Payne's Pain Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

David: This was one of the first puzzle caches anywhere around, and I enjoyed it. When attending some of my first events, I would meet people and they would say, "Oh, you're Payne's Pain." [:)] Thanks to all who worked the puzzle.

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Hidden : 9/26/2003
Difficulty:
4.5 out of 5
Terrain:
1 out of 5

Size: Size: not chosen (not chosen)

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Geocache Description:

The coordinates listed are NOT the coordinates for the cache container. This is a puzzle cache.

The Treaty of New Echota was signed in December 29, 1835, which was an agreement between the United States government and the Cherokee Nation that the Cherokees leave their homelands east of the Mississippi. A majority of the Cherokees including Chief John Ross however, were opposed to the signing of this treaty and refused to leave. The treaty was enforced and President Andrew Jackson sent Federal troops to transport the Indians to new lands in the West. On May 10, 1838, General Winfield Scott issued orders for all Cherokees still remaining in what was formerly the Cherokee Nation to be rounded up and placed in stockades until they were carried westward. Troops were sent to various points throughout Alabama, Tennessee, and Georgia to build stockade forts and gather the Indians in preparation of their move.

Captain John G. Payne, commissioned on October 21, 1836 in the 3rd Division, 6th Brigade and 64th Alabama Regiment was appointed as an agent for removal of the Cherokee Indians. Captain John Payne came to Wills Town and oversaw construction of the Fort. It was a large one-room building of rough-hewn logs and was used for both an interment camp and a removal fort. It had a large fireplace where food was prepared in Dutch ovens. A hatch, located in front of the fireplace, led to a circular cellar. This cellar was built to hold Indians and had no windows or ventilation. A stockade was constructed next to the big ditch, where a larger number of Indians could be kept before being marched westward.

The site chosen was approximately two hundred yards northeast of Big Spring, a place near the present location of the Fort Payne Improvement Authority. The spring was a great provider of water for the Cherokee Indians, the Federal troops, and livestock. The stockade was built by Captain James H. Rogers, commanding 20 men and two officers and named in honor of Captain Payne.

In the late 1700s, the name of this locale was known as Willisi and then Wills Town; named after the Cherokee Chief Will Weber. In 1823, the American Board of Missions established a mission at Wills Town. The surrounding area was known as Will's County until January 9, 1836 when the name officially became DeKalb County. Fort Payne became an official name in 1869, then on May 5th, 1878, became the county seat of DeKalb County. Curran and Julia Mitchell purchased the old fort property in 1888 during the Great Iron Boom of the late 1880s. The City of Fort Payne was chartered by act of the legislature of Alabama on February 28, 1889, and the first municipal election for mayor and councilmen was held July 1, 1889. In 1946, the decrepit remains of the fort buildings were torn down and removed.

The coordinates listed are NOT the coordinates for the cache, but rather for the approximate location of the old fort and a historical marker describing the Cherokee Indian Removal. Located in the vicinity of N34 28.526 W085 40.883 is the site of the Wills Town Mission 1823-1839, also resting place of Superintendent Ard Hoyt, Missionary to the Cherokee Indians. Also, located at N34 26.617 W085 43.206 are historical markers describing Fort Payne's Fort and the Wills Town Mission. You do not have to visit these markers to solve the puzzle. Of course that takes away from the history, the fun, and the intent of the cache.

You must solve the puzzle below to determine partial coordinates, which combined with certain portions of the listed coordinates and a bit of intuition should lead you to the cache. Please take care to replace the cache exactly as you found it. You should also bring a writing instrument to sign the enclosed logbook. Feel free to email me with any problems. Good Luck!

If you'd like to confirm your coordinates before making a trip, click this link at geochecker.com.

5828067613945062770583094251764092918274730384072612387169
2042505279136815480938617470683194296260547142530294307859

After the cache had been placed 2 months with no finds, I added puzzle hint #1.
After the cache had been placed 6 months with no finds, I added puzzle hint #2.



Congratulations wildlife_magnet! FTF on April 10, 2004!

Shame on you if you make no effort to solve the puzzle, and log the cache anyway.

Why did I place this cache here? I wanted to draw attention to some of Fort Payne's history, and at the time of the hide, there were no puzzle caches in the area.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

[Puzzle Hint #1:] Gel uneqre! Lbh pna trg gb frpbaq onfr! [Puzzle Hint #2:] Frpbaq onfr? Uzzz. Onfr gjb? Vanelonl?

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)


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