John Dillinger Strikes Again
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This is a virtual, multi-cache that requires you to solve the answers to several questions. This is a good one to do while shopping.
“During the 1930’s Depression, many Americans, nearly helpless against forces they didn't understand, made heroes of outlaws who took what they wanted at gunpoint. Of all the lurid desperadoes, one man, John Herbert Dillinger, came to evoke this Gangster Era, and stirred mass emotion to a degree rarely seen in this country.
Dillinger, whose name once dominated the headlines, was a brutal thief and a cold-blooded murderer. From September, 1933, until July, 1934, he and his violent gang terrorized the Midwest, killing 10 men, wounding 7 others, robbing banks and police arsenals, and staging 3 jail breaks -- killing a sheriff during one and wounding 2 guards in another.” (FBI Web Site) John Dillinger became the first criminal on the FBI’s most wanted list.
While this is a virtual, multi-cache, it is also somewhat of a role-playing cache. You are to imagine yourself a citizen of Nashville, Indiana in the year 1934. Nashville is a small community in south central Indiana. Known today as primarily an artist’s colony with many quaint stores selling arts and crafts of all varieties, it also used to be the site of the John Dillinger museum. Dillinger was raised near Nashville in the town of Mooresville. By solving the clues you might be able to aid in the capture of one of America’s most notorious criminals. Only by answering all the bonus questions correctly along your way will you be able to find the key piece of information that could help bring a criminal to justice. One wrong answer and John Dillinger will continue his crime spree. Good luck.
It is 1934 and you are a lifetime resident of Nashville. Today, like any other day, you are taking your daily walk. Your walk begins at the coordinates above. At this location, you overhear the town marshal, Frank Martin, telling his deputy that none other than the John Dillinger gang has just robbed the local bank. Bonus Question #1: Look East. In what year was the log jail originally built? (Answer=183A) Bonus Question #2: When was the jail rebuilt? (Answer=187B) Now go to N 39 12.432 and W 086 14.AA1.
You should now be standing outside the local bank. Betty Hardin, bank teller, tells you that when the gang left the bank, they headed west. Bonus Question #3: How many globe lights are on the outside of the bank? (Answer=C) Go to N 39 12.41C and W 086 14.80B.
You are now standing outside of one of Nashville’s more popular spots. Standing near the south-west corner of the outside area is one of Nashville’s most famous citizens. You ask him his name and while talking to him you learn that he is a photographer, artist, and journalist who moved to Nashville several years ago.
When you tell him about the bank robbery, he tells you that he saw some suspicious looking men heading south down Van Buren. Bonus Question #4: How many total letters are there in the gentleman’s first and last names? (Answer=NE) Now go to N 39 12.3A4 and W 086 14.8NN.
Again, look east. You are now standing in front of the house of the local weaver. Miss Bissell comes out and tells you that she saw some shifty looking characters turn and head west. Bonus Question #5: In what year was this building built? (Answer=1FS0’s) Now go to N 39 12.3EA and W 086 14.F55.
You now find yourself outside the Ferguson house. Mr. Ferguson is out working in his yard. He tells you that some “out of towners” came in early this morning and parked their car there and went off on foot, apparently to visit some local shops. Later they came back and drove away. You figure that Dillinger and his gang must have decided to “scope” the area on foot so as not to draw much attention. Mr. Ferguson tells you that when they came back they were carrying several bags. He figures that they must have been done shopping. He did overhear one of them suggest that they stop at the local drug store for a soda before leaving town. Bonus Question #6: In what year was this house built? (Answer: 187L.) Finally, go to N 39 12.SNL and W 086 14.FNL.
You are now standing just around the corner from the local drug store. Bonus Question #7: The original owner of this building was Mr. Taggart. How many letters are in his first name? (Answer=I.) At that moment the entire Dillinger gang come out of the drug store carrying their sodas. A big black car pulls up and they all get in, turn the corner and head north out of town. The Dillinger gang is escaping with all the money from the bank! However your sharp eyes spot the license plate number of their car. Final Bonus Question #8: What is the plate number on Dillinger’s car? (Answer=LICENSE)
Email me the correct license plate number and you will have supplied the information necessary to help authorities bring Dillinger to justice. You will also get a special letter of thanks from the FBI. (Not to mention the fact that you will be able to log this cache as a “find.”) Get the license plate number wrong and Dillinger will continue his crime spree. The safety of your fellow citizens is on your shoulders. Good luck.
By the way, except for the names of Frank Martin and Betty Hardin, all the other names are names of actual residents from Nashville’s early days.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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