New scavenger hunt links the notorious Buzzard Gang to lost Jonestown treasure

Abe, Ike, Joe and Jacob Buzzard were a notorious gang of horse-, chicken- and jewel-thieves who roamed the Welsh Mountain region near New Holland in Lancaster County in the late 1800s and early 1900s. According to newspaper archives, their life of crime sometimes carried them across county lines – and, according to one questionable rumor, one heist involved a strongbox traveling from a bank in Philadelphia to the former Jonestown Bank in Lebanon County.

Now, Jonestown Bank & Trust Co. – the modern successor to Jonestown Bank – is sponsoring a scavenger hunt for the long-lost loot.

“This is the second year JBT has sponsored the treasure hunt,” Pete Hudson, the bank’s marketing manager, told LebTown. “When we learned about the treasure hunt and the opportunity to be the lead sponsor it felt like a good fit.”

Uncharted Lancaster, which promises “discovering history through adventure” to its participants, has announced the launch of Buzzard’s Booty, a $5,000 treasure hunt.

“Outwit the Buzzard Gang,” Uncharted Lancaster urges on its website. “Claim the Prize.”

“The Uncharted Lancaster Treasure Hunt is back with Buzzard’s Booty: Quest for the Lost JBT Treasure!” the website proclaims. “As the fifth and final annual hunt, this year’s adventure promises to be the most thrilling yet with new game mechanics and puzzle types. This time we’re diving into the daring exploits of the infamous Buzzard Gang, outlaws who once terrorized the region. With $5,000 in cash prizes – generously provided by JBT – on the line, the stakes have never been higher!”

Uncharted Lancaster founder Adam Zurn told LebTown that he decided to go with a Buzzard Gang storyline this year for “a lot of reasons.”

Foremost, he said, is “the fact that they’re real – this real gang of outlaws that terrorized Lancaster and Lebanon counties, and beyond. … A lot of people in the region have heard of the Buzzard Gang. And, as you delve into it, you realize they’re not just chicken thieves. These were men that were really wanted by the law. The potential of there being some lost treasure has great potential.”

The Buzzard Gang has been called the “most notorious criminals in Lancaster County’s history,” although in reality the Buzzards spent more time in prison than out.

“According to records, Ike liked stealing horses, while Abe preferred chickens,” LNP reported in 2011. “The family cracked safes and robbed bars, stores, homes, hotels and trains in Lancaster and Chester counties. According to several reports, Abe hosted local revival meetings while his brothers robbed the farms of those in attendance.”

The Lebanon Daily News reported in 1990 that the Buzzards were “sons of the widow of a Civil War soldier … who turned to a life of crime to support the family after their father died on the battlefield. The article says the gang’s area of operations included mountain trails along what is now Route 322 and the hills around Schaefferstown in southern Lebanon County.

Another Daily News article in 1992 mentions “the legend about treasure that they were said to have buried somewhere in the South Mountains.” At least one gang member, Eli Heiney, is known to have died in Heidelberg Township.

The five-week treasure hunt was inspired by the movie The Goonies, the Uncharted Lancaster website explains, and will send participants “on a thrilling quest across Lancaster County and beyond. In this high-stakes race, teams will hunt for the lost JBT treasure – including the mysterious globus cruciger – once tied to the notorious Buzzard Gang.”

For readers who aren’t conversant in Latin, “globus cruciger” means “cross-bearing orb” and refers to a Christian symbol of authority that was often depicted in royal regalia and iconography.

The bank is certainly having fun with the game. In fact, a visit to the JBT website has an interesting addition to a page about the bank’s history.

Titled “1894 – A Lost Treasure Mystery,” the section describes in detail the heist of a well-guarded strongbox that disappeared en route to Jonestown. According to the entry, the armored wagon and its escort of armed guards was “attacked in the middle of the night” by the Buzzard Gang, who absconded with the loot.

“What exactly was in the strongbox was never disclosed by the Philadelphia bank, though stories soon began to circulate that among the lost treasure included prized jewels, cash, and a golden artifact that some have speculated might be a rare globus cruciger. It’s likely no one knows for certain what was in the strongbox, or what became of the treasure,” the entry explains. It also says that investigating Pinkerton detectives “discovered a mysterious scrap of paper at the scene,” which is offered on the website as a clue.

