Legends of West Central Ohio: Maiden in the Murk Traditional Cache
Legends of West Central Ohio: Maiden in the Murk
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A continuation of the Legends of West Central Ohio theme, placed near another place of local infamy. The majority of the journey is along relatively flat terrain, with a steep decline at GZ.
Have you ever been torn between two desires? Two wants or needs? Two loves?
Minnie Warren was. Courted by two suitors-- Bill Jones and Jack Billings-- she had to make a choice. Unfortunately for Bill, she chose Jack. The pain of unrequited love was more tham Bill could bear. He felt rejected. He felt humiliated. He felt angry.
Angry enough to kill.
One fateful evening, on their way back from a party, Minnie and Jack were surprised by Bill on a bridge spanning the Miami and Erie Canal. Armed with an axe and seeking vengeance, Bill severed Jack's head with one mighty swing. Stunned by the horror of what she had witnessed, Minnie fell into the water below, where she tragically drowned.
Bad news travels quickly, and almost immediately after this horrific event, people began reporting strange sightings in and along this landmark-- which came to be known as Bloody Bridge. Some reported seeing a headless male apparition on the bridge, undoubtedly Jack searching futiley for his severed head. Others reported that if you peered into the murky waters, Minnie's face would surface from the depths, staring back at you.
As for Bill...he disappeared. That is, until skeletal remains-- presumably Bill's remains-- were found at the bottom of a well some time later. Did a heart-broken Bill, full of remorse for accidentally causing the demise of the woman he loved, choose to take his own life? Or was this a matter of vigilante justice? Let's just say the dead tell no tales, and the Legends of West Central Ohio keep their secrets...
I've provided a parking waypoint below. Here you will find a monument summarizing the tale I've just shared with you, so take a moment to reflect upon the lives that were lost here so long ago. Follow the towpath south to your goal, and as your gaze comes upon the rusted hulk spanning the waters, take comfort knowing that Bill won't be waiting to surprise you there...at least I don't expect him to be. If your gaze falls upon the waters, and Minnie's face happens to be looking back, take pity on her...she's merely looking for her love. And if you should happen to see a headless apparition, you needn't be afraid. It's only Jack, and his quarrel is not with you. However, I don't recommend lingering any further...
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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Treasures
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