I have read the article many times in an effort to sort out anything that may be factual, from a somewhat "Sour Grapes" attitude by the McGee's. Obviously they had a genuine interest in the maps, and devoted a lot of time to researching the history behind them. It appears that the more they searched, the more conflicting the evidence became until they finally found it easier to concluded, that they were fakes than it was to figure them out!
The most interesting thing about this article to me, is the amount of material that has been extracted from it, and repeated in various books, magazines and articles, since it was published 36 years ago. Many theories, and conclusions appear to have been formed based on the information contained in it.
I have always wondered where the connection between Travis Tumlinson and the “Peg-Leg” from Dobie’s CORONADO’S CHILDREN” came from, and now I know. In the last 36 years it appears that other authors, have built their own stories around this connection, and embellished it to the point that it is almost believable.
Stone Map aficionado’s that have never read this article before, will find it interesting, and enlightening, about the origin of many of the variations in the history of who, how, where and when the maps were found.
It is hard to take the article seriously, when the authors cleverly weave their opinions into what might actually be fact, and describe the Priest Map with a phrase like:
“ From the priest’s hand a church-cross is held extended like a fishing pole. Dangling beneath is a back-lashed line of charm bracelet rejects-crescents, crosses, day-old doughnuts, a few numerals, and a small heart.”
That one quotation gives a lot of insight, to the mindset of the authors, when the article was written.
I am sure that everyone that reads this article will find things in it, that they agree with, and disagree with, no matter what their own personal beliefs are, because it was written without purpose, focus, direction or continuity. It repeats every tale from every source, with little or no concern for historical accuracy, or credibility for their sources. Many assumptions are made, and then expanded to a point of absurdity, that makes it difficult to continue reading.
I believe that this one article, is the primary source for the majority of the misinformation, and conflicting stories, that have been in circulation, about the stone maps, for nearly 40 years. Judge for yourself:
