DARK SILVER: Legend of the Lost Southern Indiana Silver Mine
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- čas přidán 19. 07. 2022
- There’s an old legend, dating back over 200 years ago. It says that underneath the rolling hills of Southern Indiana, lies a vast silver mine, holding immense wealth. Known only to the Indians, that once lived there, silver was reportedly mined and smelted into crude silver ingots, and traded to the white man for milling their corn. So filled with silver was the mine, that Indians boasted that there was enough silver, to shoe every horse in the county, with silver horseshoes!
It sounds like an amazing campfire story, but what if it were actually true? I’ve spent over 40 years tracing the legend back to its roots, from my Great Grandmothers story, to libraries, and caves in the wilderness. What I found, was nothing short of amazing. This is both a very personal account of my adventure, but also a tale of dark deeds, greed and secrets on the Indiana frontier.
Filmed on location at Charlestown, Vincennes, Sellersburg, Henryville, New Albany, Memphis, Galena, Greenville, Mitchell, Silverville, Palmyra, Rockport, Mauckport, Leavenworth, and Shoals, Indiana. Also filmed at both Wolfe and Clay Counties in Kentucky.
UPDATES / TRIVIA
The quote used at the end of the movie, usually attributed to Maya Angelou, “life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away,” was created by someone else. There’s an interesting history behind it.
In 1989, Vicki Corona wrote a book called “Tahitian Choreographies”, about dancing. It said, “Remember that life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away! Dancing can do that for you!” The phrase has been used in movies and pop culture, but Vicki seems to have the earliest use of the phrase.
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Your Great Grandmother did what Native Grandmothers have done since the beginning of time. She sent you on a spiritual quest. You thought you were looking for silver, but you found your spirit. I’m sure she’s quite pleased with her “Silver boy”,
That’s a profound observation, Deborah! I definitely felt this odd sense that I made it “home”, after I completed the movie. It brought me a great deal of peace.
@@AdventureswithRoger That’s wonderful. The wisdom of Grandmothers is a force of nature. But most onions have many layers, and there may be more to your search yet to come. I hope you share it with us when it happens. You also inherited her storytelling gifts.🐝🤗❤️
Heart warming! Thanks Deborah and AWR! Peace
@@peacebrain4471 You’re welcome❤️🤗🐝
This story is amazing. Ive heard stories in my life about American Indians and their silver and gold caves in Indiana, Kentucky, Virginia, west Virginia and Pennsylvania. So many secrets I know there is more than meets the eye.
back in the 1970's my father interviewed an old man whose name was Tyner Myers. He had a farm down in the forestry south of Martinsville, IN near "bear wallow". He went to purdue university and studied horticulture, He was the first man to plant apple trees in Indiana. He said he had Indians living in the area that he traded apples for lead. They had a lead mine that has never been found. Great video! It made me think of my father's interview with Tyner Myers.
Johnny Appleseed first planted apple trees in Indiana, much earlier.
You found all the treasures in the world. You found what you were looking for and you kept the stories of the ancients alive! The treasure is in the rich land, the pure silver waters, the jeweled leaves and stones, and the wealth in the ancient stories. Sometimes we fail to see that what we were looking for actually found us. Your life was enriched immensely in wealth that can never be taken from or destroyed. This story is a treasure chest.
Like his video, your comment is refreshingly lovely. I'm inspired to start sleuthing locally.
@@dalehill559 it is actually old English, and means house of the Eagles, however, I have a bit of Native American blood, and choose to believe that those bits of DNA are even stronger, and they show himself in the name.
Truth Touching perfectly Stated❤
Thats so beautiful julieanne! What an enriching comment.
Don't let people build on the land anywhere
I've lived in Indiana my whole life so this made me really happy to hear a story I haven't heard yet about it. I absolutely loved this.
I thought it was a story only our family knew. I met a guy at work, and we got on the subject of legends, told it to him, and he directed me to a book: almost exactly like my great Grandmothers story.
As a retired Geologist and Native American on both side, I found this video a wonderful adventure. My heart sank when you said the man who showed you the spring and steps passed away. I would love a place like that as I'm sure he did too. Thank you for posting this video. New Subscriber.
Thank-you! It was not only an adventure but a journey that taught me a few lessons. Without risk there is no reward or memories made. Don’t put off things that are important, do them today. Sometimes the treasure in the journey itself. 🙂
@@AdventureswithRogerthank you good lesson to learn
@@AdventureswithRogerI like your story telling voice
❤. You took us on a wonderful journey. Thank you,: I hope for more.
I can not believe this. Back in my 20's I worked with four other people mapping caves in Southern Indiana. Even now suffer from a back injury I sustained. You may want to get a copy of it. It may help you. We even mapped Salamander where a man and kids died. Never explore alone. This was so exciting to hear. Also extra batteries for lights, knee pads, heavy gloves and a carbon light. Thank you for the memories.
My pleasure, Pam! I remember the Floyd Collins story too well. I will peek into a cave, but never go alone any distance.
@@AdventureswithRoger thank goodness and I think Readers Digest did a story on their death. If you saw the entrance you would see why. It is in a creek bed. If raining or threat of rain, do not go in. You will drown. Again thank you. Such great memories.
@@pamgrillo3084 hi Pam! Do you know I could locate that story? Not having any luck but curious to know what happened.
@MiguelJuanez a man and his two sons went into Salamander for fun. They didn't check the weather before they went. Which was a bad decision. The cave entrance is in a creek bed. You crawl down a hole about 10 feet. Now imagine if there is a lot of rain. Ya. The cave filled with water, and they drown. It was two weeks before they were able to get into the cave to retrieve their bodies.
At the 3.35 marker I had to stop and say; I'm loving this video, already. I grew up in these forested hills and "hollers". I waded in these creeks. So enjoyable to watch ♥️ Irish/ Scottish, "dutchy"/German and peaceful Indians pioneered this beautiful land and are in my blood. So is this land 👍👍❣️❣️ I have lived in Arizona, most of my life. My memories of walking, riding horses, hunting and fishing this beautiful land is seared in the fabric of my being.
