This Psychic Reading given by Edgar Cayce at the Halcyon Hotel, Miami, Florida, this 14th day of February, 1927, in accordance with request made by those present.
P R E S E N T
Edgar Cayce; Mrs. Cayce, Conductor; Gladys Davis, Steno. Mr. [943] and Mr. [287].
R E A D I N G
Time of Reading 3:25 P. M. Eastern Standard Time. ..., Florida.
1. GC: You will have before you Lostman's River, on the west coast of Monroe County, Florida, and you will go over this territory carefully and tell us if there is any treasure located or buried there, or anywhere else in this county, and if it is accessible. If so, you will tell us how we may locate it. You will answer the questions which I will ask you regarding this.
2. EC: Yes, we have this country, or this territory. You see, there is a portion of this Lostman's River we have had here before, and the treasure as was located there, you see, was removed from here, see? Ward Cawthon, see? [GD's note: Alec Cawthon of Cawthon-Coleman Drug Co., Selma, Ala. I heard EC tell this.]
3. Now, we find this is rather a favored rendezvous for many various groups of peoples, through many various changes as have taken place in the development of the countries from which these people sailed, lived, escaped, or used these waters and the surrounding country as places of hiding - not only of ill gotten gains by raids, but those that were actually taken - where people were even murdered for same, and on the east coast of, or east border of, a portion of this river there may be found many places where various amounts have been put. The most notable, as WE find at present, and the most accessible one (and this being located first would not only lend to the advisability of seeking further, but give each one seeking same more confidence, and give them more reason for seeking out other locations):
4. Now, some six miles from - you see, we have a sort of lagoon as enters here on Lostman's River from a sound, wherein the water becomes almost still, and wherein, in some places, there have been some activities, see? Now, six miles above where this still water is, we find where there is a slough, or the river is divided. There was once a very large tree here, on the end of the island - that is, the southermost end, and in this stump as was once decayed there this box or trunk was placed, see? and in this will be
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found much loot, much in gold, in silver, and in various chattels that are worth while - the intrinsic value of same being much. There are still indications at the present time, by a younger shoot growing from this stump, which at present has large leaves that is, larger than ordinary; not of the palm nature, but rather as hand leaf, with a prong that would represent almost as a thumb to a leaf. Only one showing on either side of each leaf, see? This about the size, at the base, of four (4) inches, reducing, of course, above the base to two (2), then three (3), and is about five and a half to six (5 1/2 to 6) feet high. This is from the root of the old tree, see? and is deep rooted. Here we would locate it. West bank - that is, the slough is toward the west bank. The little island, you see, is toward that side of the channel, and would be reached by the channel, see? Some thirty to forty thousand dollars ($30,000 to $40,000) gold. Some twenty to twenty-two thousand ($20,000 to $22,000) in silver. Some - well, there are many of these jewels, and much of this other loot, which would be worth exceedingly more than the gold or silver. Altogether, we would find something like five hundred thousand dollars' ($500,000) worth - in all, see?
5. (Q) Could this be reached by motor boat up this channel? (A) Not all the way, but the greater portion of it may be reached. Let's see - that's where some undergrowth shows - we find we would only be three quarters of a mile below this projecting; you see we have a bar here - from the flowing in of where land shows - in some of the top portion - erosions have been, see? like trash, leaves, sticks, roots. But above this the flat boat or the canoe would reach, you see. See it's not deep - see it's not deep, though water has stood over it often. This is not deep inside of this, see? The outside of the old stump has protected it a great deal, see? Some loose flat rocks have been placed there, you see. These are only eighteen to twenty-two (18 to 22) inches, see, from the surface, and just below this we would find the trunk, or barrel shaped trunk - metal and wood. Just a shovel and probing rod would show these, you see. Pick axe or something to cut the branches close around here, and this would be reached, see? at the edge of this island. Lower point some four (4) feet from the water's edge, even at high water, you see, here.
6. (Q) Would they have to cut the way up this Lostman's River through brush to reach the treasure? (A) Cut the way from the quarter to half mile on this side, see? See this is a wide channel, and see it varies throughout here. While there is a great deal of it that is
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accessible by good sized boats - that would go beyond this, even - but this is to the side, see? on the west side - when we reach this - and where the channel comes in on the other side, or where this island is made. Six miles (nautical miles) from the still waters here. See, a portion of the river runs almost parallel with the outer coast, turning gradually inwards, see? See, this is in a different region from some of those as we have had here before.
Now, there are many various places in Monroe County where treasures of various quantities are placed - some of very high value. We would find this, and this will give an impetus to those to seek others. But don't let it overcome the good as would be done with same! Set some in motion before you seek too much others! We will stop for this time here. [After a pause EC continues]
Now, you see, that was removed from here, as we had before, farther up this same river, see? Now, some eight miles above this, where we have another channel that comes in, that makes this same Lostman River, or branch of same - there was a mill, see? and this location as was made here, see? (which was between eight and ten thousand) was removed from here, see? This was taken from a store and put here, see? This was moved in September, nineteen twenty-four (1924), see? There were four (4) men, see? Cawthon being among those, as well as Ward, see? There were some cats killed close by - large cats.
7. (Q) Did these men get the location of this treasure through these forces? (A) We have given we located these here!
8. (Q) What kind of mill was it? (A) Band mill - saws lumber. Was once a portion of the Nelson Lumber Companies.
9. We are through for the present.