Find BadBird's Treasure

At the 9/19 Meeting of BadBirds Treasure Hunting Society we discussed the last clue and its meaning. We agreed that “Starting Point” in the 6th clue most likely meant the bank. The bank was searched inside and out to no avail. One member pointed out that the only thing that has not changed about the building is the address. Above the door brass numbers screwed into the wall show the 401 address.

A member that had worked on the building as it was recently painted assured us that nothing was below the address or on the numbers as he had removed and repainted them.

We surmise that the number 401, as a cipher, or some permutation of the number is the 7th clue. A cryptologist had already studied 401 as a cipher and the very first permutation was by letter of the alphabet – “DOA”. Interestingly, the acronym for Dead On Arrival. And that was the result of further cryptoanalysis.

To study 401 permutations we had developed a grid showing “What Ifs”. What if 401 means 4+0+1 =? 5 Feet? 5 Yards?

Or What If 401 means 401 Feet, Yards, Inches (33.5 feet)? When plotted out, most permutations could be eliminated (in the river back in 1911, under a building, too close or too far. One permutation, 40 + 1 =1 (inches/feet/yards) stood out.

41 yards was the distance from the false-bottomed drawer (that held the first clue and picture of the treasure) and the 1911 waterline seawall due East. When the distance was measured and confirmed a metal detector hit and excavation found the buried 8th Clue Message with several old coins. One coin was a gold 1859 United States Dollar on a rotting string.

From the message, it appears that a woman has joined them and that the original trio are now in disagreement. We surmise that the first 4 lines mean that Mate was responsible for the very difficult 401 address clue. “Pinkerton” was and still is a detective agency known for the aggressive and relentless pursuit of bank robbers (Pinkerton versus Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid). The Message written on 4 deposit slips was as follows:

TRANSCRIPTION of 8th Clue

        12

Are you still after the treasure?
It just leads to brimstone fire.
Mate is a man of very few words,
he didn’t mean to raise your Ire.

I suppose I should fill in some details, now instead of three it is four.
Since Mister Bell has a sweetheart now,
He’s moved in with that cheap little Maid.

They’re always cuddling and whispering,
Into each other’s ear.
I hope that they stick to cooing love,
Because Bell knows secrets dear.

I have to admit she is pretty,
And always so charming to me.
Mate thinks that we should cut her throat… He didn’t say, but I can see.

We just could have split up the treasure, But if one went on a spending spree, Pinkerton would come knocking, and mean the end of all three.

Mate and I are much alike.
We know how to use a marlin spike.
I feared for the maid but I had a plan.
For freedom of movement,
Mate was our man.

The currency surely would give us away,
At our daily meeting I came to say,
“Mate can travel to other ports of call, turning the banknotes to goods for us all.”

“We can hide the trinkets, the gold and jewels, And the Pinkerton men will end up as fools.”
But now in their eyes I could see the greed.
And that pit of darkness is hard to feed.

“1911 is closing fast,
The accountant will be here soon.
They’ll try their best to make me sing,
But I won’t even hum the tune.”

And they all agreed that we’d hide it.
And leave this trail of clues.
To find and retrieve the treasure,
When it was safe to use.

BadBird
 

P.S.

Perhaps your hunt for the treasure,
seems to be getting old.
But as for a clue, I’m telling you,
This trail is growing cold.

BadBird

END OF TRANSCRIPTION

We admit that we are stumped by this message. If you have any idea or suggestion as to what the message means, please contact me via email at kak@dol.net

BadBirds Treasure Hunting Society will meet again at 6:00 PM, on Friday the 26th of September, to discuss progress in the search for BadBirds Treasure.

As always, the public is invited to attend.