Hmmm Shawnee? interesting. I don't know which tribe was in my family. I thought Paiute 🤷♀️
Many tribes were in Southern Indiana. The long-standing legend is that Choctaw Indians and US military fought a big battle at Shoals. Arrowheads are found all over the bluff. However, there is no mention of a US soldier battle happening at Shoals, nor proof Choctaw’s ever came this way. Still interesting.
I grew up around Indy. My family has a large tree plantation in Shoals. My dad never took me there, and as a kid it would've been cool to explore the 100s of acres of woods and terrain. I now live up by Canada, and visited the area last year. My family founded Washington IN and I visited the Graves of my ancestors. I think the area is neat with the rocky outcrops. It would make a nice area to have a winter home for when I retire.
As a guy who grew up in Indiana, and spent many a days hunting deer and turkey in Hoosier National Forest and paddling a number of creeks and rivers in that area, I found this fascinating!
Man brother, your comment about in your 20's you have energy and are as sure footed as a billygoat, but in your 50's things change, could not be any more truthful! Those years slip by so quickly and you don't even realize it until you do something you used to do and realize it's scary to do because your balance and sure-footedness aren't the same as it used to be! My 80 yr old mother says, growing old isn't for the faint of heart! Thanks for this video, I really enjoyed it!
My pleasure and thank-you! It might sound corny, but making this film helped me grow up. There’s nothing wrong with getting older, and nothing to fear if you know where you’re headed. Being older and wiser has its benefits! 🙂
Growing old is not for Sissy's either.
hey, I am 68 and still would and could climb into that cave.
@standing bear Good on ya man! Rheumatoid Arthritis is kicking my butt...I'd give anything to not deal with this mess!
@@AdventureswithRoger I couldn't stop watching until the end. I thoroughly enjoyed your story, thank you!
This was great. I live in Western PA but I have always had a fascination with the state of Indiana even when I was a young child. My parents never understood and to be honest, neither do I. That being I have never been there but hope to visit soon. The intricate history you brought out was amazing. You should start doing a series of documentaries about your home states early history. You do a far better job than the history channel. Great work !
Thanks, Mike!
Come on over! If you’ve never been to Indiana before, I’d stay at Corydon. Nice hotels, decent places to eat, pharmacy, gas stations, a Walmart for supplies, and close to many of the best tourist attractions in Indiana. I’ll be publishing a Corydon video soon, and a southern Indiana highlights segment sometime this summer. I think you’d get a kick out of both! 🙂
Hey Mike, have you heard about the lost silver cave of the Allegheny National Forest? Very similar story as this one.
I grew up in Southern Indiana, you should visit. There are so many beautiful places to see!!!! It's so very peaceful.
As a kid growing up in southern Indiana, I often heard the stories or tall tales. Stories from grandparents and the older citizens. A story handed down of how residents in Shoals, had seen on occasion of an Indian or Indians traveling to the arena by bus. They'd venture off into the rural areas, to return days later. Get back on the bus and leave, destination unknown. I also know of a place my grandfather and his family farmed with horses and often spoke of the hollow sound the horses made across that field. There is in fact a series of caves under that field.
One dear soul I interviewed was straight-face serious, when she said gangsters used to have a place on top of the McBrides bluff. She said rumor had it that the kidnapped Lindbergh baby was held there for a time, and you would be shot at if you even got close. There’s more than meets the eye, for sure!
@@AdventureswithRoger Just an FYI, where I was raised in Dover Hill, the farm is but a stone throw from McBrides Bluff. There is a very good chance that those caves on the farm where I was raised are connected to the caves at the bluffs. There are hunters around here that will tell you of coon dogs chasing a raccoon into a hole and coming out later miles away.
It’s been over 14 years since I started research for the film, but have Dover Hill highlighted on my map (You might’ve noticed in the movie). I cannot remember why, but I probably highlighted it as I’d heard a silver mine story about that area. They say facts drop out of your head as you get older! 🙂 I’ll probably be back over in the fall, for one more look.
@@AdventureswithRoger Look me up this fall. I'd be glad to show you the cave I've referenced that runs under Dover Hill.
..
The adventure IS the treasure!! Such fun and anticipation you had! Life's nectar.
The history in this video is a treasure of its own! I have learned so much from your videos but this one is just special, what a grand adventure it must have been! Hats off to you sir~
Thank-you, David! This story has been in my head since I was a little kid, and somehow it came together after I started digging into history. It didn’t end like I thought it would, but I both learned a lot and met wonderful people along the way! 🙂
Fantastic story filled video Roger! I enjoyed it immensely. What a rich history of interwoven facts and interesting stories. For a time, I was transported back to those days as an inquisitive 10 year old in search of treasures. Thanks so much for the video.
My pleasure! This was a fun one to do, despite falling out of two caves! 😀 For a fact, I had no idea what kind of rabbit hole I was jumping into, when my co-worker, at Louisville, connected me to the legend at Charlestown. I certainly never thought I’d end up at Red River Gorge in Kentucky! That little kid in me was driving, and I was along for the ride. Hopefully many people can pick that up as they watch.
Same here growing up in ind.
In the 50's when I was a kid, we used to go to Manistique in the upper Penninsula, of Michigan. We would rent this one cabin on Indian Lake. It was the most magical time in my life.. I used to buy Indian trinkets and things when we stopped at the little out of the way gift shops! I could spend my eternity there as a kid back in the 50's........
Extremely interesting. I grew up in Texas, specifically West Texas and spent many summers exploring caves and mines in the New Mexico Rockies. Of course, there, we were hearing about the legend of the Lost Dutchman Mine. When I moved to southwest Indiana in 1995 I knew nothing about the Lost Indiana Silver Mine legend. In the early 2000's I met an older gentleman who prospected for gold in the area you refer to, specifically Shoals and the White River area. He gave me some old surveyors maps to help find old ghost towns and roads that do not exist on current maps. I would be willing to share these, if it would help in your search. I am in my mid-70's now, so I probably won't be doing too much rock climbing, but I would love to meet you and assist if possible.
Great Stories, and storytelling, Roger. May God Bless you and yours.
