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.
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