WebIn his long obituary of March 6, the Galveston "News" noted that: "In the death of Charles Cronea, the last of Lafitte's band, so far as is known, has passed away. I once made a scientific study of all the known shipwrecks, from ancient to modern, that occurred off the Texas coast. About 229 treasure sites are spread across the Lone Star State, and some are even accessible to the public with permission from the landowners. Louisiana State University alumnus (Geaux Tigers), fanatic of all things sports, pugs, and Star Wars, and teller of the occasional dad joke. He was a French pirate and privateer. La Belle was a French ship that sank in Matagorda Bay in 1685 after running aground in a storm. Okay, that was a really bad joke. Other stories of Pirate Treasures are discussed. Those looking for Gold, Diamonds, Jewelry etc wont find it. They then filled in the shaft. Jean Lafitte Few besides him, who took part in the Battle of San Jacinto, are alive today. Jean Laffite was a French pirate and privateer born circa 1780. Accompanying Bowie to Texas in 1830 were 109 enslaved workers, identified on the land grant as dependents. Huge beautiful tree. You are using an out of date browser. He built a new kind of sewing machine, and in 1851 he started I.M. My favorite part of the legend is that the Guadalupe Mission in El Paso was built in way so that the shadows of the mission point to the Lost Padre Mine. The stolen bounty was part of the Mexican payroll in 1836 and its allegedly buried 5 feet deep near the oak tree. At that time, the legend was that Mexican land pirates lived along the lake and dumped gold, silver, and precious stones in the lake when they were attacked by the Texans or some other forces. Tatum reportedly built a device with buckets on a conveyor and operated by steam engines to attempt to bail the water from the lake. Back in the 1580s, Spanish conquistadors and priests often passed beneath the peaks of the Franklins on their way to New Mexico to colonize the Indian villages. It was stuck in the crack of the stairs. She has reported on several high-profile stories during her career at KSAT and specializes in trending news and things to do around Texas and San Antonio. http://community.webshots.com/user/famleeroots, http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,109722.0.html, THE Random Chat Thread - AKA "The RCT" - No shirt or shoes required - Open 24 / 7, Metal Detectorists Ordered To Repay 1.2 Million Between Them 'Immediately'. I was living in high island Texas .mostly driving the beach further east to sea rim. The desire to believe that millions of dollars of silver bars still lie at the bottom of Hendricks Lake is not for the treasure hunters only. Six wagon loads of silver carried north along Trammels Trace. While his fleet took a hit, Lafitte himself managed to evade capture. Rumor has it that some of the money is hidden in Cove Hollow, near Denton. He sent soldiers to look for it, but they found nothing. There are still treasure hunters to this day who believe the Lafitte fortune would be found if the lake was drained. With his business carrying on and continuing to grow, so did his wealth. Markers are dropped, and divers are sent down. Latest local news from South Texas from KSAT12. I have a metal detector. Jack feels at home here. did use the words "think" before that. consisted of the currency he would receive in exchange for his foreign goods as If the rumors are true, Cove Hollow, near Denton is another Bass treasure location. Some historians recount that Lafitte went back to a life of crime, leaving the Its well known about the boat company started with silver found near Lake Salvador. And where? States officials granted him legal authority to pirate and capture British But the gold and diamond jewl was the confirmation I needed. By 1810, their successful smuggling operation had been supplemented with piracy. Watch an alligator bask on a bayous bank. Read More about Texas Tea Slot, about Jean Laffites treasure in the Sabine River. Peter Walker Adams lived in one of the houses on the hill near the lake and figured prominently in many of the newspaper stories. May the odds be ever in your favor. Singer buried the chest after being forced to leave his home and returned several times in an effort to find his buried treasure but was never able to recover his fortune. A family in Baytown, Texas tell their story as they believe they found one of Lafittes sunken ships. The family thinks this could be a clue as to where the actual treasure is. There is even an event in La Porte, Texas centered around the treasure called the Annual Search for Lafittes Gold. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! The story died down but regained momentum when treasure hunting became popular again in the fifties and when True West magazine printed an article about the long-forgotten silver prompting treasure hunters to flock to Carthage and Tatum. When the Embargo Act of 1807 came into force, the Laffite brothers moved their business from New Orleans to an island in Barataria Bay, Louisiana. Despite this, no silver bars were found. We report on vital issues from politics to education and are the indispensable authority on the Texas scene, covering everything from music to cultural events with insightful recommendations. When the Embargo Act of 1807 It was also the location that US Forces attacked, causing his band to make a hasty retreat. locations along the Gulf Coast. According to legend, Bass used Longhorn Caverns in Burnet County as a hideout after some of his robberies although treasure