The Dutchman mine story sure did have some compelling twists over the last 20 years, with both the heavy equipment operator and landowner dying suddenly of heart attacks. They supposedly drove a shaft with a bore scope, and saw gold everywhere. Soon after those two men died and it spooked everyone into stopping.
I love a good story, for sure! Give me a shout on returpen@yahoo.com. With silver as cheap as it is these days, I’d be happier to find a cool rock with clues chiseled into it! 😀
Love West Texas(native Texan from Houston and spent my summers in south Texas near the Mexican border). Looking at property(online )there(Alpine, Big Bend) right now since a 30 year relationship has run its course and the kids are grown up. Probably head over there and look for some for sale by owner, a little crazy with the water situation these days but it’s where I want to die. 55 right now so I hope I can make it to your age at least. ✅ When I was a kid I thought 55 was ancient. Great video. Liked and subscribed, hope it helps.
Growing up in Texas, you are undoubtedly aware of the legend of Jim Bowies lost silver mine that supposedly lies somewhere near San Saba. As part of the legend goes, Bowie was on his way home from a trip to the mine, with a pack train full of mined silver, ( some say old Spanish ingots) when he stopped to rest at the Alamo, where he was trapped by reports of Santa Anna's approaching army, now the story gets a little cloudy, some say that while he was helping to shore up the missions defenses, a cannon that was being mounted on the missions walls fell on him crushing his chest, while others have it that he was suffering from tuberculosis, either way he allegedly had the silver thrown down a well, to keep it from falling into Santa Anna's hands. Now here is where things get interesting. The Alamo Foundation while planning restorations in the 1980s used ground penetrating radar to discover the foundations of the original walls and to see what ever artifacts or graves, might be found in the area, and they discovered, what seems to be a large mass of metal deep beneath Alamo Plaza but further exploration to discover what that might be were halted by Bowie descendants, who claim that the silver if any belongs to them, the last I heard the matter was still tied up in court, but the hunt for the mine itself, still goes on, along with the debate on wether Bowie found a lost Spanish Mine, or made a strike on a ledge or vein of high grade silver, while prospecting along the San Saba River, near the mission of the same name.
@@johnmcook1 Well find the treasure and paint us all silly. 😀
@@johnmcook1 Not saying you’re wrong. Just saying we don’t have your pictures or video to back it up.
Love this channel! Your narrative voice doesn’t get annoying and I can relate to the childish sense of wondrous aww. Native Americans, myths, legends and adventures are my life.
Thank-you kindly!
Thanks for making this video, Roger. Such an intriguing story - makes a person want to go out and search for these lost mines!
My pleasure, Allen! For sure, it’s a fun area to explore. In the fall. I keep saying that because the poison ivy and mosquitos are really bad this time of year, makes it hard to enjoy this great section of Indiana. But come in the fall, comfortable jacket and hot coffee: it’s a true pleasure!
I am a surviving family member of the Pigeon Roost Massacre.14 children or fewer I believe, no adults. The entirety of my family on Mom's side is buried in the various small cemeteries around Madison, Scottsburg, Paris, Deputy, and New Paris Thank you for all the research you have done. I just recently relocated from Southern Indiana to Southern Tennessee
My pleasure, Eric! It’s history worth preserving for future generations.
I know all of those towns. Lived in Commisky. Never heard this story. But I know Nabb by Scottsburg,Hanover, Madison. Both the top of Madison and the down town area. Cragmont hill.Clifty Falls Park.
@@patriciaberry4630 Lots of beautiful country!
@@AdventureswithRoger Yes it is. I miss living there. Love the story. I watched it for hours. Thanks for sharing.
Everyone alive is a surviving member of their family.
Every single person.
You are a great storyteller and no doubting it, an Adventurer through and through.
Thank you for sharing your life's adventure, told through several generations of the ladies in your family. I can see how they enriched your life.
Thank you again for sharing this wonderful story!
My pleasure! It was a labor of love, and the adventure of a lifetime! 🙂
Roger, I so admire your dedication and work you have done! My 4th great grandfather Samuel V. Smock was a colonel in the War of 1812 for the southern district of Indiana and one of the 1st settlers in what is now Jefferson County Indiana settling in 1805. He was the 1st circuit judge and elected delegate to the State Constitutional convention In 1816. I have a copy of the Indiana Constitution with his signature.His son John wrote a reminisce about their life in Southern Indiana in the late 1800’s for the Madison Courier.
In his reminisce he mentions about how his father immediately upon settling sought out the local Indian Chief White Eyes. They became good friends. Samuel noticed that the Chief wore silver ornaments and inquired where he obtained the silver. He said we have a secret mine. John said that he and his brother Peter searched southwest Indiana after getting verbal directions but could never find it.
I think the tribes removed the treasure long ago, but it’s always fun to dream!
Take care Roger and thanks again!
My pleasure! You have some awesome history! If you have a written description of the mines general whereabouts, there are now maps of all known southern Indiana caves. Your cave might be empty of any treasure, but fun to confirm the source of the story! My theory is that they moved silver to caves all over Southern Indiana, and that it didn’t come from here. But, last week I received an invite to see an abandoned Indiana “silver mine”.
@@AdventureswithRoger I loved this. I grew up in Grant County, Indiana, but my parents liked to come to Southern Indiana to hike and picnic when I was a child.
@@jan-janalemayer3518 When I was growing up, our parents took us for day trips to southern Indiana. I thought it was the best in the world! As an adult, I got the chance to live and work here, and it’s been a dream come true!
I grew up where Samuel Smock settled, and have read John’s account from the paper. Very cool history!
@@lg50 Extremely intriguing
I treasure and relic hunt full time and was so happy to see something so well done for a story here in Indiana. I have about 60 potential cache sites in Indiana to hit over next few years. Also travel out to Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico and treasure coast every couple years. I still like looking here and KY, TN the best. Great work.
Shoals in particular is a beautiful area, and I keep getting leads from good people that have lived there for years. Clay and Wolf Counties in Kentucky, I keep wanting to see again.
