Maximillians Millions

Since you live so close, it might be interesting to see if there are any journals from Ft Concho which mention Bill Murdock or his party. If he really did exist and spent time at the fort it would give some basis toward the wagon massacre story.

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Hello jbaily

 

There is nothing better to have some one on the ground so to speak. The best thing you can do If you want to research this story further is get in contact with any local historical society. The  Maximilian castle gap story is based on three central characters.

Black, O'Connor and Murdock

Without some verification of them we have no proof that these events ever took place at all. The local jail operated from 1848 so it is possible that Murdock was a prisoner there and is recorded in the 1867 inmate files of the Jail? Possibly you may be able to get access via historical societies.

Black I recall was a doctor? Perhaps there is a mention of him in local newspapers. He could of been a traveling doctor as they were common at the time. It is interesting to note that doctors did not have to professionally trained until after 1900.

Research is the key in discovering the truth behind such legends.

Hardluck.

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Hello jbaily

The Castle gap Treasure is based on these 3 characters. To Understand the truth behind the legend we have verify that these people existed. It is not easy and no guarantee of results. This bill Murdock possible alternate spelling Murdoch is the key as the story is centered around him.

What we need is something independent to confirm the story other than hearsay. If Bill Murdock was a renegade Confederate soldier. It could of been possible he was connected to general Joseph general Shelby who was known to have traveled to Mexico to offer his services only to return to the US. Bill Murdock could of been one of the soldiers that went with him.

General Shelby had come from Missouri so Bill Murdock could be recorded in the Muster lists of Confederate soldiers from Missouri?

If Bill Murdock was an alias then why would he give a false name when dying to the men he retold the story of the treasure to?

It is possible to have another name connected to both places as a alias but that does not prove that the name or alias is connected to the story.

One of the dangers of this research is changing too much of the story to prove the existence of such a story. Sadly I have seen that too many times and seen many people spend all their lives chasing legends.

However there are a few stones that have not been looked under just yet. See if you can find prison records or Confederate muster lists for Missouri under General Shelby.

Hardluck 

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Thanks Idaho,

Have an appointment with the Records clerk at 2 on tuesday. Hopefully I can dig up something on the hospital stay or anyone passing through. Also, Denton is 261 miles north east of us. I just keep getting baffled at the fact that these guys did this on horseback.

Anyone have some advise on some details I should be looking for? (besides the obvious ledger entries.)

wish me luck,
~j

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Hope you find out something interesting Jbailey  

The timeframe would likely be between 1865 when trouble started and 1867 when Max was executed.

I would look for any references to confederate groups moving through the fort. Perhaps there was a check in procedure. Supplies or horses purchased with mexican gold coins, gambling with gold coin, direction of travel, notations of patrols sent to massacre sites, names in any groups which were massacred. Anything out of the ordinary. I'm sure there are some things I'm forgetting.

If none of the names can be validated it's likely the treasure never was in the Castle Gap area.

Nice going FoolsGold, with 2 people in close proximity to prime areas of the story we might be able to say if this lead is good or not.

Perhaps just searching for Doctors and Lawyers practicing in Denton circa 1860-1870 might turn up a name variation. Perhaps there are jail records or newspapers from the area in the local library or public records offices? Also one might look into where the inmates who died in captivity were buried. Perhaps there is a Murdock variation there.

Good luck on your searches  

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