David Meyer's Blog, page 6

Cy Reed Visits Hostile Territory

In “Cy Reed Visits Hostile Territory,” Cy extends his visit to the Explorer’s Society. Watch Cy prepare for a fateful reunion. Learn more about the Infinity and its connection to an ancient nursery rhyme. Plus, a new cover for Cryptic, a teaser for Apex Predator, and the latest news on Vapor!

Cy Reed Visits Hostile Territory

This week, I’m pleased to release the 5th page of Cryptic, “Cy Reed Visits Hostile Territory.” In this entry, Cy visits the Lindbergh Auditorium at the Explorer’s Society. While preparing for his long-awaited reunion with Diane Blair, he reveals new information about the Infinity, including its connection to an ancient nursery rhyme. Check it out! And remember … if you need to catch up on old entries, make sure to visit my Cy Reed world. Also, I’ve prepared a new cover for Cryptic. I’ll announce it officially later this week but if you want the preview, you can see it at the Cy Reed world page.

David Meyer Creations

My web presence has undergone about a dozen name changes over the years so get ready for one more …David Meyer Creations. I bought the domain last week. It’s rather long, but it’s a better reflection of what I’m trying to do here, namely build a number of exciting worlds for you to enjoy! Currently, I’m running two worlds … Cy Reed and Guerrilla Explorer. Apex Predator, my newest world, is next!

Apex Predator

Speaking of Apex Predator, I’m excited to offer the first teaser for this strange and terrifying world. You can see it first here. More is coming soon!

Vapor

Vapor, the fourth novel in the Cy Reed Adventure series, is still undergoing final edits. The cover is done and the formatting is largely complete. I’m still hoping to get the book into your hands this week, but it might get delayed a week or two depending on how final edits go. Again, no promises, but we’re working very hard to get this done and into your hands!

Cy Reed Visits Hostile Territory

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Published on April 06, 2015 05:34

Cy Reed Investigates Infinity Prophecy

This week, we look at Cy Reed Investigates Infinity Prophecy, the fourth page from Cy Reed’s journal. Get ready to learn some intriguing clues about the Infinity, which appears to have been plaguing Manhattan since the sixteenth century. Plus, more website updates and the countdown to Vapor continues!

Cy Reed Investigates Infinity Prophecy

I’m pleased to release page 4 of Cy Reed’s journal, which I’ve entitled, Cy Reed Investigates Infinity Prophecy. As you’ll see below, Cy Reed Investigates Infinity Prophecy is a continuation of last weeks’ entry. It’s the second half of a newspaper article from 1916. It provides some curious details about the Infinity as well as about the long-forgotten and mysterious disappearance of eight Manhattan-based children. I don’t want to give too much away, so go read it for yourself! And if you need to catch up on old entries, make sure to catch out my Cy Reed world. By the way, I’ve tentatively titled this edition of Cy Reed’s journal as Cryptic. At the moment, I’m adding page numbers and going through the process of reformatting old pages. Eventually, I’ll publish this story as a Cy Reed Journal paperback book and maybe an e-book for those of you who prefer hard copies or e-readers.

David Meyer Creations

I’m currently refocusing this website around the various worlds of what I’m currently calling, David Meyer Creations. That name, by the way, changes on a week-to-week basis! Anyway this week’s updates include general speed improvements to the blog page. Also, I’m rebuilding the front page to focus less on my individual books and more on my worlds, namely Cy Reed, Guerrilla Explorer, and the upcoming Apex Predator.

Vapor

Vapor, the fourth novel in the Cy Reed Adventure series, is currently undergoing final edits. I’m hoping to get the e-book into your hands the week of April 6. The paperback shouldn’t take much longer. No promises, but I’m working hard to make it happen.

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Published on March 30, 2015 06:39

Vapor is Coming & Cy Reed is Back!

Vapor is coming! After thirteen long months, the fourth novel in the Cy Reed Adventure series is nearing completion. It’s been a long wait, but it’s definitely going to be worth it.

Vapor is Coming!

I don’t want to give too much away at this point, especially since final edits are underway. But Vapor, formerly known as Miasma, is everything you’ve come to expect from the Cy Reed universe. Ancient mysteries, lost treasure, strange monsters, an epic conspiracy, and more! Plus, Vapor will see the introduction of many new characters, several of which will be sticking around for future novels. I still don’t have a firm release date, but I’m shooting for early to mid-April.

