I returned to the previous dig site with thoughts of finding the missing pieces of glass bottle, whiskey I think. Instead I found another carefully hidden treasure from Mathew Roderick. The TDI Pro suggested I dig off to the side of the goods found previously. First I uncovered an inverted blue enamel wash pan. Interesting. Carefully clearing away the muddy soil I found another, smaller white pan clam-shelled over a third and smaller one.

I knew the size of the pans were too limiting for hiding gold bars so I didn’t get overly excited when I carefully slid the pans towards me. Inside were carefully placed granite ware dishes (3), an enamel cup and saucer. The smallest granite dish appeared to be for a bar of soap or a few smoked oysters. Would I find a candelabra too?

While a good argument might have it that all the previous finds were astounding coincidences to be in close proximity to each other, these carefully clam-shelled pieces were intentionally stashed in this manner. And they answered a long unanswered question: how did Matt know when the bars would go clattering down the old wagon road?

He didn’t. There may have been a general idea of when but secrecy did prevail. All these food associated goods told me Matt had to camp and wait. I was elated to find so many articles connected to a story that only told of gold bars. There I was, digging up his personally used belongings that showed a great level of planning. Poker players are not stupid, then or now.

TBC