Nevertheless, they continued toiling in the pit, removing one barrier after another in hopes to claim their mysterious reward. Tunneling down to approximately 20 feet, the boys encounter another level of wood timbers. McGinnis and his friends carried on undeterred. After taking out the barrier, the boys found a two-foot pocket of air followed by soil that had settled below (Lamb, 2006). Just as before, the enthusiastic excavators were again disappointed. The team eagerly continued their efforts, removing the timbers to claim their treasure. This deliberate barrier and the hollow sound beneath the timbers must have confirmed to the boys that vast wealth was close at hand. The ends of the timbers had been driven into the sides of the tunnel wall to firmly anchor the structure. The timbers spanned the width of the hole, forming a wooden platform. Had these marks been left by pirate laborers before securing their treasure underground? The adolescent explorers were determined to find out.Īt a depth of ten feet, the boys discovered a layer composed of rotting wood timbers. Imprinted in the clay of the tunnel wall were the impressions of pickaxes. They also noticed the work of their predecessors. In doing so, the boys found that the pit had narrowed to seven feet in diameter. Any treasure worth finding would certainly require more than two feet of digging.Īs the teenagers continued burrowing down, they followed the walls of the previous hole. Undeterred, they continued their excavation. Unfortunately for them, the boys only discovered more dirt. Excitedly, the boys pulled the rock floor away from the pit to retrieve the golden bounty that must be hidden below. Two feet beneath the topsoil, McGinnis and his friends uncovered a layer of flagstone extending across the surface of the opening (Crooker, 1993). It wasn't long before the young excavators came across buried evidence to further convince their imaginations. From academics to adventurers, many have grappled with trying to explain the mystery, but none have been able to get to the bottom of the Money Pit of Oak Island.Īlong with many residents in the eastern province, the three boys digging on Oak Island must have been aware of the fabled pirates and had notions of gold doubloons in mind. The potency of the story that follows has captured the human imagination and has driven men to their graves. Despite the natural scenery and serene setting of Oak Island, the story of this island's past is replete with mystery, intrigue and even tragedy. At first glance, the seemingly mundane island conceals any evidence of historical importance. Rocks and sand skirt the perimeter of the landmass while native forest and brush cover much of its interior. To the casual observer, the 140-acre island appears like many in this part of the province. Located off the shores of Nova Scotia, along Canada's Atlantic coast, Oak Island is among approximately 360 islands dotting Mahone Bay. However, one particular site in Canada holds a history that brings together all of these elements and more. If someone were to claim they knew a story that involved the Holy Grail, a band of pirates, William Shakespeare, Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Edgar Allan Poe, you might think the tale was a riddle or a fanciful movie script.
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