Why Does "Curse" Never Mention Dunfield Dig at Cave-In Pit?

[Zom]

My belief is that the original "pit" was a glacial relic sink-hole and had nothing to do with human activity.

It the original money pit were a geologic sink hole, wouldn't any dig collapse into a void beneath?

 

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[civil_war22]

That’s why the steel caisson’s were put in. You can’t dig 10’, let alone 160’ without the help of reinforcements (bracing). Either way I don’t care. If the Lagina’s want to blow their money for fortunes that have been a myth for hundreds of years then more power to them. They can’t do a whole lot of detecting without permission from the govt, that’s why they keep digging old spots. The govt has already given them permission to do it, and they’ve also denied their request to detect out near the original settlements

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

It the original money pit were a geologic sink hole, wouldn't any dig collapse into a void beneath?

It's had 10,000 years to fill in with logs, silt, soil and the effluvia that collects on an island. Eventually all holes "fill in". Even lakes.

 

[gazzahk]

IF the floods tunnels were ever there they would have long ago been blocked/filled in/dug up by all the earlier searches in Smiths Cove . Dunfield only proved they were not still working if they were ever there to start with.. I still say and all these pics above prove my point that Dunfiled while he did dig a big hole, it is not 100' wide all the way down to 140' plus. As you can see with the pic of him and Blankenship standing on that platform at the widest point in that pic the hole is what 10'-15' wide.

Still I do not see how that this matters. He proved the water in the pit was not from Smiths Cove and not coming from flood tunnels. Therefore it would of not been possible for anyone to have dug a 200ft+ hole there and not be flooded from the natural underground sea water from the caves.

 

[gazzahk]

Two old shafts. Hedden's and Chappel's.

Last count I did there had been 28 groups that have dug or drilled in search of treasure on Oak Island since 1795. Some spent years there. Possibly treasure was found but the lucky folks involved were wise enough to keep their mouths shut about it.

The chances of finding anything valuable or historically relevant after so much carnage on that island are pretty slim. My belief is that the original "pit" was a glacial relic sink-hole and had nothing to do with human activity.

Yep... I tend to agree the sink hole explanation of the "depression" in the ground is very feasible. An earthquake causing one of those large underground cavities to collapse and some soil liquidification to occur (This is J.Steele explanation for the water at 90 ft).

I guess we will never know if anyone else found treasure in the area... I would like to think the three original guys story told by the descendants is true but there is no way to no if it is. Even if they got rich they could of stole the money and made up the story to cover their crime for example. The same is true of Sam Balls wealth.

 

[n2mini]

Funny how some things from the past are believed to be fact while other just can't be. Not sure I believe Dunfields expert that the saltwater in the MP area is some how differnt from the saltwater in smith's cove..Yet Blankenship did his dye test and it did come out in smith's cove from his bore hole 10x....

Not sure but don't think the MP once it got down to 100 plus feet was still extremely wide. Plus being about the only hole dug on the island it would have been much easier to keep a hole solid if everything around it is still nice and solid/undisturbed.. by the time Dunfield got there it was a hodgepodge area with the MP location not even 100% known. If so Fred Nolan would have it marked on his survey map...

 

[sasquash]

Yep... I tend to agree the sink hole explanation of the "depression" in the ground is very feasible. An earthquake causing one of those large underground cavities to collapse and some soil liquidification to occur (This is J.Steele explanation for the water at 90 ft).

I guess we will never know if anyone else found treasure in the area... I would like to think the three original guys story told by the descendants is true but there is no way to no if it is. Even if they got rich they could of stole the money and made up the story to cover their crime for example. The same is true of Sam Balls wealth.

http://www.seismescanada.rncan.gc.ca/historic-historique/events/images/19291118_1929HalifaxChronicle1119.png

 

[Zom]

It's had 10,000 years to fill in with logs, silt, soil and the effluvia that collects on an island. Eventually all holes "fill in". Even lakes.

Problem here is the original story was it wasn't just a depression that caught the boy's interest, it was a block and tackle hanging down from the branch above the depression http://www.oakislandtreasure.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/readersdigest.pdf

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

The famous 1965 Reader's Digest version republished in The Rotarian.

Surely there could be no other reason for a tackle-block to be tied to a tree limb other than to lower or raise treasure! But, if true, it could mean that was used to remove the treasure (why bury something and then leave that clue?) or by one of the settlers (first arriving in 1761 - 34 years before The Boy's) to hang a hog for butchering or some such. And yet the article also stated the island was "uninhabited" - though there were 32 lots surveyed in 1762 and there were at least two residents decades prior to 1795: Edward Smith and Anthony Vaughn.

