karl regarding the Lue Treasure. I recall an online communication by Paul Tainter, who took over NPG/Exanimo/Research Unlimited that Karl was a 'good story teller'  and care should be taken with stories and implications...."

Now you offer no facts to back that up.  What do you know about the LUE that did not, directly or indirectly, come from KvonM's writings?  And if you are going to believe someone, wouldn't it make sense to listen to the person who started the business and built it into a national firm - rather than the person who purchased it from the founder?  I know Paul Tainter, have done business with him, and he always treated me right.  But he was not a treasure hunter like KvonM - no knock there because there just hasn't been another KvonM.  Period.

You never met him.  I did.  There wouldn't be a TreasureNet Forum without Karl von Mueller.  There wouldn't be the 2009 hobby of treasure hunting without him.  And that's a fact.

You wrote "I also recall that Charles Garrett was providing a lot of assistance with the publications by von Mueller, and that the Garrett line of detectors was always highly touted in NPG and other publications (to the exclusion of White's)."  So?  RAM Publishing did publish several books by KvonM.  Compare the earlier editions of Sudden Wealth (Exanimo Press & The Gold Bug) - page 75, for example - with the RAM editions.  The RAM editions include other books published by RAM.  It's there in print for all to read.

Charles Garrett hired KvonM to write The Master Hunter Manual - not just the best metal detector instruction book ever written, but an excellent introduction to treasure finding.  Try to purchase a copy today - the market price tells you it's value (unlike the numerous copies of The Treasure Hunter readily available for a buck or less).

As for your use of "Exanimo," i find it in remarkably poor taste.

Good luck to all,

~Fred Hollister
Publisher: The Encyclopedia of Buried Treasure Hunting, by Karl von Mueller (San Francisco:  1990) [unlike some "reprinters" - with the permission of the copyright holder!]

Mr. Hollister
 How is it different for an archeologist to "Excavate" a tomb but when some one without a degree starts digging it is considered stealing or looting?  You say, "Indiana Jones would hate Howard Jennings - Mr. Jennings is a looter" well thank you for speaking on the behalf of Mr. Jones. But if you want to play that card I will play this one, maybe you should watch the first movie again when they accuse Indiana Jones of being a looter in south America- doesn’t that sound familiar? 

thompson:

Are you really asking "How is it different for an archeologist to "Excavate" a tomb but when some one without a degree starts digging it is considered stealing or looting?"

Seriously?

Wow!

It isn't a question of having a degree.  It's an issue of how and why.  Briefly, for an archaeologist a items in and of itself has relatively little value.  What counts is where it is found relative to all the other objects recovered and data obtained.  That is why professionals take such careful notes, sites are on a grid, etc.

Pothunters such as Mr. Jennings plunder tombs for gold trinkets they can sell.  They destroy the historical value of the object when they remove it from the site.

As for Prof. Jones, why don't we let him speak for himself?

Good luck to all,

~Fred

Here is a comprehensive bibliography for MANY discussions, articles, and books on the subject of "looting versus archeological digs"

http://wings.buffalo.edu/anthropology/Documents/lootbib.shtml

An example:
"Fagan, Brian M. (HOT!)
    1995 Archaeology's dirty secret. Archaeology 48(4):14-17.
    - Fagan notes how archaeologists frequently fail to publish their research and equates this failure to looting." 

There are many links within this bibliography.

 

chirper97:

If an international pharmaceutical firm abuses the public trust, does that give street dealers free license to peddle crack?

That is the argument you are making, and I simply cannot agree with it.

Once graves are looted, the potential archaeological information is lost forever.  It cannot be recovered.

If an archaeologist properly excavates yet fails to publish, the information has still been preserved – but not disseminated.

When the Spanish conquistadors melted down Aztec and Inca artifacts, was that ok with you as well?  How about killing the locals to get them?  No problem with that, either?

Or do you draw the line with just tomb plundering, telling lies and artifact smuggling as acceptable practices?

Perhaps you have not walked sites with local authorites, and had them point out to you vacant spaces where wall sculptures have been sawed out and removed.  I have, and it is not a happy experience.