In the meantime, head on over to the brand new Cy Reed page. While you’re there, make sure to check out our newest feature, the Cy Reed Journals. Every Monday, we’re adding new pages from Cy Reed’s personal journal, detailing the exploits of a previously unpublished story that took place during the events of Chaos. Filled with sketches, newspaper articles, and other items, the journal tells the story of Cy’s encounter with a mysterious group known as the Infinity. But the Infinity isn’t a new threat … curiously enough, it’s been terrorizing New York City for over a century. Enjoy!

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Published on March 26, 2015 07:25

Cy Reed Unearths the Infinity!

I have two quick announcements before we get to Cy Reed Unearths the Infinity, this week’s Cy Reed Journal entry.

Vapor

First, Vapor is coming! Vapor (formerly codenamed Miasma) will be the fourth novel in my Cy Reed Adventures series. It’s been in the works for a loooong time. Look for the official cover later this week. The actual release date is still up in the air, but should be locked down soon. Just between us, I’m shooting for mid-April.

Website Updates

Second, I’m currently refocusing this website on the various worlds of David Meyer Universe. Hence, you can now visit the new Cy Reed world, which hosts all stuff related to our favorite treasure hunter / salvage expert. Currently, it contains information on the books, the Cy Reed Journal, and Cy Reed news. You can also see hints of what’s coming next … including a new book series! In addition, I’ve created a Guerrilla Explorer home to act as a storehouse for all Guerrilla Explorer-related articles. Also, I updated my About and Contact sections and adjusted my Blog section, which will cover news related to all aspects of David Meyer Universe. I also added a new section entitled Apex Predator. What is Apex Predator, you ask? You’re going to have to wait a little longer to find out. Regardless, this is a work in progress so expect to see things shifting about for the next few weeks.

Cy Reed Unearths the Infinity

Here is this week’s page from the Cy Reed Journal. It’s entitled, Cy Reed Unearths the Infinity. The reference to the Explorer’s Society indicates Cy obtained this article while visiting Dutch Graham’s office, a key early scene in Chaos. As you can see below, the Infinity has a long (and rather unsettling) history behind it. If you want to catch up on past Cy Reed Journal entries, be sure to visit the Cy Reed world!

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Published on March 23, 2015 07:05

Cy Reed Journal #3, Vapor, and More!

I have two quick announcements before we get to this week’s Cy Reed Journal entry.

Vapor

First, Vapor is coming! Vapor (formerly codenamed Miasma) will be the fourth novel in my Cy Reed Adventures series. It’s been in the works for a loooong time. Look for the official cover later this week. The actual release date is still up in the air, but should be locked down soon. Just between us, I’m shooting for mid-April.

Website Updates

Second, I’m currently refocusing this website on the various worlds of David Meyer Universe. Hence, you can now visit the new Cy Reed world, which hosts all stuff related to our favorite treasure hunter / salvage expert. Currently, it contains information on the books, the Cy Reed Journal, and Cy Reed news. You can also see hints of what’s coming next … including a new book series! In addition, I’ve created a Guerrilla Explorer home to act as a storehouse for all Guerrilla Explorer-related articles. Also, I updated my About and Contact sections and adjusted my Blog section, which will cover news related to all aspects of David Meyer Universe. I also added a new section entitled Apex Predator. What is Apex Predator, you ask? You’re going to have to wait a little longer to find out. Regardless, this is a work in progress so expect to see things shifting about for the next few weeks.

Cy Reed Journal: Page 3

Here is this week’s page from the Cy Reed Journal. The reference to the Explorer’s Society indicates Cy obtained this article while visiting Dutch Graham’s office, a key early scene in Chaos. As you can see below, the Infinity has a long (and rather unsettling) history behind it. If you want to catch up on past Cy Reed Journal entries, be sure to visit the Cy Reed world!

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Published on March 23, 2015 07:05

Cy Reed Takes New York: What is the Infinity?

Over the last week, I completed the restoration of a new page from Cy Reed’s Journal. It’s called, Cy Reed Takes New York. I’ve attached it below.