 

[civil_war22]

The famous 1965 Reader's Digest version republished in The Rotarian.

Surely there could be no other reason for a tackle-block to be tied to a tree limb other than to lower or raise treasure! But, if true, it could mean that was used to remove the treasure (why bury something and then leave that clue?) or by one of the settlers (first arriving in 1761 - 34 years before The Boy's) to hang a hog for butchering or some such. And yet the article also stated the island was "uninhabited" - though there were 32 lots surveyed in 1762 and there were at least two residents decades prior to 1795: Edward Smith and Anthony Vaughn.

That’s the problem with the Oak Island “mystery”. It remains a mystery because so many different stories have been told, and some have even contradicted earlier stories that it makes it hard to believe some, and not the others. I see Rick and Marty’s dilemma right away. There is just way too many accounts that contradict themselves that make it almost impossible to prove fact from fiction. Plus we all know that some folks who supposedly find “clues” not treasure on a remote island people have been looking for for years will embellish their story to get more folks interested, and possibly get funding for future projects.

 

[Zom]

The famous 1965 Reader's Digest version republished in The Rotarian.

Surely there could be no other reason for a tackle-block to be tied to a tree limb other than to lower or raise treasure! But, if true, it could mean that was used to remove the treasure (why bury something and then leave that clue?) or by one of the settlers (first arriving in 1761 - 34 years before The Boy's) to hang a hog for butchering or some such. And yet the article also stated the island was "uninhabited" - though there were 32 lots surveyed in 1762 and there were at least two residents decades prior to 1795: Edward Smith and Anthony Vaughn.

Nothing makes any sense. If a treasure were placed there, why leave a clue like the block and tackle. If a treasure were removed, why bother refilling the pit? And why bother with logs every 10'? And then, as you said... it's not as if the island wasn't surveyed and had some inhabitants. But it seems some major activity was going on at Smiths Cove dating to around the 1770s. Was Smith's Cove area purchased by then for some other purpose but not inhabited?

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

Probably the island logged before the F&I War (1759) by both the French and British who had wood fortifications along the coast at various times.

The 'ol telephone game.

The three boys: "we found wood logs every so often in the dirt in the depression"

"They said there were platforms in the hole."

"I hear there were log platforms every 10 feet in the pit."


Where could wood come from to fill sink-holes near a coastine?

 

[n2mini]

Over the years there had been residents on the island, but at times there were none. Just because it was cut up into lots doesn't mean people lived on them. When the Restalls were on the island I believe they were the only residents on the island. Atleast year round. Remember also that while they were there living year round the island had no electricity on it. Everything had to be boated over as well. All up to the mid 60's...

 

[dmg2016]

Probably the island logged before the F&I War (1759) by both the French and British who had wood fortifications along the coast at various times.

In my opinion, it was highly likely that the island was logged. My guess is that the island was probably logged by the Vaughan brothers (Anthony Sr. & Daniel) during the late 1780s. The brothers were owners of multiple lots (13, 14, 15, 16 & 3 others lots) on the island prior to 1795. The Vaughan brothers also had a mill business in the area during that time period (https://www.oakislandcompendium.ca/blockhouse-blog/on-the-trail-of-oak-islands-lieutenant-daniel-vaughan).

From the late Paul Wroclawski we get the following transcript from the Nova Scotia Archives and Record Management in Halifax (microfiche reel 15684):

"John Wentworth Esq. Surveyor General of Woods in the Province of Nova Scotia and all other His Majesty's Territories in America, etc.

WHEREAS it hath been represented to me by Daniel Vaughan, Anthony Vaughan and James McLeod that they are possessed of a Tract of Land situated, laying and being in the Township of Chester & County of Lunenburg, being the Lotts No 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 &6 containing nine hundred Acres and are commonly known by the name of the Western Shore Lotts, second division, letter B and that Sundry Pine Trees are standing on said Lotts which prove detrimental to the culture and improvement of the same.

Having caused the aforesaid Lotts of Land and Pine Trees standing thereon to be inspected and surveyed, I do, inconformity to His Majesty's instructions, hereby grant lycense to the aforementioned Daniel Vaughan, Anthony Vaughan and James McLeod to cut and take away the Pine Trees growing thereon; Save and except thirty eight trees, being from Sixteen inches and upwards in diameter and from Twenty Six feet and upwards in length, which are marked *W being fit and are to remain for his Majesty's service; and are thetfore wholly excepted ut of this lycense accordingly.

