What an Amazing year-1755

     For all those that follow and treasure the Swift mine lore, one of the key elements in all versions of the supposedly Swift journal is the per chance meeting Swift had with a Frenchman named George Munday, sometimes spelled Mundy.  In nearly all accounts of the legend John Swift joined the pioneer militia and combined British army under the command of General Edward Braddock.  This time being before the winds of revolution evolved into all out war, the single purpose here was that the French had established a Fort at the the point where the two rivers combined and formed the mighty Ohio.  Today this location is Pittsburgh.  The French and Indian allies of various tribes  were intent on keeping the British loyal colonist from expanding westward.  It was into this volunteer and regular army that Swift claimed to have joined.  Here he says that he met a prisoner, George Mundy,  that claimed to have been mining and smelting silver south of the Ohio River in the wilderness.

     Now the truly amazing historic fact related to this matter is that  Daniel Boone did join this same army in 1755 and met  John Finley, who claims that he had operated a trading store south of the Ohio in the wilderness as the same time. Finley operated a trading business in Esskippikithiki, the Shawnee town located on the level plain just west of Pilot Knob.  Both events, one the legend, the other historical fact, coincided the same amazing year, 1755.

     Daniel Boone made his second trip into the Kentucky wilderness in 1769.  It was a successful trip because he and his party were led by John Finley.   Finley took the party to near the place he had traded with the Shawnee some 16 years earlier.   The group of hunters set up camp along the largest creek in the area.  It was reported that the men would spend hours around the evening campfire being read the only book brought on the journey.   The book was called Gulliver's Travels, written by Johnathan Swift.  Now that is quite strange, indeed.

Some Background and Links

     Facebook fans can now find a group, Swift Silver Mine, dedicated to sharing information about the Swift Legend.  It was just started by my friend Mike Steely.  Mike published a great book entitled "Swift's  Silver Mines and related Appalachian Treasures."  Mike's work is the most comprehensive collection of treasure stories and mysteries of the mountains I've seen.  The book is available from Amazon.com. Check out Swift's Silver Mines for more information.
     While the story of "Swift" that I am telling is a novel and does not necessarily delve deep into the many variations and oddities of the lost treasure, it does indeed remain true to the basic legend as well as accurate time lines involving popular characters of early Kentucky history.  The book is in final edit stages and as noted in earlier post should be out for publication by early spring. Personally, I really dislike this stage of production, because, obviously, I am anxious to get the book out to see what you think.
     Many of the places mentioned in nearly all the journals reportedly passed down through generations, are in fact, found in more than one location.  Some claim the treasure is in Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia as well as Kentucky.  From time to time, there have been treasures found, such as silver and gold coins and silver ingots.  Whether these represent the long lost Swift treasure has never been verified, but certainly leaves hope for someone to make that once in history discovery.  It has been claimed by many to have been found but no definite proof of such finds have been presented to establish as the great treasure mine that Swift claimed to have worked in the wilderness from 1760-1769.
     In 1886 Harper's Monthly Magazine published one of the first articles regarding the Swift treasure.   Henry Mills Allen in his article "Through Cumberland Gap on Horseback," says, "but we did not come upon 'Swift's silver."  From the Tennessee in the South to the Ohio River one may pass through country that claim the location of Swift's silver mines-the El Dorado spot of Eastern Kentucky, where, a hundred and twenty-five years ago, one John Swift said he made silver in large quantities."
      The New York Times in 1896 published a short article claiming that the mine had been discovered.  I'll have more on my next entry regarding some interesting and strangely coincidental happenings in the Kentucky wilderness.  Stay tuned.