Frankly, I don't understand your continued defence of such an obvious fraud as Mr. Jennings.

I am, however, still curious why you make fun of his former wife's beliefs yet fail to comment on the fact that based on this sad book Mr. Jennings apparently believed the same things.  And why you are still afraid to post under you own name.

Good luck to all,

~Fred

 

I just finished the book The Treasure Hunter and it was a great read.  I could hardly put it down.  Does anybody know if Howard Jennings or Robin Moore are still alive?

I have just been contacted by Ms Anne Brown,  author of Roatan Odyssey, http://www.amazon.com/Roatan-Odyssey-Anne-Jennings-Brown/dp/0955760003 and former wife and now critic of Howard Jennings, (Co-author and subject of The Treasure Hunter). 

It would be great if she would join this Forum and thread to share her first hand experiences. 

I will post pertinent information as I receive it.

Thank you Ms Brown!

Gentlemen: I tremble to post my humble contribution into this illustrious debate, but I am the publisher of Roatan Odyssey by Anne Jennings Brown, widow of Howard Jennings. Neither Anne nor I would claim it was a true story if it was not, and it most certainly is. You couldn’t really make it up!

Initially, Anne had an agent for Roatan Odyssey, and he had submitted it to four of the larger publishing houses, but they had declined and declared it “uncategorisable”. Not a word I would use myself; it was patently autobiographical and/or travel. Why is knowing which shelf to put it on so important to these people?

After four rejection slips, (a word not in Anne’s vocabulary), she decided to self-publish. It was not by vanity press (as one of your contributors witheringly suggested!), but published privately and professionally, on my retirement from many years in publishing as an editor, proof reader and (the fun part, I think) page make-up. Our printer, Cromwell Press, did a superb job; we had a print run of 2,000, of which we have sold approximately half.

Roatan Odyssey has sold well in America, and on Roatan Island where it all happened, not just to visiting cruise ships but also to the local inhabitants who remember Anne, and many of the events she writes about. Indeed, the agent sold ten copies between collecting it from Customs and getting it home. To my mind, this alone proves its veracity.

We have been fortunate with publicity at a local level, in both Berkshire and Shropshire, where Anne has lived. However, as with most other books, we have been unable to break into the national press, which is disappointing because the Jennings’ treasure-hunting exploits were featured in Woman’s Own in two consecutive issues in April 1972 and in the Evening Standard at about the same time. I would have thought they would have been interested in “the truth behind the headlines” some 37 years later. We are still hoping.

Now 76 years old, Anne Jennings Brown is a remarkably strong and supremely elegant lady. She had to be to survive marriage to Howard. He was certainly an Indiana-Jones type character, and so, of course was Fredrick Mitchell-Hedges (1882-1959), whom Howard had met and from whom he learned first hand about the treasure appropriated from Roatan’s Port Royal harbour.

As Anne writes in her book: “We sat on the edge of the crumbling masonry of Fort George, our feet dangling in the water, and went over what [Anna Mitchell-Hedges, his step daughter] had said in London. In 1932, the year I was born, Anna, with her stepfather Fredrick Mitchell-Hedges, and a Dr Ball, had sailed into Port Royal and dug up $600,000-worth of pirate treasure. The islanders were still talking about it as though it had happened just prior to my arrival, recounting all the details of which boat they used for charter – the Amigo – and who helped them with the digging.

“With the help of archival evidence, the Mitchell-Hedges and Dr Ball found three chests of treasure in various locations in the harbour and, according to Anna, Dr Ball was allotted the unenviable task of crawling along the beach and through the bush with the ship’s compass which would react to the corroded buried metal. I would like to have known how the poor doctor managed this feat in several locations in Port Royal, and how his knees stood up to it all. She had gone on to say that they only had time to dig up two of the chests before the authorities in Coxen Hole got wind of the goings-on in Port Royal and came to stop them. They escaped, leaving the third chest behind.”

