COMMENTS

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Author: Platoro

126 thoughts on “COMMENTS”

  1. It might be an easier to find this lost gold than to determine who has actually won the elections! 3,516 bars of gold, wow can’t imagine! I wonder how many Wells Fargo trucks it would take to carry all that? I just can’t imagine it could be done with less than 3 considering the weight. That’s a whole bunch of gold. Good luck to whom ever finds it! I love Colorado!

  2. Well, it looks like it will take more time find out who is the winner of the US Presidential race. It’s strange to think this could take weeks longer. Who ever wins, I hope the country could come back together enough to agree to disagree and not be so divided. May God bless you and yours today and may God bless America.

  3. We have tried hard to keep this website focused on the legend of Lost French Gold. It is our #1 focus. But tomorrow, I believe there is something we all can agree on without any debates >>>> PLEASE <<<< EVERYONE – GO VOTE! It’s that important! Have your voice be heard!

  4. The archives at Pagosa Sun (online) stop in 1999. Some of the info I have was older than that and was only able to look at on microfiche. I went to the library (a while back – before COVID), it’s small but very quite. I will post info prior that I have prior to 1999 just as soon as I can. Hope that helps. And by the way, the last link had absolutely nothing to do this subject! Not sure why I posted that! All fixed!

  5. The gold is said to be cursed if you have French ancestry. Of course it must be taken with a grain of salt. But there are many out there that believe the gold might have a curse. As for the Citadel Mountain books, 10 years ago – they were everywhere. We were in Pagosa Springs a couple of years ago and was talking to a store owner who was trying very hard to get copies to sell in her shop. They have dried up except online. Many or I & II, but not III. There are still many copies, but getting a little pricey – around $35. And for the gold being buried southwest of Monte Vista, yes – many have speculated that it is in this area, somewhere between Cat Creek to Bishop’s Rock.

  6. We heard about this legend years ago while staying in a motel in Monte Vista. They sold the Citadel books. We think it was 2010. They had several copies of the books. Wished we would have bought a couple. So many people believe the treasure is buried southwest of Monte. It is rumored that it is buried in a cave and it is cursed or haunted and cannot be taken out.

  7. Be confident that Maynard Adams knew of Henry Gestefield and spent much time researching his book before he ever published his. Almost every detail (with the exception of the actual location of the main hoard) is found in the Citadel series. Although Henry’s book was very small in comparison, it cut to the chase and gave you specific maps. In my opinion, Henry Gestefield was much more honorable than Adams. But Adams has an amazing ability to draw the reader into his version of the story. He has added tremendous amount of research that can’t be overlooked. I have taken both authors very seriously. As to the question of the the Smoking Gun, it is in the details that Adam left out. The devil is always in the detail. Adams was in competition with Gestefield’s account. Henry had passed away before Adams had published his book. For me, I believe he purposely left out the details because he knew that no one was question it. That’s what I truly believe. And for some reason, he tried to get the readers to search away from the upper Weminuche.

  8. Maynard Adams wrote the Citadel Mountain Series (I,II,III) that he personally edited and published starting in 1993. He does give credit to Henry but forgets to add the word “French” to the title of his book and misspells his last name in the credits on page 379 of Citadel Mountain I. Then he personally tells me that he spoke with Henry’s son who told Adams he thought his dad was searching in the wrong place. (Continued)

  9. Great question. Bottom line, Gestefield searched for the gold and wrote a book “My 50 Year French Treasure Hunt” which was published in 1968. He had maps where he believed the gold was in the upper Weminuche wilderness area. From what has been determined, this man was a very honorable man. Many do not believe that the main portion of gold was buried where Henry was believed it was located and was searching. However, Henry G. put his money where his mouth is and believed that his search area was accurate. He had partners and several people that believed in him and assisted in his searches. (Continued)

  10. The member Platoro commented earlier that he believed that when adams said that he had talked with Gestefield’s son and that the treasure wasn’t in the upper Weminuche, why he considered as a red flag?

  12. Huh, I just checked that. Yes, that needs to be modified. I am going to get on that. At one time, that was for a reason, but I can’t see the point of this now. I know it was for security issues. Either way, we either need to change subscriber permissions or add users using a different category. Thanks for catching that!

  13. Was also letting you guys know that you cant cut n paste in the forum with a Subscriber account. That is annoying. I tried to copy the last link in Frenchy’s post in the Forum under Links and it will not allow a Subscriber to do this.