Given under my hand at Halifax

this 25th day of January , 1788

J.W. Wentworth

Source:Oak Island Treasure ? View topic - 90 ft. Stone Question

This transcript provides a plausible explanation as to the strange symbols that were carved into the trees at the time of the discovery.

From The Liverpool Transcript, October 16, 1862:

“Sometime after the arrival of these persons a Mr. McGinnis went to Oak Island to make a farm, when he discovered the spot in question from its being sunken, and from the position of three oak trees, which stood in a triangular form round the pit. The bark had letters cut into it with a knife on each tree facing the pit, and one of the trees being so directly over the pit, that two large branches forming a crotch, were exactly perpendicular to the centre, and had a hole bored through, and an oak tree-nail driven in, on which hung a tacle (sic) block. He was induced from the appearance to be supposed that it might be the place referred to by the sailor.”

Source:https://www.oakislandcompendium.ca/uploads/6/9/1/8/69188499/b01_early_oak_island_docs_compiled_by_les_m_may_2014.pdf

 

[dmg2016]

On another note (more on topic), I find it interesting that Dunfield and his son were investors in the Triton Alliance. They must have still held on to a sliver hope that there was something of value on the island even after their failed attempt.

 

[LouMiller]

The reality of it all IN MY OPINION is this : I believe that the boys found a block and tackle but i haven't seen any rock solid evidence that it was " right there " at the money pit . Could have been anywhere on the island and was probably used to hoist supply boxes up the slopes by an early inhabitant. When i was a kid in the 1960's i used to use one to pull my boat ashore from the river as the wooden boat was heavier than i was. As for the OP's Dunfield question... The Dunfield endeavor doesn't fit the shows narrative. Everything was dozed under when he left... so of course you can find wood down that far, as well as all the garbage he had. I still watch the show in hopes of an actual item that may point to a treasure actually being on the island.

 

[SSR]

The block is not in all the versions of the stories. In some there is a depression with three trees adorned with symbols on them having branches that cross over the center of it. It is, however, one of the elements of the story that has been consistently passed on since the stories of the platforms and the stone at the 90 foot level. This detail, like the others I mention belongs also to the myth of Enoch's shaft/vault. In that old narrative three searchers try and retrieve what is at the ninth level of the shaft where there is a stone discovered with the unmentionable name of God on it given in hieroglyphs. This is accomplished by burton-block in the myth. A burton is the old English word for a pulley. In the myth the shaft floods and then collapses, giving us even more similarity with what we are given as the OI story and myth. It should resonate with people today how closely the earliest stories track this old myth whose symbolism is well associated with NS Freemasonry.

 

[Zom]

As for the OP's Dunfield question... The Dunfield endeavor doesn't fit the shows narrative. Everything was dozed under when he left... so of course you can find wood down that far, as well as all the garbage he had. I still watch the show in hopes of an actual item that may point to a treasure actually being on the island.

We know that Dunfield refilled the so-called Money Pit hole... but we know nothing from the show about the Cave In pit which Dunfield seems to have excavated down to bedrock. The pit now looks way smaller compared to the original pic I linked to. So that had to be partially filled back in too.

If Dunfield went to bedrock... he would have intersected any flood tunnel... since the U shaped structure, the Cave In pit, and the Money Pit seem to be in a straight line. And I believe Dunfield saw no evidence of a flood tunnel at the Money Pit dig either.

So I have real problems with Curse's incomplete and slanted narrative.

 

[Charlie P. (NY)]

So I have real problems with Curse's incomplete and slanted narrative.

The narrator? Filling in with inane commentary and suggesting unsupportable postulates.

And if so, could it be to just add time killer filler between commercials because there is no substance to the video portion of the show?

 

[LouMiller]

We know that Dunfield refilled the so-called Money Pit hole... but we know nothing from the show about the Cave In pit which Dunfield seems to have excavated down to bedrock. The pit now looks way smaller compared to the original pic I linked to. So that had to be partially filled back in too.

If Dunfield went to bedrock... he would have intersected any flood tunnel... since the U shaped structure, the Cave In pit, and the Money Pit seem to be in a straight line. And I believe Dunfield saw no evidence of a flood tunnel at the Money Pit dig either.

So I have real problems with Curse's incomplete and slanted narrative.

I agree. I think the incomplete and slanted narrative of " the curse of joke island " is due to the fact that the story was a fiction tale that went haywire. There has been so much money generated by the local businesses that it gets a push every time it starts to fizzle out. 10 years the Lagina's have been digging and still don't have any answers is because there are no answers to find... it is a fiction tale. People in general ( myself included ) love tales of treasure . ALL JUST MY OPINION AS I HAVE NO PROOF OF ANYTHING.