In 1794, Daniel McGinnis found the money pit. A mysterious man was imprisoned behind a velvet mask. These historic mysteries are still unsolved. Scholars have several theories that attempt to explain them. Examine interesting websites about these historic mysteries.
Oak Island
In 1794, a young man named Daniel McGinnis came across a circular depression in the earth. A tree above this depression had signs of being used to lower something into it. This depression was a manmade hole. This began the 200-year mystery of Oak Island and the Money Pit, which McGinnis found.
Oak Island Mystery
This website explains the story of this mystery. Here, you will find a history of the Island and everything known about the money pit and the treasure it might hold, including theories about who dug the pit and why they took such extraordinary precautions in guarding it.
Oak Island Treasure
This website was created in 2001 by Jo Atherton. She states that the website is "dedicated to those who have lost their lives in the search for the elusive treasure of the Money Pit and aims to provide a comprehensive resource to those captivated by the Oak Island mystery." This website has an excellent research archives section.
The Man in The Iron Mask
In 1703, a mysterious, unknown prisoner of King Louis XIV died in the Bastille. He, like all prisoners who ended their lives in the Bastille was buried under a false name. The name given to this mysterious prisoner was Eustache Dauger, a valet. He had been imprisoned for 34 years.
What was his crime? Why was he not allowed to speak, save to express his everyday needs? Why had the king taken such extraordinary precautions to prevent recognition of this man?
Scholars have been trying to answer these questions for years. This mysterious man is the subject of a 19th-century novel by Alexandre Dumas.
We do know that this man was well cared for while in prison. Whatever his crime, it was too dangerous for the King to execute him. We also know that he was arrested at Dunkirk in 1669. He was first sent to the Pignerol Prison near Turin, a part of France then.
We also know the name of his keeper, M. Saint-Mars. Whenever Mars was assigned to another prison, his mysterious prisoner went with him. The Mask was a precaution, not a punishment. The man's mask was velvet, not iron. He only wore it when he was transferred to the Bastille in 1698.
Who was this mysterious man? Scholars know that he may have resembled a very important individual, thus the extraordinary precautions taken to maintain his secret identity. The Man in the Iron Mask is one of history's most baffling mysteries.