It was the prospect of this third chest that lured Howard back to Roatan, plus of course, the fact that he owned land there (just waiting to be developed). There is much concern in the discussion on this website about how cavalier these treasure hunters were. My personal thoughts on this are that in those days, people were not so politically correct, nor so ecologically-aware or achaeologically-aware. Anne also felt much concern about Howard’s methods when they were treasure seeking in the jungles of Ecuador, where they discovered a lost Inca city, long deserted but heaving with emeralds, gold and artefacts over 1,500 years old and where, unwilling to share ‘his’ treasure trove, he subsequently tried to kill her.

Also, as it says of Mitchell-Hedges on Wikipedia, “The veracity of much of his autobiographical writings is in question,” so it is obvious his adventures did not lose in the telling. He was certainly a bit of a lad.

One thing is certain; Roatan Odyssey is a cracking read, with something for everybody from adventure, sex, money, lost love, threats, interrogation, suicides, murder, living through a hurricane, a near-miss shipwreck, and of course, the duppies and the resident ghost of a buccaneer who teaches Anne the joys of automatic writing. It sheds light on Howard Jennings and his character with, to my mind, an even-handedness he does not deserve. Anne tells this true story in such a graphic and gripping manner, almost everyone who has read it says, “It would make a great film!” And it would. We are working on it.

The other response we get is, “But what happened to Anne after she left Roatan?”  Well, I am pleased to say she has been happily re-married for 30 years, to a dear and understanding man who accepts her wanderlust and allows her free rein, knowing she will always return.

Born with a silver spoon in her mouth and speaking with a cut glass accent to vie with the Queen’s, Anne was educated at a select boarding school, went on to earn a degree in art and, before Howard swept her off her feet and off to Roatan, had been enjoying a privileged London society lifestyle. By now impervious to culture shock, since Roatan, Anne has spent six months at a time in the Himalayas with desperately poor Tibetan refugees, going back for more year after year, documenting their culture, painting pictures of their costumes and teaching them English.

I suspect that’s another book in the making but for now, Roatan Odyssey, complete with many of Anne’s fine drawings and historical maps, is available direct from roatanne@btinternet.com price £10 plus £2.50 p&p. Please e-mail in the first instance for details of where to make a BACS transfer or the address to which to mail your cheque.

With best wishes
Quicksilver7

Thanks Quicksilver7 for your informative post and contribution to TreasureNet.com and this thread.

I agree with your comments about the time period in which Jennings was operating; political correctness was a decade or so in the future. Judging him by today's standards is a bit absurd.

I plan to purchase Anne Brown's Roatan Odyssey to complement The Treasure Hunter, and would greatly enjoy her contributions to this thread!

Thanks again Quicksilver7; keep us updated on new information and insights!

Thanks, Chirper 97, I'm glad my little contribution was helpful.

May I just clarify re obtaining a copy of Roatan Odyssey: it is available on amazon.co.uk but not on amazon.com  Consequently, you can order it in the UK but not internationally.

However, I can fill international orders received on roatanne@btinternetnet.com
E-mail in the first instance and as soon as I know which country you are ordering from, I will check the exchange rates and the mailing cost, and advise. You can then send a money order / banker's draft or a BACS transfer (at no cost), and we will mail your copy of Roatan Odyssey by return.

It is a good time to buy from the UK because the £ sterling is very weak.

It is true we are trying to interest a film-maker in the UK because Roatan Odyssey would make a great film. That may be some time yet though; Anne and I are going to hold off buying our outfits for the red carpet for a while.

Best wishes
Quicksilver7

When it happens, we want photos!!

Good luck; I would love to see the movie when and if it is produced.

Here's the link to Amazon United Kingdom:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_ss...ords=Roatan+Odyssey&x=0&y=0

 

I thoroughly enjoyed the book.  I think the treasure hunting community should read it and make their own decisions.  As well as all books associated with treasure hunting.

tt

After all this back and forth banter, I bought a copy from E-bay ( .99 + 2.99 shipping) I will post my review shortly.

Well i read it. It was highly entertaining. How factual is another story, but most treasure tales are generously blown up. All in all I liked it.