@@AdventureswithRoger my comment was already long so didn’t put in that as a boy I would spend summers in and around Jackson and Campton KY. Then my parents lived there to take care of my moms parents from 97 to around 2008 I believe. So really know the area and people there. I want to LiDAR all those areas so bad. I’m confident it would show many old trails, roads, tailing piles possible that are lost to history and now covered in vegetation! If you ever want to talk about collaborations let me know. I haven’t made public my real good stuff over last couple years but am gonna start posting a video for each cache hunt this year.
It doesn't get any better than this. The silver lining is the story itself.
GREAT VIDEO! As a lifelong resident of SW Central Indiana, I hope to watch all of your videos. They will confirm like this one, I think, that our history is much richer than we've ever been taught or suspected.
Thank you! Southern Indiana in particular, is incredibly rich with folklore. I have truly enjoyed talking to people with stories, researching archives, and exploring these amazing places. There is more truth to these tales than people realize!
You Sir, are a Modern day Indiana Hero!! So fascinating, intriguing, captivating! My grandchildren are ho.e schooled, I am so exciting for them to see this. Thank you, God bless!
Thank-you, Claudia! I hope these both entertain and get families out and seeing great places together! 🙂
I live a few miles from Mcbride's Bluff, my grandfather built the second cabin there. Grew up with Bruzz Pruett. I played in that spring as a kid. That place was the "woods" 40 yrs ago. There is no treasure if so I think it's in a cave on bear hill 5-8 miles away near Cale and Indian springs my friends showed me it when we were kids, very spooky place my grandfather wouldn't coonhunt the area in the 70s, last bear in Martin County killed on that huge hill! I heard all the stories growing up! I LOVE YOUR CHANNEL, GREAT WORK
I was born and raised on bear Hill. And have heard all the stories. As a child I was always intrigued about this. Also have a deep connection to this area.
I am Lakota/Eastern Cherokee born in LaGrange, IN . Lived there until I was in my 20’s. Between stories of the mounds, caves etc. heard lots of stories. After marriage…..my husband and I did some exploring. Eventually…. his job took us to east coast and then coast to coast. We did settle back in southern Indiana for a few years. Then off to west coast. We are planning to come back to Indiana. Now that we are retired. Probably not to explore. Leave that for the younger generation.
I’m wrapping up a lot of exploring while I still can. But I gotta tell you: when I fall, it hurts a lot more than in my 20’s! 😀
Holy moly! Sir that was a wonderful adventure! Unbelievable storytelling! Your story here kind of reminded me of a modern day "Goonies". I can't imagine the time and effort it took to put this together. Thank you so much for taking us along on your adventure.
Thank-you and my pleasure! My Great Grandmothers story had been in my head for over 40 years, but I only started working on the movie, in earnest, 14 years ago. Editing all that footage was a bear, took took me about 8 weeks. But, we’re all getting older, and I decided to put something out there that tied it all together. It was certainly an adventure!
I enjoyed the adventure story too. Learning how Indiana was named for the indians .
How things changed
Love the story and how you told it. An adventure that transcends time. Thank you for taking us along!!
My pleasure, Shawn! It was the adventure I always dreamed about as a kid, and hope other people enjoy the ride! 🙂
I used to live in Shoals back on Chicken Farm Road. A University, to this day, wants on the property. The owner wouldn't let them. There is a cave that, supposedly, goes all the way to Bedford but branches in many places. Stories of it being an Ancient Indian burial cave to Train robbers hiding what they stold in the cave. Lots of stories. The cabin we lived in sat on a Ancient Indian Healing ground. There's 7 layers of different types of sand. We found all kinds of stuff but out if respect, left it where it was. We did keep a few arrowheads.
I’ve heard similar stories out of shoals. One cave supposedly had a navigator star etched in white stone, covering the entrance.
Right now, the Indiana cave record to beat is 45 miles, held by the Binkley cave system. However, lost river disappears for about 24 miles, and they aren’t sure it doesn’t go fathoms deep.
What a wonderful story! The adventure of a lifetime for sure! Loved every minute!
Definitely an awesome footnote in history!
I currently live in this area. Lived here almost 30 years. Growing up in Florida I am amazed at the beauty of this land.
One person told me, “Gods country.” Simply an amazing place!
Great video. Very well made too. Thank you very much I really enjoyed this. My mothers large family live in orange county Indiana and I have been to many of the areas you showed many times. I can't wait to ask my 96 yo half Indian grandfather what stories he has heard about silver mines in his lifetime of living there and collecting stories.
Would love to hear them!
Yes! The film was very well done. Thanks.
Thank you!
Savage adventure!
Thank you so much Roger! I hope these story live on in generations to come and if it’s there someday someone will find it I just hope they are deserving of it.
I’ve thought about that many times, over the years. Somewhere else, I’d read about a couple that were building a house, and when they dug the basement, found an actual gold vein. Can you imagine? So many people can’t handle sudden wealth, and rarely do much good with it.
Thank you Roger, I quite enjoyed your adventures. I am 56 and understand, pleased you recovered and weren’t hurt to bad.
Thank you
🇨🇦❤️🙏🏻
Thank-you, Greg! “My ego writes checks my body can’t always cash.” 🙂
I'm from Indiana and have recently found a few articles that has endless questions and research I love knowing and truly appreciating another human made with there hands. Just to feel apart of history makes me wonder if it's fate or just luck. I would never want to sale them it's the historical value that means more to me than any amount of money could. Thank you for your time that you put into the search I truly appreciate it to me the true value is never the gold or silver it's the journey the endless questions and the humbling experiences that come with life. That's the true price the journey will never end.
Wow this is such a gem!! What a great historical story that’s passed down in your family!!!
The story you shared is a Treasure itself... thank you for the extraordinary time and work you put in to do so!
Thank-you, Michael! It was the adventure of my lifetime!
Compelling video. It was filled with so much history. It left me wishing I were 50 yrs younger to take up the search. Thank you for sharing your adventure.
My pleasure, Deb! In the fall, Shoals is an easy trip and you can see beautiful things from your car, or within a few steps. One of these days I’ll make a video about southern Indiana places that don’t require a ton of effort. 🙂
I have lived in southern Indiana my whole life. What a great story and adventure. Thanks for taking us along.
My pleasure, Jeffery!
Excellent presentation! Thank you!
