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Moonlight Tower #31 - RIP and More Multi-cache

This cache has been archived.

GeoCrater: I am regretfully archiving this cache since there's been no word from the owner in the month or more since the last reviewer note was posted. If you want to re-activate the cache during the next couple of months, please contact GeoCrater to see if that's possible. If the cache meets current guidelines, consideration will be given based on the circumstances surrounding the original archival.

GeoCrater
Geocaching.com Volunteer Cache Reviewer

NOTE: My preferred method of communication is through notes on the cache page in question. However, should you wish to use email - please do not select "reply". In general, a replay to the geocaching.com mail bot will not reach me. Instead, please go to your cache page and e-mail GeoCrater from the log there or email me directly at geocrater@gmail.com, referencing the cache URL, or waypoint number.

Additional translation added as I support a number of countries:

Lamento archivar este caché, ya que no ha habido ninguna comunicación del propietario en el tiempo transcurrido (un mes o más) desde que se publicó la nota del revisor. Si deseas reactivar el caché durante los próximos dos meses, por favor, ponte en contacto con GeoCrater para ver si esto es posible. Si el caché cumple con las directrices en vigor, se estudiará dicha petición teniendo en cuenta las circunstancias que llevaron el archivo original.

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Hidden : 8/10/2011
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
1.5 out of 5

Size: Size:   micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Moonlight Tower #31 was one of the original locations of the 1895 lighting tower project.


Moonlight Towers of Austin Texas. Rest in Peace
And a new Twist


Tower Black

On May 6th in the year of 1895, the Mayor of Austin Texas announced that 31 lighting towers were turned on to provide illumination to the growing city.

These amazing tower rose to over 156 feet in a city were the tallest building rose only two stories. Each one threw a bright light over a Victorian age city, where the only light before were gas street lights.

From a declaration of a new era at the beginning of one century, two centuries later (yup, the towers now span three centuries) our Moonlight Towers (or Moon Towers) have received local, state and national historical designations through our own desire to preserve and protect those things that make Austin's personality.

Keep Austin Weird!

15 currently remain standing, with an additional two in storage awaiting construction to complete in their former locations.

(See the “Party at the Moon Towers” cache series by djdiggla and ogshowtime.)


Alas, this is not about these 15 remaining towers.

This cache series is to lead you around Austin to stand where the other 16 once stood, and in addition, those spots where towers were moved to as the city changed. As you do this cache, and if you are a native Austinite, transplant or visitor, you can see how the capital city has expanded over the last 115 years


Moonlight Tower #31 was one of the original locations of the 1895 lighting tower project. This tower sat on the spot that made it all happen. The City of Austin exchanged a narrow guage railroad (that was used to build the McDonald Dam) plus the rather large sum of $70,000 for the towers.

When you find the Clue, look to your right. You will see a a cell tower to the North West on the horizon. This tower, locked behind LCRA gates, stands almost exactly where the tower was. Then, look down to the northern water's edge and you will see a very large piece of granite blocks, still cemented together. These are the actual remains of the dam that was torn apart at 11:20am on April 7 1900, sending a wall of water into downtown Austin, leveling homes, and killing 47 persons.
She appears to have made it through the floods, but eventually became lost in history. She was the first tower to be taken down (by 1916).

NOW, on to the ACTUAL CACHE:

Read the historical marker at the coordinates

You can check your answers for this puzzle on Geochecker.com.

Lowest Year Listed: ABCD
Highest Year Listed: EFGH
Number of Years Listed: I
Number of letter in Rank: J
Result of H minus D: K
Result of J minus I: L
Result of G minus B: M
Number of Listed Years in 20th Century: N
North: DM AK.LCH
West: MFJ NI.EKA

This is will take you to somewhere rather different for Austin.
The site of the first murder of the Servant Girl Annihilator.

You will find some who reference these serial killings as one of the reasons the Moonlight Towers were purchased and installed. What I can tell you is that the spree started on Dec 30, 1884 when Mollie Smith was killed with an axe by an unknown person (someone that was bold enough to bludgeon her husband in bed before dragging her outside). The terror ended in 1885.
The process for the towers started over 5 years later. I leave that to you to ponder if there is any connection.

Tread lightly when looking for this cache, as there are muggles about, and who knows, maybe poor Mollie.

THIS IS A TWO PART CACHE
The coordinates listed will get you to the clues to find the final one. Oh, it is a special designed cache, so bring a pen!


Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Zbyyvr jnf n freinag tvey naq unq gb jnfu ybgf bs cyngrf. Fbzr jrer qhyy, fbzr jrer fuvarl. Jung rire unccraf, fgnl bhg bs gur qnex, nf V nz abg fher ubj unccl fur vf.

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)