AUTHOR'S TREASURE SEARCH BRINGS ANOTHER DEATH

A recent death isn't deterring intrepid treasure hunters in New Mexico from searching for a chest supposedly stuffed with unimaginable riches.

While state police told NBC News they are urging people to give up on any quest for the king's ransom because of the dangers involved, some thrill seekers say they'll continue to look for the haul hidden by antiquities dealer and author Forrest Fenn.

"So ever since the chase started in 2010, (Fenn) has always emphasized that he was 80 years old when he hid the chest. It's not in a dangerous place — it's a place you can take your kids," said unrelenting adventurer Cynthia Meachum, 63. "You don't need to rappel, you don't need to climb up a cliff face. It's just not a dangerous place."

Fenn, 86, claims in his 2010 self-published memoir "The Thrill of the Chase" that he stashed a trunk filled with gold coins and nuggets, ancient artifacts and precious gems in a secret location somewhere amid the Rocky Mountains. In the book, Fenn includes a poem that he said has clues to help people discover the loot.

He came up with the idea for the hunt when he was diagnosed with kidney cancer, according to The New York Times.

Fenn estimates that more than 65,000 people, including treasure hunt enthusiasts and tourists, have traveled to the region where they believe the extravagant wealth is buried — spanning Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico, The Times said.

Fenn told the newspaper last year that the treasure is likely worth $2 million.

The body of Paris Wallace, a pastor from Colorado, was found last week by investigators along the Rio Grande just west of Santa Fe, according to The Albuquerque Journal. He was reported missing after he told his family that he was going to try to find the treasure.

His death follows that of Randy Bilyeu, who more than a year ago disappeared after venturing into the Rocky Mountains. The remains of his body were also found in the Rio Grande seven months after he vanished, The Times said.

To read the complete article, see:
Police Urge Treasure Hunters to Stop After Latest Death (http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/police-urge-treasure-hunters-to-stop-after-latest-death/ar-BBD7vqZ)

To read the complete article, see:
A millionaire says he buried a hidden treasure. A pastor just died looking for it. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2017/06/20/a-millionaire-says-he-buried-a-hidden-treasure-a-pastor-just-died-looking-for-it/?utm_term=.b4520799c4be)

To read the earlier E-Sylum articles, see:
TREASURE SEEKERS SEARCH FOR AUTHOR'S HIDDEN CHEST (http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v18n29a41.html)
TREASURE SEARCH TURNS INTO HUNT FOR SEARCHER (http://www.coinbooks.org/esylum_v19n05a34.html)

Wayne Homren, Editor

	NBS (coinbooks.org) Web