Yes, thanks Rodger been waiting for this one watching now.
Man, this was one the best documentary I've seen. Way better than Forest Fenn's treasure. So cool to hear some the stories and legends first hand from your family. your work and research is top notch. Ill sharing this adventure with my kids and my 96yr old grandfather I told him about this when you first posted it and he was hoping to hear more. So thank you very much. Also so cool to get those Indian artifacts from Charlie himself to keep and remember him by. Sounds like a family adventure for my kids and I can't wait to get down there to explore this especially with the drought theses last year's.
That was awesome and sad when it was over,
yes left me wanting more . Bravo my friend 👏🏻🤗
Thanks Gina!
Very intriguing and narrated to perfection. Had me on the edge of my seat, throughout it's entirety
Thank you, Charles! It was truly the adventure of a lifetime. 🙂
I absolutely loved this!
As a young 15 year old boy from shoals watching this really gave me a journey. My cousin is actully Charlie Pruitts granddaughter and we used to have get togethers at that cabin frequently as from what I remember, this was truly the most interested I’ve ever been in these legends thank you
I really liked Charlie. I wish I’d had just one more visit to talk about legends. He was going to show me a “snake rock” on the hill, but he was gone the next time I dropped by. I wonder what’s going to happen with all his artifacts.
@@AdventureswithRoger most of the artifacts where given down to children and freinds of his and he always was one of the nicest people I’d ever met
@@lucashowell3941 I’m really glad to hear that! I’ve heard horror stories of families that have sold revolutionary war artifacts at garage sales!
I've prospected Eastern Kentucky and in an area that is 5 square miles I've found trace amounts of gold, silver and platinum there, and it doesn't hurt that Swift's name is carved in a rock shelter along with other markings and the date 1767 in the same area.
@@williamlawson6409 When I was following the story in Indiana, one man warned me about “fake artifacts” he knew about at Shoals. Pranksters, at some point, we’re carving arrows on trees, rocks, and other nonsense, just to have fun with people! I don’t know how a person would authenticate any of the clues.
You are a fantastic storyteller! I'm not even halfway through this one and I am subbing your channel right now. I don't even care if you ever find that legendary silver. The story is a real TREASURE! Thank you so much for sharing your talent and tales.
Thank-you and welcome to the adventure, Theresa! 🙂
Wow that is a great story. It draws you in Immediately.
LOVE this ADVENTURE!
Awesome video, narration and amazing stories and theme. Very well put together indeed. This has solved my need for caves 😀 Thanks uploader!
I love these videos,I've spent my entire life in Evansville and have never heard most of these tales. Very interesting and told by a wonderful story teller!
Thank-you for your kind words, Ray!
Makes me think of the farmland my father-in-law recently sold there are several sink holes and while hunting a ridgeline along the woods I could hear water running underground. There are many caves in this part of Indiana that are unknown just maybe, some hold surprises. Nice story Roger, like you my great grandmother was a full blooded local Indian. Our people can tell some great stories.
I think you finally have your treasure. You lived to tell a great story for all who came after. And this is a great treasure.
It was a wonderful adventure, that I did not expect. 🙂
I love your content!
Being a Southern Indiana native and a huge outdoorsman, I have looked into similar arcane topics of the region. While I have yet to find any conclusive answers, I've learned a lot and really enjoyed my journeys. My father retired a few years back and has become my travel companion, which only adds to the journey as we were not close in my youth.
I’ve had a great deal of fun, chasing down these stories. Hope to get many out this month!
Great history lesson! Thanks!
My pleasure, Delia!
Loved going along with you on your treasure hunt! What a great way to pay homage to your grandmother. You might not have found that treasure but you sure found natures beautiful treasure ❤You’re an excellent story teller with a hypnotic voice. Great job! Thank you for sharing this wonderful story!
Thank-you, Holly!
Bravo, well done, fascinating. Thank you.
This is good enough to be on history Channel. 👍 Have you ever thought of following General John Hunt Morgan's trail through southern Indiana?
Thank-you for your kind words! I did one segment about the invasion of Mauckport, and subsequent attack on the outskirts of Corydon.
Morgan’s Raid: The Invasion of Mauckport, Indiana (Mauckport, Indiana)
czcams.com/video/SDv1w7XsZlU/video.html
I’ve filmed the invasion from Palmyra to Versailles, but definitely need to plan out a screenplay.
Absolutely 👍👍👍,
@@AdventureswithRoger - Consider pitching it to Kevin Costner. He seems like he would be the kind of guy that may be open to doing it.
@@davidrice3337 cool
I am hooked and so glad to see someone focused on southern Indiana history. I grew up in southern IN and now I regret I didn't explore more. Some of your stories have a familar ring and some towns you mentioned I have traveled through not realizing what was there. It is remarkable how terrain can change over the years with flooding and manmade interference. A farmer may be plowing right over it. I am curious though, what motivated the indians to show the men, blindfolded, where it was?
My theory is that the Indians were playing a very clever shell game. There’s not a single story of them showing people a silver vein in rock, or something similar. In all the stories, witnesses were taken to a cave, where piles of silver were on the floor, or in the one case, Indians dug a hole in the ground as if looking for a stash. They definitely got people excited about looking for treasure at one place, and were probably moving it somewhere else. They cleverly used peoples greed against them!
I believe that there is still a treasure hidden but not where everybody would think.. but also there is signs and signals no one explore or search to understand it .. beside these days using metal detectors...
I really offer if you look at the comment i sent to the brother .. but it seems like he don't like to go back .. and deal with his videos as a documentary stories.. but you know always there are following ups..
I'm from NW Indiana, but love finding out new things in our state.
@@kennethcurtis1856 You have come to the right place! I'm always looking for new stories!