Well i read it. It was highly entertaining. How factual is another story, but most treasure tales are generously blown up. All in all I liked it.

I have read Roatan Odyssey and highly recommend it! Anne Jennings Brown has a flowing writing style, and conveys the sense of time and place as she and Howard Jennings pursue treasure and fulfillment on Roatan.

It is enlightening to have 'The Treasure Hunter' available to compare the perspectives of these two adventurous and remarkable people!

Availability of Roatan Odyssey:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Roatan-Odys...books&qid=1260122318&sr=8-1

or directly from the author at roatanne@btinternet.com

Recommended!

ex animo

Just wanted to jump in and say that I learned quite a bit from reading a good portion of this thread.
I got the e-book of The Treasure Hunter a couple months back, but got too busy to finish it.
Just recently, on my trip to Springfield, Missouri to spend Thanksgiving with my girlfriend and her family... I happened upon a hardback signed, first edition copy of The Treasure Hunter in a used bookstore. The $35 pricetag was a bit absorbent, but I can say that it was certainly worth it and I'm enjoying reading the rest of it in physical form! I'm enjoying the stories that Jennings & Moore had to offer... regardless if there are those who have subjective opinions on it's credibility. If you can write a book like that about your own life, then you've truly lived out most of our dreams!!!

Bran <><

I have read this post and I can assure you I will be getting Stan Grist Book and the treasure hunter book as soon as I get the money .(2 weeks top)



Dennis B

and this was a very good topic!

While I'm certainly not as literate as the listers here, after reading this topic, I was compelled to register to this site.  Ah, The Treasure Hunter.  The book totally changed my life.  I had been planning on going up to mine Alaska, when a chance meeting with a stranger, forced me to read of Mr. Jennings.  I was told, that if I were to alter my plans and choose Honduras, Jim the stranger would pitch in half the capitol.  I loved the book, and called Robin Moore to find out if he thought the info was accurate.  We engaged a prominent Honduran attorney, staked a claim, and shipped our dredge, and tons of gear.  It was in 93 that we struggled up the Rio Paulaya, headed for the exact spot where Jennings had pulled gold.  While we built our house, we stayed with Alfredo Guevarra, the very same guide the Jennings had used.  We became family to his family, and enjoyed our time there.  We saw his old dredge parts, still there to this day.  The price of gold was not what it is today, or perhaps we would have stayed.  We left doubting he pulled the amount that he professed.  We did receive fair compense for exploration from Homestake mining.
     We went to Utila, which is now my home.  I lived on Roatan for a while, and married my lovely wife there.  My children our now ten and twelve.  I study the history of the region, and became more interested in the archaeological sites, especially the "dragon" heads, carved of granite that I would find in the jungle.  I should talk about where the Mitchell Hedge skull was really found, or the strange similarities of Anne and Howard, and Mitchell and Brown, and there books...  But instead I'll close with, sometimes the treasure, is primarily in the searching.  Perhaps I'll see some of you in Nome.....

Bananaman:

I hesitate to dispute anyone who has been there and done that.  If you can look back on your life and be happy with where you went and what you did, that's a good thing.

If people want to be armchair treasure hunters, or enjoy the search more than the finding(s), more power to 'em.  Each to her or his own.  That's why where are more than one type of treasure literature.

When it comes to robbing graves and smuggling artifacts, the line has been crossed.  Authors of books that advocate such vocations must accept responsibililty for what they put out there.

And I continue to find it helpful to not confuse treasure fact with folklore, fiction, or fantasy.

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo

l

Anyone know the where a bouts of Steven Morgan or if he is still alive?    By the way, doing a little excavating in the 60s and 70s didnt really amount to much so called grave robbing.  Howard did nothing different than what is being done in Egypt or anywhere else for that matter.  The book was written to sell copies,  might have been a little exaggerated in parts.  Kelse Jennings

Kelse:

Looks like it has been a while since you read the book.

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo

I may be a little bit predjudiced towards you buckaroo as Howard was my uncle and I do have a little better insight as to the facts than you do. Cheers

Kelse:

The book speaks for itself.