Cy Reed Takes New York

Curiously enough, it refers to an entity known as, “The Infinity.” Since I hadn’t heard of such a group, I asked Cy for additional clarification. From what he tells me, the events of Chaos are only part of a larger story that took place during his return to New York. While Cy was tracking down Hartek’s cache of lost gold, he was also unraveling a second mystery in the city’s maze of underground tunnels. That story, never before told, will be detailed in upcoming journal entries. Needless to say, all of us here at Guerrilla Explorer Publishing are excited at the prospect of relaying this “brand new” Cy Reed adventure to you. Stay tuned!

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Published on March 16, 2015 06:40

Cy Reed’s Journal: What is the Infinity?

Over the last week, I completed the restoration of a new page from Cy Reed’s Journal. I’ve attached it below. Curiously enough, it refers to an entity known as, “The Infinity.” Since I hadn’t heard of such a group, I asked Cy for additional clarification. From what he tells me, the events of Chaos are only part of a larger story that took place during his return to New York. While Cy was tracking down Hartek’s cache of lost gold, he was also unraveling a second mystery in the city’s maze of underground tunnels. That story, never before told, will be detailed in upcoming journal entries. Needless to say, all of us here at Guerrilla Explorer Publishing are excited at the prospect of relaying this “brand new” Cy Reed adventure to you. Stay tuned!

Cy Reed’s Journal: Page 2

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Published on March 16, 2015 06:40

Cy Reed Adventures Continue!

I’m pleased to announce the release of a very special item, Cy Reed’s Journal. Donated by Cy himself, the book provides fresh insight into the foremost treasure hunter and salvage expert of modern times. Each page chronicles his many adventures, some heretofore unpublished, via sketches, photographs, newspaper clippings, and Cy Reed’s personal commentary. They should prove an excellent complement to the Cy Reed Adventures.

Cy Reed Adventures Continue!

The very first page, entitled Cy Reed Adventures Continue, relates to events recorded in Chaos. You can find it below. Other pages will follow just as soon as I’m able to preserve and restore them to their original condition. Please come back often … there’s a lot of exciting stuff on the way!

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Published on March 09, 2015 06:46

Cy Reed’s Journal: The Adventure Continues!

I’m pleased to announce the release of a very special item, Cy Reed’s Journal. Donated by Cy Reed himself, the book provides fresh insight into the foremost treasure hunter and salvage expert of modern times. Each page chronicles his many adventures, some heretofore unpublished, via sketches, photographs, newspaper clippings, and Cy Reed’s personal commentary. They should prove an excellent complement to the Cy Reed Adventures. The very first page, which relates to events recorded in Chaos, is below. Other pages will follow just as soon as I’m able to preserve and restore them to their original condition. Please come back often … there’s a lot of exciting stuff on the way!

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Published on March 09, 2015 06:46

Does the Lost Custer Treasure Really Exist?

Thanks to all of you who watched me on last week’s America Unearthed episode, “Custer’s Blood Treasure.” Recently, I’ve seen a few questions bouncing around about the exact nature of the lost Custer treasure, including several from my friend Scott Wolter himself. Some people have even doubted its existence all together. So, I thought I’d add in some details from four primary sources as well as some reporting by Kathryn Wright, who originally broke the Custer treasure story back in 1957. Perhaps this will shed a little light on the exact nature of the Custer treasure as well as how the story originated.

Where did the Custer Treasure Come From?

Two Moon Vault and supposed storehouse of lost Custer treasure (Constructed by W.P. Moncure)

The lost Custer treasure consists of about four months back pay given to the Seventh Cavalry more than a month prior to Custer’s last stand. Contrary to popular opinion, it wasn’t stored in a pay wagon and taken to the battlefield but rather, was carried into battle by the individual soldiers themselves. After the fighting was over, the Indians stripped the dead soldiers of their belongings, including their various monies. This hoard of harvested pay and other trinkets, in total, makes up the lost Custer treasure.

So, the first question we must answer is whether or not there is evidence that Custer’s men were paid prior to the Battle of the Little Bighorn. And fortunately, there is. On June 22, 1923, Sergeant John M. Ryan, who was with Major Reno during the battle, published a first-person narrative entitled, “The Narrative of John M. Ryan” in the Hardin, Montana-based Tribune. In it, he states that the Seventh Cavalry marched out of Fort Abraham Lincoln on May 17, 1876. Upon arriving at the Big Heart River, they camped for two days. Around that point, probably on the evening of May 17 itself, “the paymaster joined us under an escort of infantry, and enlivened the boys’ hearts with about four months pay.” Ryan goes on to state that, “if (the paymaster) had paid at the fort some of the troopers would undoubtedly have deserted.”

