Sherlock Holmes in San Diego: The Case of
the Dancing Men
Geonote: It is a little
known fact that the “Great Consulting Detective”
frequented San Diego from time to time between the years 1874 and
1916 while en route to San Francisco . He was also reputed to have worked
on a few cases during his stay. Recently, a small green metal box
was found hidden in the wall of a downtown building that was
undergoing renovations. Documents involving some of those
cases were found within the box. The care of these documents has
been left with Lt. P.Q. Geo-Trekkers of the Groundspeak Police
Station. Will you be
able to match wits with Sherlock Holmes on these cases? The game is afoot!
The year is 1898. Eight very rare matching black
pearl necklaces were stolen nearly fifty years before while en
route via stagecoach from Stockton to Sacramento and a man by the
name of Yankee Jim was suspect in the crime. Now a body has been found in a run
down part of San Diego called Old Town . The only item found on the body is
a piece of parchment with drawings of dancing stickmen with the
name “Yankee Jim” written on it. Mr. Sherlock Holmes, the great
Consulting Detective, has been asked by the local sheriff’s
department to help solve the case.
Updated note to make this easier:
All you need for this cache are the attached
clue sheets and a good eye for finding clues. Your task is
decipher the Dancing Men clue sheet. All the clues are found
at the Way Points listed below. Just match the dancing
figures with the proper letters. Way Point 5 offers an offset
(something to know if you go the boring route and try to find the
answers on the internet - it is much more fun to figure out the
clues).
Additional information if you want to read
the story (not required to read, but it helps to understand the
adventure):
There are two versions of the story, long and
short (don't worry the text is large and there are some
illustrations). Both provide all the extra information you
might need and adds a little spice to the adventure. The
below link will take you to both. Along with better JPEGs of
the clue sheets. Or, all versions of the story and clue
sheets are listed as JPEG pictures on this page at the bottom.
http://www.freewebs.com/dwatry/dancingmen.htm
All the clues you need to solve this mystery
will be found at the waypoints listed and within the story
attached. Both sides of
the parchment are available to assist you in solving this
case. Clues to the
puzzle may be found near or in the following locations:
WP Clue 1: San Diego Union Museum
WP Clue 2: Well Fargo History Museum/Colorado
House
WP Clue 3: Steeley Stables Museum
WP Clue 4: Robinson Rose House/Visitors
Center
WP Clue 5: Old Town Theater (Use WP Clue 5
below)
Geonote: The Way Points will be found
within the Old Town San Diego State Historic Park . Admission to the buildings is free
(donations are accepted), but the hours are limited to the daytime
(10am to 5pm). Most of
the clues may be found within the buildings, and some may be found
outside. You are not
necessarily looking for a container. It may be something
posted. Way Points 1-4 will
take you to the posted buildings. The clues will be
found inside. You will
have to do a bit of searching. All clues inside should be visible
or accessible to the general public. There is no need to pass any
barriers or enter unauthorized rooms. You will need a copy of the
parchment with the Dancing Men, and a copy of the clues with the
worksheet. These are
copies of what Sherlock Holmes used to help him decipher the
mystery. Way Point 5 is a hidden micro container (an updated
coordinate that should be safer for the container and shouldn't in
any way wash away like before).
Final note: Please cover final cache to keep
hidden. Beware of
Street Urchins (i.e. Muggles) at all times when looking for any
containers. This is a
very public area. Use
maximum stealth when required.
For more information on Old Town San Diego
Historic State Park , see www.parks.ca.gov for maps and other
goodies. Good
luck.