“While it would certainly make for an interesting chapter in JBT’s 152-year history, the legend about a strongbox bound for Jonestown being stolen is entirely made up for this year’s adventure,” Hudson admitted.

“People love the idea of a treasure hunt and it’s something families, friends, and people of all ages enjoy,” he said. “The treasure hunters have lots (of) fun, really get into it, and more than a few are also really competitive. We saw all of that that first hand during last year’s hunt.

“The other aspect we appreciate is the treasure hunt gets people to explore lots of trails and historic areas in the region. Last year’s treasure hunt was a success and we are happy to be participating as the lead sponsor again this year.”

Zurn said JBT “has been awesome” and was eager to participate in this year’s treasure hunt.

“These guys being robbers lent itself well to the bank,” he said. And, the gang’s history was a big part of his planning, he added.

“Unlike last year, where I took a lot of liberties with it, people playing the game this year will learn a lot about the Buzzard Gang, and 90 percent of what they’re learning is true,” he said. “There are puzzles, things to figure out, but also a lot of neat history that they’ll be learning along the way.”

How to get involved

Participation in the scavenger hunt requires the purchase of a Buzzard’s Booty: Quest for the Lost JBT Treasure kit for $40, which is available through the Uncharted Lancaster website. The games begin at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 12.

The first step to participate is registering a team. Anyone who is looking for teammates is invited to check out the Uncharted Lancaster Treasure Hunt group on Facebook.

Next, get out the Treasure Diary included with the Lost JBT Treasure kit, an “essential guide (to) help you navigate the hunt.” Then, check Uncharted Lancaster’s website every Saturday at 10 a.m., starting on April 12, for that week’s set of challenges.

The challenge is to “crack the riddles. Solve the puzzles, decipher the clues, and uncover the hiding places of the lost JBT treasure,” the website explains.

Zurn said the hunt will take participants to locations in Lancaster and Lebanon counties. The game starts in Lancaster city, he said, with a puzzle that has to be solved.

For the first time, participant will be divided into pro and amateur divisions, “ensuring treasure hunters of all skill levels can join the chase,” the website explains.

The professional tier is for previous winners or experienced players. First place goes to the first team to complete the adventure and includes a treasure chest with $1,500 in one-dollar coins and a complimentary visit to Lickity Split’s Buzzard Gang-themed escape room in New Holland (a $225 value). Second-, third- and fourth-place winners will receive $1,000, $500, or $250 in cash, respectively.

The amateur tier, for new or casual players, will award a first-place prize of $750 in one-dollar coins and a complimentary visit to Lickity Split’s Buzzard Gang-themed escape room in New Holland. Second-, third- and fourth-place winners will receive cash prizes of $500, $250, or $100, respectively.

All eight winning teams will also receive a special commemorative globus cruciger to remember the quest.

As of Thursday, April 3, Zurn said 70 teams had signed up for the game. He expects plenty more by the start of shenanigans on April 12.

“Last year, we had about 200 teams overall, a little over 700 players,” he said. “We’re expecting about the same this year.”

Although Zurn can’t give too much away before the games begin in earnest, he told LebTown that the challenges teams will face “typically come in three forms.”

The first involves a puzzle, riddle or other written piece of evidence. “Decipher the clues in a poem,” he said. “Find cyphers in a diary.”

There’s a local history challenge as well, he said. “It doesn’t hurt to have some local history knowledge, but Google is your friend.”

And there’s an exploration component that will get people out into a park, nature preserve or hiking trail.

There are also side quests that have already started, Zurn added. They help players to “get a feel for the game and put some points on the leaderboard. … Forty or so teams have already cracked at least one of the two side quests.”

Unfortunately, he said, Buzzard’s Booty is being billed as the “fifth and final” scavenger hunt by Uncharted Lancaster.

“This will be the last year,” Zurn said. “It is so much fun, but it is an unbelievable amount of work.” In the months leading up to each event, he said, “I eat, sleep and dream the treasure hunt.”

“I’m not saying we won’t have another treasure hunt,” he added. “But in the current form, no.”