They showed him blindfolded because it is sacred ground and you're actually not supposed to do anything on that all of my fines came along the banks of the Ohio River from New Albany on down back in the day before the river was as wide as it is the Indians hunted along the banks of the River they'd shoot Miss leave it stuck in the hillside over the years sticks break off Arrowhead stays there it rains washes all the dirt off from the years and the arrowhead start appearing all you had to do was look on the bank where the River made a small drop off it sometimes the smallest 6in
Very intriguing story, and a great adventure to go along with it! I was born and raised in Pike County, Kentucky…far eastern tip of Kentucky, bordering West Virginia on one side, and Virginia on the other. Pine Mountain is an ancient limestone thrust fault that extends from Elkhorn City in the east, to the Cumberland Gap in the west…a distance of 120 miles or so. My grandfather grew up on a small farm on top of that mountain, and told me stories of lost silver mines when I was a kid. One was of a local fellow he knew, who was out hunting and found an outcropping of galena (lead ore), and took some home to cast balls for his squirrel rifle. When they couldn’t melt the ore, they figured out it was silver ore, and not lead. The poor fellow could never find the spot again, and went mad looking for it. Pike County was a pretty wild place in the early 1900’s.
There are also a lot of Jonathan Swift legends here. John’s Creek (a tributary of the Big Sandy River) is supposedly named for him. Also, the Tug Fork of the Big Sandy (the border between Kentucky and West Virginia) is named for the “tugs” or ingots of silver that came from the area. And, lots of caves and Indian rock houses throughout the length of Pine Mountain…and stories of lost/stolen silver, both Indian and Spanish. Just a few miles away is the headwaters of one of the forks of the Kentucky River. In the period, just a few days travel by canoe would take you to its confluence with the Ohio River, very near the Falls of the Ohio…
That story has captivated me for decades! In the last few years, I’d heard that someone had found Spanish coins in Kentucky, at a place people suspect Johnathan Swift lived. One of the stories said he was a counterfeiter, taking real silver to make the coins and thus have a tradable commodity. Another story said that he simply took pirate plunder inland to Kentucky. We may never know the truth, but it’s fun to research!
What a wonderful story! Thank you so much for sharing your adventure!
My sincere pleasure!
Born and raised in Indiana and I'll die in Indiana,I can't ever get enough of Indiana history and I loved this video,Thanks much for sharing I was glued to this fascinating story.I was born in Bloomington in Monroe county and used to love exploring caves and all parts of Indiana.
Many thanks for watching! I’m a sucker for good stories and history. So much more to explore while I can. 🙂
@@AdventureswithRoger
You might want to check out Bottom Road in Monroe County. There are Indian mounds just off the road. There is also a holler close by that me and my 2 brothers used to use as a playground over 45 years ago. We noticed the creek had a lot of black sand and the hills along the creek, one in particular, had ore in it. Being kids we used screwdrivers to try and dig a little bit out. In the process of all the beating and banging on the side of the hill, that was more like a sheer cliff, it sounded hollow inside. The little bit we did dig out, we were told by a neighbor man that it was nickel silver, but he always had a few drinks in him also. I'm not really exactly sure what it was at that age, but I've always wondered if it might have been actual silver. I really don't want to give out the name of the holler, but the Elementary School I went to was also named after the guy who owned the land the holler is on. It's no longer a school and the woods are being logged out. There's no trespassing signs up now but I would love to get permission from the owners to take one last walk back through that area and take some video. That place has been stuck in my head for years, wondering what we might have actually found in the hillside and in the creek if we had just been a little more knowledgeable at the time. Cedar Bluff, down off Old 37 South is also another place that was home to indians and an old Fort. My kids found a cave that had pottery and drawings on the wall. After they brought a few pieces of pottery back we were told by IU that it was illegal for them to take anything out of a cave like that so they were told to put it back. IU wanted to know the location but we never told them after they were a little cross with us. As far as I know, nobody else knows where that cave is. But it is on private property. I went to it once when my kids took the pieces of pottery back but I've never been to it again. I would love to get some video of that place also. Cedar Bluff makes you feel like you stepped back in time walking the ancient creek beds. There are some of the biggest natural boulders I have ever seen in a creek in Monroe County, and when you get close to the Bluffs, you can almost feel the presence of Indians in the area. It's an odd and erie feeling but exciting at the same time. Almost feels like arrows are going to start flying at any time. Beautiful places though. I've always been fascinated by Indiana history. Especially anything about the Indians around the area. I love your history lessons. I've been binge watching tonight and it's now 4:17am.😄 Keep up the good work.👍👍😊
Truly amazing finds! A hunter once told about a cave near Alton, with pottery fragments and beads on the floor. It sounded like a go for filming, but he backed out. I totally get it. One outsider sees it, and then IU and carloads of people are disturbing something that was left alone for maybe centuries.
@@AdventureswithRoger
Exactly. I think those places need protected for history sake, Having Indian blood in me myself.👍😊
My wife is part Cherokee, family tradition / ancestry DNA says I have Native American ancestry, but I don’t know what. Shawnee, Delaware, or whatever, I’m a genetic mutt! 🙂
Absolutely incredible stories with super narration.I just loved the view looking out of the eye of the needle.
We just can't appreciate what GOD has created for us all to see and enjoy.
Thank you for sharing I loved it all.
My pleasure, Darryl! I grew up in flat, central Indiana, lived there over 30 years. Southern Indiana is so vastly different. If you travel 64 west from Corydon, it looks like the valleys of Kentucky and Tennessee. And the interior lands, made of eroded limestone, are some of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. It’s an inspiring place to be! 🙂
This is a fantastic movie. I really enjoyed this. Thank You.
My pleasure, Larry!
Incredible story. Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure!
Thanking you Roger.