Was the Lost Custer Treasure really worth $25,000?

So, we know the men went into battle carrying a substantial amount of back pay. But how much money were they really carrying?

Ryan adds no further details about the evening. But according to Private Peter Thompson, “the blood sucking sutler (arrived) with his vile whiskey, rotten tobacco, and high priced notions. It was plain to be seen that he would reap a rich harvest on this expedition.” So, we know the sutler (who went by the name of John Smith) took at least some of the pay given to Custer’s men, including the payment of old debts, when he left the next morning.

So, how much was left? As far as I’m aware, the sole account on this score belongs to Sergeant Daniel Kanipe, who was also with Major Reno during the battle. On April 27, 1924, Kanipe wrote a first-person narrative entitled, “The Story of Sergeant Kanipe, One of Custer’s Messengers” for the Greensboro, NC-based Daily Record. In it, he states what he saw after the battle had concluded: “In all this pile of men, not a one had a stitch of clothes on. The Indians had taken it all. They must have gotten about $25,000 in money off of them, too, for we had just been paid at Powder river camp before we left on the campaign and there had been nothing to spend a cent for.”

So, that’s the origin of the “$25,000″ figure that is bandied about amongst treasure hunters. Admittedly, it’s highly undependable since it’s based on one soldiers’ estimate of how much money his fellow troops collectively carried into battle fifty years after the fact. How does that $25,000 hold up under a little bit of scrutiny?

We know 268 U.S. troops (including scouts) were killed at the battle. In order to match Ryan’s $25,000 figure, each deceased soldier would’ve had to be carrying about $92 apiece, which breaks down to an average monthly pay of about $23 (this assumes none of the deceased had spent money with the sutler). It also excludes the value of any personal objects or additional monies carried by the troops into battle.

According to Private Charles Windolph’s book, I Fought with Custer, he was paid $13 per month in those days. Of course, that reference is from 1947, a full 71 years after the fact. But it matches up with what privates were paid at the beginning of the Civil War so it’s probably pretty accurate. Officers, of course, made much more money than privates. For example, a Lieutenant Colonel (General Custer’s official title) would’ve pulled in $181/month at the beginning of the Civil War. So, at first glance, an average monthly pay of $23 per deceased soldier seems reasonable to me. And if that’s the case, the treasure could very well have been worth $25,000 in total.

Was the Lost Custer Treasure just Currency? Or did it include Gold & Silver Coins?

So, we’ve established the lost Custer treasure existed. And we’ve also established that it’s value in 1876 dollars could’ve been around $25,000. But what form of currency did it take? Was it paper currency? Or were there gold and/or silver coins as well?

Ms. Kathryn Wright is the reporter who first investigated the story of the lost Custer treasure. She sought out an answer to the currency question in her original article, Indian Trader’s Cache, which was published in the Winter 1957 issue of Montana: The Magazine of Western History. Here’s what she had to say on the subject: “Not all of it was in currency. Army regulations covering 1876, which were checked for me by Raymond P. Flynn, archivist at Washington, D.C. at the request of Chief of Air Staff General Nathan F. Twining, show that the troopers were paid in gold, silver, and U.S. treasury or bank notes.”

David Meyer’s Analysis

Well, that’s all for now. I hope this clears up some of the many questions regarding this interesting treasure-based side note to one of history’s most infamous battles. Unfortunately, as is often the case when dealing with treasure stories, the details are murky and open to many questions. This is especially true since various primary sources crafted their reports decades after the Battle of the Little Bighorn had ended. Regardless, it seems likely the Seventh Cavalry carried a fairly substantial amount of pay into battle on June 25, 1876. Although the exact amount is in question, it very well may have matched Ryan’s estimate of $25,000. And that pay was probably in numerous forms, including gold, silver, and currency.

The bigger question is what happened to the hoard after the battle. And that brings us to the mysterious envelope which W.P. Moncure had once stored inside the Two Moon vault (pictured above). In her article, Wright reported seeing a couple of sentences typed on the envelope about its contents, including this one: “Hiding place and location of money and trinkets taken from dead soldiers on Custer battlefield.” Assuming the envelope still exists, it may be the only known reference to the final whereabouts of the lost Custer treasure.