  14. Yes to your request HC. I just am trying to respond to things as quick as possible and pay the bills at the same time. I will change your status asap. You will be able to cut n paste. I think that feature isn’t popular but we are working on it.

  15. Just a quick note, I see the dashboard in the when I logged in. I like that. It show the last comment. I was wondering if my status could be changed to a level higher. I would like to be able to copy into the comment field.

  16. Changed the order per your request. Thanks. It is agreed that it helps. We are trying to figure how to put Reply at the top. Not sure if that can be done.

  17. Is there anyway to change the order of the comments fro Older — > Newer. I think this helps.

  18. I agree. I was able to speak with him in 2013, 2014, and just before his death. He had a unique style. I wished I could have met him in person with a recorder and notebook in hand. In my travels, I have come across small business owners that sold his books. Some he did on consignment and others were cash up front. He has been described to me as funny, eccentric, and a good old boy. My conversations with him were more specific about details in Citadel series and Henry Gestefield. I do have to add that he had spoke with Gestefield’s son and neither believed the gold was located in the upper Weminuche. That was sorta a red flag about other issues with his credits. I still believe there are numerous details from is writings that line up with my research. I have read a couple comments on Facebook and a book review on Amazon. He seemed to have a following and people enjoyed his books.

  19. Maynard Adams wrote a very descriptive story. Many people loved his writings. I don’t think the people appreciate the amount of time he spent in his novels.

  20. I had to log in to copy this link from the Colorado School Journal 1902: Josiah M. Ward.

    We should be careful not to conclude that everything Ward wrote was a hoax just because of his previous employer – Hearst. Perhaps some half truths – but his articles were not completely inaccurate. This was the book that was being reviewed in the above link. Interesting that he wrote this book in 1902: Come With Me Into Babylon: A Story Of The Fall Of Nineveh by Josiah M. Ward.

    He did have a creative mind that could be considered pro or con.

  21. There is a healthy skepticism of Adams and this legend for that matter. But it only took a summer of searching with some Spanish men to eliminate any doubts I had. I can assure you that most of the people I have ever met in the SLV have never heard of Ward, Adams, or Gestefield. There is a different passion in their culture. But they also don’t believe the gold is French. I believe it is ALL the same story that needs to be assembled in a format that helps complete the story.

  22. Josiah Ward could have been hired by the Denver Post to fabricate his articles. Maybe he wasn’t. But the theory only involves scratching the surface of something that was already being sought after. The details of this legend start long before Ward who supposedly started his research in 1911. It is true that portions of Adam’s books seem to have been influenced by details in Ward articles. But Maynard Adams put on his boots and actually followed the trail. Ward did not. It’s like comparing CliffsNotes to Encyclopedia Britannica. He interviewed people, but never followed the trail. Do you think he actually got on a horse or hiked from Wolf Creek Pass along the Continental Divide all the way to Buena Vista Colorado? Seriously? Think he ever rafted on the Arkansas river? So maybe he was just building a story on facts and then changing it get readers. There are entirely to many factual details in the Citadel Mountain series that don’t follow Ward. To many details to claim it’s a hoax. Then there is the other author, Henry Gestefield. Gestefield put on the boots and went after it for years. Perhaps some of the Ward details could have influenced him, but his story is miles apart from Ward. The Archuletas, Montroys, and dozens of others, were searching for this gold long before the Ward articles. But more important, what about the locals in the San Luis Valley who have searched believing the gold was a Spanish legend. As for the French Gold Seekers, Adams had plenty of time to add more detail. I am NOT a fan of his writing style. But because of him and others, a group of us are truly believing that a large portion of this gold remains hidden up there. That is the purpose of the website.

  23. I would think that someone who was going to write all these books about the same subject might actually believe the topic they were writing about… The author published these books through his own publishing company. That’s a tremendous amount of work to be creating a series of fictional novels that he believed would sell. I am understanding that 5 of his books were either directly about or linked to the French gold. Still the mystery is why the dramatics with the characters? I just can’t believe his writings were well thought out fakes. I read on another website that many believed his writings were very close to Josiah Ward who wrote a series of articles pertaining to the gold in 1921. Ward’s articles were alleged to be a hoax. So this last book, The French Gold Seekers has me intrigued.

