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My family Tree Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

saunders2010: It would appear that the cache has indeed sprouted legs of some sort and moved on. There was some evidence in and around the cache location. While it wasn't one of the best placements I had, it should have been protected from prying eyes. Keep an eye out in the area. Something might sprout up soon.

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Hidden : 2/22/2012
Difficulty:
3.5 out of 5
Terrain:
2 out of 5

Size: Size:   regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

My family Tree Cache

This cache is not at the posted coordinates.

This cache was placed as part of the 2012 Nova Scotia Winter Challenge.

It encourages everyone to get out and stay active.

It’s amazing what things you can discover if you dig just a little bit into your family history. Just a few short years ago I thought I was the only person in my family that had entered into the service of our country.

Boy was I wrong. I found out I had relatives that had fought in the War of 1812. Others had stood guard over the Welland canal in World War 1. My great grandfather was an MP in Sydney harbour in World War 2.

The most shocking discovery was of a nephew of my great grandfathers. His name was Thomas Etholen Selfridge. Who was this man you might ask? Well he was actually an American. He was born in San Francisco. He also served in the U.S Army as a First Lieutenant.

Gomez
He graduated from West Point in 1903. The number one ranked graduate that year was Douglas MacArthur. In 1907, he was one of the first three pilots trained on Army Dirigible Number One. At the same time he was appointed the U.S Representative to the Aerial Experiment Association, chaired by Alexander Graham Bell.

Lt. Selfridge made his first flight with the AEA in 1907 on Bras d’Or Lake aboard the Cygnet. From there he designed the AEA Red Wing, which became the first powered aircraft for the AEA.

Later on in 1908 he became the first American to fly a powered aircraft when he took control of the White Wing, another aircraft designed by the AEA.

Lt. Selfridge became the first American to fly solo in an aircraft, despite the fact that he was not even licensed as a pilot.

The biggest claim to fame for Lt. Selfridge was nothing to do with anything that he accomplished while alive. For sure he obtained many first’s for aviation, but his final first would come on September 17, 1908.

On that fateful day he was flying alongside Orville Wright in the Wright flyer. The Wright brothers were demonstrating their aircraft for the US Army Signal Corps division. As a passenger, they were on their fifth circuit around Fort Meyer when the propeller tore of a portion of the tail. The aircraft nosed into the ground from a height of 150 feet. Lt. Selfridge was thrown against a wooden brace and fractured his skull. Later on that night he would succumb to his injuries and thus cement his final first as the first person killed in aviation.

At only 26 years old, he had claimed many first’s. Much like we may do now-a-days, when we all try for those elusive FTF’s. I cannot say how proud I was to learn of this amazing man connected to my family.

For this I have hidden a regular sized ammo can filled with the normal goodies for the kids, as well as some military memorabilia that I have collected throughout my career.

North coords at 57.611

This story was just the highlights of his short but illustrious career. You can find out more at the related web site, or in your travels around Nova Scotia, stop into the Alexander Graham Bell museum to learn more of the pioneering work these brave men performed.

Assume North 44 and West 064 for this puzzle.

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

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Abar lrg.

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)