Give the mayor the finger Traditional Cache
isht kinta: Since the cache owner has not responded to my reviewer log requesting the geocache be maintained, the geocache has been archived.
isht kinta
Geocaching Volunteer Reviewer
Give the mayor the finger
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Difficulty:
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Terrain:
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Size: 
(micro)
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Not on or around her statue.
In April 1863, Confederate Brig. General Nathan Bedford Forrest was ordered into northern Alabama to pursue Union Colonel Abel Streight, who had orders to cut off the Confederate railroad near Chattanooga, TN. On May 2, 1863, Streight arrived just outside of Gadsden and prepared to cross Black Creek. Because the creek was swollen due to rain, Streight realized that if he destroyed the bridge he could get a few hours respite from the pursuit of Forrest. Seeing the nearby Sansom farmhouse, he rode upon it and demanded some smoldering coal, which he could use to burn the bridge.
When Forrest's men arrived at the site, they found the burned out bridge and came under fire from Streight's men. Forrest rode to the Sansom house and asked whether there was another bridge across the creek. Emma Sansom, then 15 years old, told him that the nearest bridge was in Gadsden, 2 miles away. Forrest then asked if there was a place where he could get across the creek. Emma told him that if one of his men would help saddle her horse, she would show him a place that she had seen cows cross the creek, and that he might be able to cross there.
He replied that there was no time to saddle a horse and asked her to get on his horse behind him. As they started to leave, Emma's mother objected, but relented when Forrest assured her that he would bring the girl back safely. Emma then directed Forrest to the spot where he could cross the creek.
In 1907, a monument was constructed in Gadsden at the western end of the Broad Street bridge across the Coosa River in honor of her heroism.
One would have thought all of her bad days were over, but alas, Emma’s fateful finger has been snapped off five times over the years. This cannot be easy, since the finger is 20 feet off of the ground and the statue stands in the middle of one of the busiest streets in town.
When it went missing the last time in mid-2007, the Mayor issued an impassioned plea to the culprits- “Just give me the finger. No questions asked.” Who could resist?
The theft gave the mayor the finger and it lay on his desk for several weeks until it could be returned to its position of honor. The City has now replaced Emma’s finger, and trained a video camera on the statue to snare any future vandals. Note the sign that states any further finger abuses are felonies.
Not wanting any geocacher to wind up on video as a threat to the City’s most famous finger, the cache is a short distance away. Please watch for traffic.
Parking is available at several nearby parking lots, including the one at City Hall.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
[Hint is a spoiler!]
05O Vg jvyy znxr frafr jura lbh trg gurer.
Ovfba ghor va zntabyvn gerr. 05O neebj cbvagf gbjneqf gur pnpur.
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