A tombstone that stood alone on the side of a hill just North of the tracks and Just West of the long since abandoned railroad camp of Shumla, Texas. The area can be seen on google maps under Shumla Bend. This area today is some of the most remote area anywhere in the United States. The language is believed to be Danish. Not speaking the language this is what I interpret it to say: "Her. Under. Hviler. Det. Kiere. Barn. B.K. Kristiansen. F.D. 18. 1. 1882. D.D. 7.1. SAMME. AAR." Here below lies the dear Child B. K. Kristiansen. F.D. 18. 1. 1882. D.D. 7.1. SAMME. AAR. Not able to find the meaning of the abbreviations the safest translation of the dates is that they are possibly saying born and died January 1882 of the same year. The quality craftmanship of the tombstone suggests it was possibly created elsewhere and shipped/brought back at a later date at some cost.
For additional information on the existence of the tombstone and how it came to be there read the story in the following link.
http://www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTexasTales/Shumla-Texas.htm
The tombstone was removed from its original location by ignorant railroad workers. They did not realize they were on a long abandoned railroad camp that had long since dissapeard nor did they realize the impact of their actions by removing the marker. I dont believe they could see beyond the fact in their minds that this mystery was a marker for buried treasure. After all, they reasoned, what other explanation could there be, there is nothing here but cactus and we are miles from any civiization and not near any old trails or roadways. After the worker passed away that possessed the tombstone I took possession of it from his estate and donated it to the Whitehead Memorial Museum in Del Rio, Texas.
For additional information on the existence of the tombstone and how it came to be there read the story in the following link.
http://www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTexasTales/Shumla-Texas.htm
The tombstone was removed from its original location by ignorant railroad workers. They did not realize they were on a long abandoned railroad camp that had long since dissapeard nor did they realize the impact of their actions by removing the marker. I dont believe they could see beyond the fact in their minds that this mystery was a marker for buried treasure. After all, they reasoned, what other explanation could there be, there is nothing here but cactus and we are miles from any civiization and not near any old trails or roadways. After the worker passed away that possessed the tombstone I took possession of it from his estate and donated it to the Whitehead Memorial Museum in Del Rio, Texas.
A tombstone that stood alone on the side of a hill just North of the tracks and Just West of the long since abandoned railroad camp of Shumla, Texas. The area can be seen on google maps under Shumla Bend. This area today is some of the most remote area anywhere in the United States. The language is believed to be Danish. Not speaking the language this is what I interpret it to say: "Her. Under. Hviler. Det. Kiere. Barn. B.K. Kristiansen. F.D. 18. 1. 1882. D.D. 7.1. SAMME. AAR." Here below lies the dear Child B. K. Kristiansen. F.D. 18. 1. 1882. D.D. 7.1. SAMME. AAR. Not able to find the meaning of the abbreviations the safest translation of the dates is that they are possibly saying born and died January 1882 of the same year. The quality craftmanship of the tombstone suggests it was possibly created elsewhere and shipped/brought back at a later date at some cost.
For additional information on the existence of the tombstone and how it came to be there read the story in the following link.
http://www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTexasTales/Shumla-Texas.htm
The tombstone was removed from its original location by ignorant railroad workers. They did not realize they were on a long abandoned railroad camp that had long since dissapeard nor did they realize the impact of their actions by removing the marker. I dont believe they could see beyond the fact in their minds that this mystery was a marker for buried treasure. After all, they reasoned, what other explanation could there be, there is nothing here but cactus and we are miles from any civiization and not near any old trails or roadways. After the worker passed away that possessed the tombstone I took possession of it from his estate and donated it to the Whitehead Memorial Museum in Del Rio, Texas.
For additional information on the existence of the tombstone and how it came to be there read the story in the following link.
http://www.texasescapes.com/MikeCoxTexasTales/Shumla-Texas.htm
The tombstone was removed from its original location by ignorant railroad workers. They did not realize they were on a long abandoned railroad camp that had long since dissapeard nor did they realize the impact of their actions by removing the marker. I dont believe they could see beyond the fact in their minds that this mystery was a marker for buried treasure. After all, they reasoned, what other explanation could there be, there is nothing here but cactus and we are miles from any civiization and not near any old trails or roadways. After the worker passed away that possessed the tombstone I took possession of it from his estate and donated it to the Whitehead Memorial Museum in Del Rio, Texas.
