The Old Shell Game Multi-Cache

The posted coordinates take one to a convenient parking area in a beautiful State Park. Plan to stay in the park for an extended period and enjoy the walking paths, excellent views and educational aspects offered by the park postings.

This cache has been placed with permission of the Park Manager.

The shell game (also known as Thimblerig,. Three shells and a pea,  the old army game) is portrayed as a gambling game, but in reality, when a wager for money is made, it is a confidence trick  used to perpetrate fraud.  In confidence trick slang, this swindle is referred to as a short-con because it is quick and easy to pull off.

The shell game dates back at least to Ancient Greece.  It can be seen in several paintings of the European Middle Ages.  A book published in England in 1670 (Hull Elections - Richard Perry  and his fiddler wife) mentions the thimblerig game. In the 1790s, it was called "thimblerig" as it was originally played using sewing thimbles. Later, walnut shells were used, and today the use of bottle caps is very common.

The game requires three shells (in this case four stones), and a small, soft round ball, about the size of a pea, (in this case a log sheet within the cache) and often referred to as such. It can be played on almost any flat surface, but on the streets it is often seen played on a mat lying on the ground, or on a cardboard box. The person perpetrating the swindle (called the thimblerigger, operator, or shell man) begins the game by placing the pea under one of the shells, then quickly shuffles the shells around.

Once done shuffling, the operator takes bets from the audience on the location of the pea. The audience is told that if a player bets and guesses correctly, the player will win back double their bet (that is, they will double their money); otherwise the player loses their money. However, in the hands of a skilled operator, it is not possible for the game to be won, unless the operator wants the player to win.

To find the cache, stand at the posted coordinates and establish a Waypoint. Project this Waypoint on a bearing of 317 degrees for a distance of 215 feet. You will find the cache at the projected position. In this case, once you see the four stones, it is suggested that you not approach any closer. From a distance, decide which one contains the log, and also pick your second, third and final choice. Finally, it would be appreciated if your log entry indicates how many stones you had to inspect before you found the one containing the log.

(Unfortunately someone stole the container and the matching stones. Until I find a matching group, I have placed a single container at eye level in the immediate area.)

Good Luck.