Indiana is fascinating, and I'm loving your videos on it 🙏👍
You did a very good job on this documentary I really enjoyed it. I'm not from Indiana but I am a rockhound and I enjoy stories like this. There are dozens of similar tales of lost gold and silver mines, buried treasure, etc. here in NC as well. In NC, we have an area of the state located in the central portion that has the geologic infrastructure to produce gold, silver and copper. Many of North Carolina's metal mines are within this belt. There is one area known specifically for silver and is accordingly named "Silver Hill". It is actually a fairly wide section of Davidson Co., NC and it there are three or four well known silver mines there. The most famous being the Silver Hill Mine which started around 1838 as the Washington and Kings mine. Actually this mine was one the few that operated during the civil war because the lead (galena) ore was smelted to make bullets for the confederate army. In fact, the rush to produce these bullets was so great during the war that they didn't separate the silver from the lead so in reality, many bullets used by the confederate's may have had as much silver in them as lead. The Silver Hill Mine and nearby Silver Valley, Conrad Hill, etc. operated up until around 1900 or so before finally closing. You can have relatively small areas that can be extremely rich in an ore mineral. In the case of Silver Hill, NC the veins were traced due to surface indications of silver bearing rocks. I wonder why the silver mine in Indiana hasn't been found given today's technology such as ground penetrating radar, advanced mapping and coring processes, etc. ? Maybe the Indiana deposit is very small but rich? If so, it may not warrant large commercial mining but could have been productive enough to warrant hand digging over a 100 years ago? There are also allot of small silver and gold mines in NC that were like that. Rich for the time but by today's standards, wouldn't be rich enough to invest the kind of money it takes today to get permits, equipment, labor and pay the environmental fees. A few years ago, a Canadian mining company looked at Silver Hill in NC to see if it were feasible to invest in mining the site again but apparently it was determined that although the ore body was fairly rich, it dipped sharply on an incline down into much harder, deeper rock that would make mining cost high and recovery methods harder as the lead and oxidized zones that the silver was associated with in the early days made it very easy to extract the silver but the deeper the vein went it became harder and mixed with more sulphides that made extraction more expensive, thus the reason the old timers probably had to abandon the place. Besides, by the mid to late 1800's, the western migration had began and miners were finding gold and silver mines that far eclipsed the production levels of those on the east coast. So many of the old mines east of the Mississippi were abandoned as miners went west in search of fortune. Some never found wealth out west and came home and opened up some of the old mines here but not with the same financial backing or glamour as the early days. During the great depression of the 1930's, a few old gold mines here in NC actually turned a profit but they too closed again and today, most of the mines are relics. Some like the Reed Gold Mine, home of America's first gold rush became a state historic site but for most, these old mines are just reminders of a glorious past when man pulled gold and silver from the ground.
There’s so many cool treasure stories across America, and they often have connections to others. I find it all fascinating.
I’ve been invited to some abandoned mines, but you never know what you’ll run into. From huge rats, sketchy supports, to toxic environments, it can be a bad day.
But, I believe all of us adventurers dream of that hidden find, thats eluded everyone else. That’s the fire that keeps us going! 🙂
The first gold strike made in the U.S. Was actually on the upper Potomac River, and the Largest known Deposit of Uranium, has also been discovered in Virginia, but environmental concerns, and laws mean that it will probably never be exploited, but it was a gold strike on Cherokee lands in Northern Georgia, that triggered, the Indian Removal Act, and the resultant Trail of Tears, and the founding of the modern state Of Oklahoma.
Great story. loved following you on a adventure of legends of times gone by. “Oh to find treasure. what a dream!!” 👍
Thank-you, Dabby! More adventure than I bargained for, more memories than I could fit in a shoebox!
Excellent again. 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥
Loved every second!...
Fantastic work! Looks like I have some new places to explore this fall/winter!!!!
On my final trip, a few weeks ago, I found a few more caves, without even trying!
Man, this was a very fascinating story!! Loved every second of it!! It brought tears to my eyes. I am now a subscriber. Well done Roger!! Thanks for sharing this journey with us.
Thank-you for your kind words, Joe. It was a heartfelt journey, and I had a strange sense of closure at the end. So glad I took the chances that I did! 🙂
You're very welcome Roger!! Tonight I plan on watching more of your films/videos with pizza and popcorn. You are an excellent storyteller and know how to keep it exciting all the way to the end. I'm glad I clicked on the first video about the monsters in Indiana which is where I currently live. Looking forward to tonight and thanks again Roger.
By far the best adventure. You have taken me and my friends to some amazing places. Shoals and Orange County area are my favorites. Thank you for sharing these adventures with us.
Martin, Orange and Crawford counties continue to provide amazing adventures. I’ll often just go for a drive, without a plan, and find something! 🙂
Great story. Thank you.
Wow! What a great story!! The world is a fascinating place, isn't it
Thank-you!
Really enjoyed the history of Silver Creek and Silver Hills! I’m very familiar with these locations and always wondered about the “silver” origins of their name. This was a great episode and has inspired me to read more about it. 👍👍
It was definitely a project I wanted to do for decades! 🙂
i love stuff like this , thank you for sharing your adventure
My pleasure, Ruffus! More to come!
Also, my father was a Sheriff, in southern Indiana. One Sunday afternoon, we were watching the Cisco Kid at my Grandma and Grandpa Hay's (Hayes, later). A flash news report came across that IU students were trapped in Sheriff Kinser's cave. It was a harrowing time for my parents. I thought it was exciting. They were rescued and saved. Sadly, they chose to block all entrances, after for preventative measures. 😭
You Sir are a wonderful story teller. I was on the edge of my seat the entire video. My heart fluttered with every fade out to a new chapter in fear of a cliffhanger.
Thank you so much for taking us along with you to fulfill your childhood quest. It was a wonderful adventure. I am somewhat familiar with several of the towns you drove through and stopped in so it felt like I was riding shotgun.
Thank-you, Jamie! It was a story that I didn’t want to die with me. I’m so glad that people have enjoyed the ride with me! 🙂
Really enjoy your channel Roger! Thank you for putting the time and effort in to telling these stories most people take for granted these days. Still amazes me how interesting southern Indiana history is.
Thanks, Doug! My parents used to take us, from our home near Indianapolis, to Southern Indiana on weekend trips. I always loved it, and jumped at a chance to live here, as an adult. Co-workers found out I was always visiting interesting places, and would ask about trips for their families. So I made videos to show them. Then, people watched and would tell me about OTHER cool places, or I would meet great local people during filming, telling me about history and folklore.
It’s been a great ride, and every time I get down to “this must be my last 10 videos, there is nothing else”, I find more.
Thanks for watching, and for sending me an encouraging line! Knowing that people enjoy these finds, makes it worthwhile and fun!