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo

REALLY?  You believe everything you read?  WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

kelse:

Of course not.  I didn't write that.  Why do you feel the need to misinterpret what I wrote?  I made it quite clear there are things in this book I don't believe. 

I do think the book speaks for itself.  Mr. Jennings took certain actions and then wrote about them.  He is responsible for what he did - good and bad.

That's life.

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo

Hey Book, I also have verified some of Jenning's treasure stories and can safely declare them as truth.  I have also met Grist, and he is a hell of a guy. 

Do you have any idea just how many Archaeologists are actually treasure hunters?  Somewhere in the range of 70%+.  Have you noticed that you are the only one who has a dislike for Jennings and the Treasure Hunter?  Out of about 10 people who have posted on this thread, you are the only who seems to have a dislike for him.  You must be perfect, since you seem to condemn Jennings so easily.

It is easy to be an armchair adventurer.  Try heading to Ecuador and walking in Jennings path.  He was a devoted treasure hunter and deserves a little more respect. 

AA:

When it comes to ethics and morals, shall we just take a vote?

No thanx.  Mr. Jennings' book speaks for itself.  As do his own actions, as described by him.

What others do - amateurs or professionals, laypersons or academics - doesn't have anything to do with it.

Judge him?  Yep.  He wrote the book, I didn't.

My opinions of Mr. Grist are based, once again, on what he's chosen to write about himself and publish.  I continue to believe that whether it is physcially "in print" or on the Internet, copyrights should be respected.  Authors should be given credit for their work - and permissions obtained before publishing.

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo

AA:

When it comes to ethics and morals, shall we just take a vote?

No thanks.  Mr. Jennings' book speaks for itself.  As do his own actions, as described by him.

What others do - amateurs or professionals, laypersons or academics - doesn't have anything to do with it.

Judge him?  Yep.  He wrote the book, I didn't.

My opinions of Mr. Grist are based, once again, on what he's chosen to write about himself and publish.  I continue to believe that whether it is physically "in print" or on the Internet, copyrights should be respected.  Authors should be given credit for their work - and permissions obtained before publishing.

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo

Morals and ethics aside for the moment, you were disputing on whether or not he actually did these hunts in his stories.  They have been verified as fact.  So you have never lied, even a little white lie in your life?   So you are absolutely perfect and a shining example of honesty?   You are judging someone on a tiny section of his life in a book.  Maybe Mr Moore exaggerated a bit as well to make the read more interesting.  All i know is this:

1.  The book is based on factual events that really happened and have been verified.
2.  Beyond the locations themselves, he gives the wannabe adventurer some really useful information in dealing with the natives, dealing with issues of logistics in the rainforest, use of various tools and equipment and future treasure hunting leads.  Also just to irk you a bit, how to woo women, eh?

So once again I will say the guy is not perfect, and you are?

The guy is fearless and focused and a true adventurer, and for that he has my respect. 

A2:

You wrote: "Do you have any idea just how many Archaeologists are actually treasure hunters?  Somewhere in the range of 70%+."  Can you back that number up, or are you using ROMA data?

Although I don't see what that claim has to do with this book.

As for leaving ethics and morals aside - why?  That was my original premise.  Treasure hunting is difficult enough, without folks running around robbing graves.  It's wrong.  Period.  It's against the law and it should be.  And those laws should be enforced.

As for Mr. Jennings' "adventures," it's obvious they grew in the telling.  My life doesn't have anything to do with it.  May I remind you, I didn't write this book.  While, of course, I am far from perfect, I don't hide behind "everybody does it."  I'll admit my mistakes and take responsibility for them.

If you think the way to "woo women" is to lie to them - well, that's up to you and them, now isn't it?  I don't believe that story at all. Those parts of the book are too 1950's for me.

I don't believe a great deal in Mr. Moore's epic tome The Happy Hooker, either.  Or, as has been previously pointed out, his very unfortunate book about hunting Osama Bin Forgotten.

There are many professional, and amateur, treasure hunters I respect.  Howard Jennings certainly is not one of them.

Good luck to all,

~The Old Bookaroo