Exerpts From Wikipedia about Treasure Island:
Stevenson was 30 years old when he started to
write Treasure Island, and it would be his first success as a
novelist. The first fifteen chapters were written at Braemar in the
Scottish Highlands in 1881. It was a cold and rainy late-summer and
Stevenson was with five family members on holiday in a cottage.
Young Lloyd Osbourne, Stevenson's stepson, passed the rainy days
painting with watercolours. Remembering the time, Lloyd wrote: “
... busy with a box of paints I happened to be tinting a map of an
island I had drawn. Stevenson came in as I was finishing it, and
with his affectionate interest in everything I was doing, leaned
over my shoulder, and was soon elaborating the map and naming it. I
shall never forget the thrill of Skeleton Island, Spyglass Hill,
nor the heart-stirring climax of the three red crosses! And the
greater climax still when he wrote down the words "Treasure Island"
at the top right-hand corner! And he seemed to know so much about
it too —— the pirates, the buried treasure, the man who had been
marooned on the island ... . "Oh, for a story about it", I
exclaimed, in a heaven of enchantment ... .
"The effect of Treasure Island on our
perception of pirates cannot be overestimated. Stevenson linked
pirates forever with maps, black schooners, tropical islands, and
one-legged seamen with parrots on their shoulders. The treasure map
with an X marking the location of the buried treasure is one of the
most familiar pirate props", yet it is entirely a fictional
invention which owes its origin to Stevenson's original map. The
term "Treasure Island" has passed into the language as a common
phrase, and is often used as a title for games, rides, places,
caches, etc.
Stevenson had never encountered any real
pirates in his life. However his descriptions of sailing and seamen
and sea life are very convincing. His father and grandfather were
both lighthouse engineers and frequently voyaged around Scotland
inspecting lighthouses, taking the young Robert along. Two years
before writing Treasure Island he had crossed the Atlantic Ocean.
So authentic were his descriptions that in 1890 William Butler
Yeats told Stevenson that Treasure Island was the only book from
which his seafaring grandfather had ever taken any pleasure
Stevenson was paid 34 pounds seven shillings
and sixpence for the serialization and 100 pounds for the book.
MOGA MMVIII (2008)
Welcome to Mark Twain Lake -
John F. Spalding Recreation Area.
John F. Spalding Recreation area is located
on the North side of Mark Twain Lake. This area has many different
attractions and a quiet, remote location. There are many
opportunities for hunting, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, or
bird watching.
(Source for information
can be found on the Clarence Cannon Dam
website.)
Out here, we have placed a number of caches
for your hunting pleasure. The area is accessible year round with
the exception of a special Handicap Hunt. During off season, you
must check in at the district office and let them know you are
hunting caches. Some areas of the recreation area can be gated so
you would have to park and walk in. Letting the office know will
prevent a meeting with a ranger and having to explain why you were
back there in the first place. During regular season, usually from
April - October, the area is wide open. Check the website for more
information. US Army Corps of
Engineers - Mark Twain Lake.
These caches were placed by Eagle Scouts Kyle
Jones and Kevin Linn, both from Troop 760, Boone Trails District,
Greater St. Louis Area Council. Please remember to trade up when
trading items. Check out the local businesses while in the area and
make sure you check out the South side of this beautiful
lake.
This cache is placed in the John
F. Spalding Recreation Area which is managed by the U.S. Army Corps
of Engineers, St. Louis District, Mark Twain Lake. A special thanks
to Allen Mehrer, USACOE Forester, who provided the Ammo Cans and
recommended where to hide them.