  24. It’s possible that there were two groups. They were separate. The group from 1756 coincides with the French document. The group from 1799 could have actually been 1790.

  25. I just have trouble understanding which group actually had information about the mines? Was it the group from 1799 or 1756? And where did the French get their information from considering the it’s location?

  26. 1756 is a very important detail. Itienne Vernard de Bourgmont is also important. This book is about Commander Trudeau and his 400 men in 1756. Good luck on your searches! Easy to find PM Justin Trudeau or the general. Also, according to Adams, the 2 guides Trudeau had were the same guides to the Mallet Brothers in 1739. Easy to find the Mallet Boys, but if you don’t have a copy of this book it’s not really going to matter. You at least need Citadel Mountain I, III. I believe Maynard Cornett Adams was crazy like a fox and because of him and Henry Gestefield, someone (hopefully me – YIPPIE -lol) maybe you, is going to find the treasure. You should become of member of the forum. Hopefully – you will. It looks like you have the bug.

  27. For myself, I found it to be annoying and at first, discredited most of his writings. I need a “Straight to the point” style to comprehend meaning. I admit, I have no few grey areas and Picasso isn’t my favorite style. But Maynard included extensive detail. The only way you can understand Maynard Cornett Adams is to follow his trail. By the time he wrote French Gold Seekers, he was being affected by his health and age. He had picked up additional details along the way. Also, he would have taken advantage of the internet, something he was not able to do during the Citadel series. After spending years researching and living in the San Luis Valley, I am now a believer in his writings – at least the portions that I was able to physically authenticate for myself.

  28. Adams wrote history through the eyes of a romantic. The Citadel Mountain series and French Gold Seekers was written in a dramatically (theatrical) view. I believe he enjoyed this style of writing believing he was able to draw readers to his conclusions.

  30. The French Gold Seekers was published 2014. This was his last book. A San Luis Valley Pioneer Family was in 2010. Citadel Mountain III was 1993. Probably the most accurate account of ALL the stories was The French Gold Seekers. He published the Ancient Ones in 2012.

  31. I believe there is no coincidence. Maynard Adams based that book on the French document of 1756. I truly believe Adams had a copy of either the original French or some version of a Spanish translated version. But to answer the question – it is not known what copy he had. He was uses several different sources.

  32. The French Gold Seekers book is dated 1756. That is the date of the French document that has been translated. Does anyone know if MCA had a copy of that document?

  33. By the way, if your email address can’t be verified we still allow you post comments, however you can’t be a member of the forum (security).

    As for Adams other books:

    Citadel Mountain I *** Citadel Mountain II 1844-1848 *** Citadel Mountain III 1885-1920 *** La Ventana (The Windows) 1684-1770 *** Eastern Kentucky Short Stories 1760-1960 *** A San Luis Valley Pioneer Family 1790-1952 *** The French Gold Seekers 1756-1761 *** The Ancient Ones (The Anasazi) A.D. 1100 – A.D. 1275…

  35. Page 7, Chapter 1, -San Luis Valley Pioneer Family- Remy Ledoux. Notice the spelling. The expedition is explained by Ledoux to Montroy, Blanco, Poor into the next 2 chapters. This book also explains details of Ledoux death (murder) and the envolvment of Joe Mann. It is a worth wild read.

  36. Did Maynard Adams have additional info about the French expedition or Lebreau in the San Luis Valley Pioneer Family?

  39. We have turned back on the option Moderate Comments. Seems to be working. Let us know… A work in progress!

  40. Yes, I just re-set it for you. Now follow the re-set link and you will be able to log in….

  41. I can’t seem to log into the forum, is there a way to reset my password I tried the re-set option but it I don’t think it’s working.? I think I need to change my email address. It might not be the right email address.

  42. I do like this feature. I also like the Find Ip widget. I had a copy of A San Luis Family. It summarizes the White family. So you would get a lot of info on their lives with Montroy and their life living outside La Garita.

  43. This is like a Blog and they’re testing it to see if it helps people who want to leave comments but don’t necessarily want to be a member of The Forum.

  44. You can sign up for the Forum by having a valid verifiable email address associated with your username. They do vet the users on the forum.

  47. At this time, I can’t seem to find a single copy. Just trying to help out. Sometimes ebay.com has books like this.

  49. I was wondering if you knew some place that might have a copy of the French Gold Seekers? I was unaware of either of these books.

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