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Texas Jack Traditional Cache

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Manville Possum: Archived.

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Hidden : 12/12/2009
Difficulty:
1.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Mendota, Virginia. Just off of the paved road that circles around Mendota Cemetery in the tree line outside of the Cemetery. My friend that geocaches with me is a descendant of Jack, we find him to be an interesting fellow. Do NOT attempt this cache at night, Virginia has a State Law against being in a cemetary after dark (only applys to the living) and "Shoot-Your-@$$-Off-Jack" lives near by.

The cache is a small camo container with a log book and room for geocoins and path tags.

John Wilson Vermillion 1842-1911

Also known as "Texas Jack" and "Shoot-Your-Eye-Out-Jack" Vermillion. He was a gunfighter of the Old West and was known for his participation in the Earp vendetta ride and his later assocation with the Jefferson Randolph "Soapy" Smith gang in Denver, Colorado. Jack was born in 1842 in Russell County, Vriginia. He was a Civil War veteran, having fought for the Confederate Army under the command of General J.E.B. Stuart. After the War, Jack accepted the position of Territorial Marshal for the eastern section of Missouri. Jack eventually wound up in Dodge City, Kansas and then in Tombstone, Arizona and was known by the Earps and Doc Holliday. He was listed by Virgil Earp as special policeman on June 22, 1881. This is the day of the large Tombstone fire in which Virgil Earp was acting as the city Marshal, and hired extra men to help cope with looting during and after the disaster.
The nickname "Texas Jack" first appeared on a wanted poster for him because he killed a man in an argument over a card game in Dodge City, Kansas. Jack was known as a crack-shot with a gun, but it is thought that the nickname "Shoot-Your-Eye-Out-Jack" was because he shot the man in the eye during the argument over the card game.
Jack eventually returned permanently to Virginia, settling at Big Stone Gap and working as a Methodist preacher. Around 1890 Jack was involved in a gunfight and killed another man in an apparent "fair fight" but shortly after the killing moved his family 60 miles to the east to Mendota, Virginia in Washington County. The graves of John W. Vermillion and his wife are in the Mendota Cemetery.
Coordinates to grave marker: (visit link)

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Ng gur onfr bs n sbexrq ybpnfg gerr, whfg bss bs gur nfcunyg.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)