@@AdventureswithRoger you might want to check out Leesville Indiana which is just south of the Hunter's Creek area I'm sure you're probably aware of this but same tale of a very large cave system that opens up just south of Leesville goes toward hiltonville and stories of people in the cave could hear the blacksmith working on his anvil above ground in the old days
@@gdotts3468 Have heard only a little about Leesville, seems like I recall it was a train stop at one time. For a fact, there are caves all under that area, though some are filled with spring water. I’d love to find a large cave system though!
@@AdventureswithRoger Leesville has a state info board in the center of town stating it was the 1st settlement in Lawrence, and also the site of an Indian massacre, I'll take. Pic of it tomorrow afternoon and send it to you, just more history of Lawrence county
@@gdotts3468 My folks grew up in Lawrence County, and I’ve done a slew of videos over there! Always enjoy my time there.
Lawrence County Indiana
czcams.com/play/PLs79BVReZPlRXYUiIQKrCKrlRzOGYV2AZ.html
Thank you for taking me on this incredible journey. It was so fun to walk in your footsteps. I live for treasure stories. I metal detect to get the long lost treasure monkey off my back. Take care, 🏴☠
My pleasure! Truly an adventure of a lifetime. 🙂
Great story! I'm a southern Indiana resident in Clark County! I can't wait to show this to my dad
So very cool, it was definitely worth staying up late and watching this. If you’re back in the area I would love to go exploring with you. I’m free most of the time and always up for an adventure!
Thanks for watching, and thanks for your kind words, James! I kept putting this one off over the last 14 years, and decided “now or never, no one else will tell what you know.” The edit took 8 weeks, and some very long days, but if people get something out of it: completely awesome!
I’m hoping this video will bring old stories to peoples minds. I’d like to see a few more things at Shoals this fall, and any location that people think is a peculiar to the legend. Stay tuned!
Thanks for another fascinating video! Great boots on the ground work! Glad you survived.
Thank-you and my pleasure! I believe I might’ve knocked some sense into myself!
For me as an impressed viewer, part of the treasure is this amazing video!!! Thanks again AWR!!!
Awesome. Thanks for sharing.
My pleasure!
The Late Ohio historian Alan Eckert, makes the case, that the Shawnee ( whose very name means the silver people, the Trader John Kinzie who owned trading posts, at Detroit, St Joseph Michigan, and Chicago was known to the tribes as Shawneeakwe or the silver man as he was originally a silver smith) had two mines in Ohio, one of which is believed to be under the waters of an impoundment, while the other is believed to be in a deep ravine, on the campus of a university Northeast of Columbus, but could the right location be along the banks of Lawrie creek, this was the territory of Delaware chief White Eyes who was an implacable foe of the whites the creek runs South from the area of Greenbush downstream is the town's of Versailles, Friendship, and Jefferson, and the valley gets deeper as it flows to the Ohio.
Very interesting history! Has anyone found silver ingots in Ohio?
Awesome story! I have a similar situation...story passed down from my great grandfather. And I did find the source. It's an incredible feeling putting it all together.
A feeling of peace. 🙂
@@AdventureswithRoger Yes, peace and closure. No more wondering.
Amazing story, amazing story telling. Thank you!
My pleasure, and thanks for watching!
I’m from Shoals and I’ve grew up playing in rocks and caves . I love this story.
Beautiful area! As one person said: Gods country
Wow! What an interesting story! I have never heard the story of the silver mine!
All my life I’ve heard it, but originally thought it was just a family story. Turns out, variations of my Great Grandmothers story are all over the place. 🙂
@@AdventureswithRoger Quite fascinating!
Hey Roger,
Interesting video. I am a life long Orange countian and there is an oral tradition from my great uncle (who passed away in 1987) about a lost lead mine in the French Lick area that Indians knew of, but the White settlers could not find. Last year I read A.J. Rhodes circa 1910 book *Early History of West Baden and French Lick Springs and Lost River.* I got my copy from Amazon but I think the FLWB Museum sells it also. Rhodes' 7th chapter is *Silver Mines Near the Springs* and details part of your legend, and diggings for it done on local farms in the 1800s. If you are thinking of doing some more Shoals research later this year, you might check out the French Lick connection also.
Thank-you Joe, I had not heard of the A.J. Rhodes book! Someone, a few months ago, swore that their Grandfather had mined a silver vein at French Lick. I know there were underground limestone quarries at Paoli and French Lick, and sometimes people confuse silver limestone with mining actual silver, not to say that’s the case.
Geologists say a silver mine is not likely in Indiana or Kentucky, but silver has been found in Kentucky, nonetheless! What is a known fact is that Indians mined silver limestone for flint. Some scholars suggest that’s where some of the silver legends came from, but I believe there’s more to it.
My grandfather, Luther Albert Shipman (1873-1957), was attending a turkey shoot as a young man, near Orangeville, IN. They were using muzzle loading rifles and ran out of lead, but one of the men there said he could supply some if no one followed him. He left by himself, was gone about an hour, but came back with a large piece of lead, which my grandfather said looked like it had been hacked out of a cave with a hatchet. They started melting it down to form bullets and went on with the contest.
Wow, cool adventure!
Great video Roger! Thank you.
My pleasure! This was a soul- cleansing journey. 🙂
One of the best, if not, the best, CZcams treasure stories I’ve ever watched! Absolutely fascinating! Well done! Subbed!
Thank-you!
I have been driving through Indiana to Florida for 50 years, knowing about stories that I heard from my Mom about her Potawadami friends as a farmer's child in Southern Michigan, but we never stopped there. A few weeks ago I visited Murphy, North Carolina from where the first Cherokees were gathered and marched away to Oklahoma. There is a local Cherokee story of short, blue-eyed white people living there many years before some white people invaded the mountains there. These pale "moon-eyed people" were thought later to be Welsh, which suggested that they could not see well in sunlight. A carved white rock statue of two of these people is held at the Cherokee County Historical Museum in Murphy. "The Cherokee said before they moved into these majestic of Southern Appalachia, there was a race of white people there." Interesting!
This is awesome... Im a photographer and I was just in Lawrence Co/Silverville. Thanks for this! So very well done!
Thanks Frank!
Too cool... loved every moment
Thank you!
your story.. this channel is... so relaxing, calm, mysterious.. story telling, and BADASS!!!