seekers have yet to find any loot in the caverns. Found bones of mamouth and Indian tools. As early as next summer, Hoyt plans a preliminary investigation. Interest in the ship resurfaced nine years later when Elder H. Sherman, grandson of the man who first reported the wreck, remembered that his grandfather had driven a spike into an oak tree to mark the ship's location. Orleanshe did not disappoint. NOWHERE BUT TEXAS: SEARCHING FOR JEAN LAFITTE'S TREASURE ON GALVESTON ISLANDJean Lafitte was born in 1780 and died in1823. Little is known about his origins, but he was probably born either in Basque-France or in the French colony Saint-Domingue. Ho-hum, right? Lafitte utilized Galveston Island as his private smuggling base. History suggests there is a possibility that hidden treasuresgold coins, doubloons, precious jewelryare somewhere beneath the surface just waiting to be found! They say this inspired them to reach out to other treasure hunters and hear their stories. Roughly $60,000 in gold and silver coins is said to buried in a creek bed near Castell, a community in Llano County. If you study your info you will be lost. Many of them are wandering through the beaches and backlands with nothing more than metal detectors. My step father knew where one of these markers were, he had found it while hunting years ago and thought it might be a grave marker or something. In 1814, the U.S. sent a naval force to invade Lafittes fleet and was mostly successful, seizing many of Lafittes comrades and ships. However, since it pointed toward someone else's land, he never did or said anything about it. Most of the people were locals, from Lafourche Parish, the southern part, mainly Cut Off and Larose and the Gheens area, and also from the Des Allemands location. Smith believes he found a sunken ship on Google Earth in 2006 in Refugio, just north of Corpus Christi. ships as a last-ditch effort to gain an advantage in the pivotal Battle of New In Jean Lafitte's day, silver and gold filled a pirate's treasure chest, but today's treasures are people, places, and memories. More maps appeared showing various locations of a lost silver mine. Lafitte was later Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. He linked up with B.H. into these uncharted waters, we need to know more about who Lafitte was. In related news - Art dealer Forrest Fenn revealed in June that a treasure chest he hid in the Rocky Mountains had been found. Its off 435 about 12 miles from where he fled imprisonment to the Pearl River. Now, more modern equipment was available, and one man used a metal detector and managed to get some interesting readings from the bottom of the lake. As of 2019 much of the land surrounding the lake was in the permit area for the surface mining for lignite that covers thousands of acres. A huge battle ensued between the two groups near what is now known as Tyler. and the fear of being captured, Lafitte allegedly buried his treasure with the During the Mexican War of Independence, the Laffites served as spies for the Spanish, after moving to Galveston Island, Texas. It also has references to other lost treasure spots in Texas. She attended college in the Houston area and changed her major twice (psychology, computer science, and finally criminal justice) before taking a leap of faith and dropping out to pursue a career in freelance writing. are why the mystery is still such an interesting topic todaymore than 200 The fortune is said to have been stolen from the Spanish by Jean Lafitte. Plus, if when they come back and nothing can be found, he says they have the whole Texas coast and more to continue their search. Hidden gems in Texas are one of our state's greatest joys. In late 1815, Lafitte agreed to act as spy for Spain, which was embroiled in the Mexican War of Independence. . It has never been found. On his visits to Hendricks Lake with his son, they got a hit and brought a diver along to search the bottom. The brothers meet with a Christian Roper who is actively hunting for the lost treasure of the pirate, Jean Lafitte. JavaScript is disabled. Some accounts say He was also a ham radio operator. More information can be found in Guide to Treasure in Texas In the early 1820s, Great Colombia under the government of Simon Bolivar had begun commissioning former privateers as officers in their newly formed navy. The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry. He shows Rick and Marty the 1957 "It could be anything. With the threat of imprisonment WebJean Lafitte is thought to have sunk a treasure ship containing $500,000 to $1,000,000 off south Padre Island. The story revolves around oil fields in Texas, USA. The mud is deep on the bottom, and just as In 1884 treasure hunters were all over the Sabine and a nearby lake that had been fed by the Sabine. After pinpointing the wreck, he plans to have divers dig up to 9 feet deep for artifacts that might date or identify the ship. Read the full story of Money Hill on LegendsOfAmerica.com. parties, as the Mystery of Jean Lafittes Unfound Treasure seems to be a voyage The Temple was located just North of what is today Little Lake, in Lafittes time it was Little Lake Barataria, where Bayou Perot and Bayou Rigolets meet. Every penny counts! So, where could And if so is the treasure still there? The four-mile trek into the backwaters off the Trinity River becomes strenuous as he pushes his boat over cypress stumps and cuts through debris. One time she wrote about sports. This lake has its dangers, of course. We use cookies to provide you with the best possible browsing experience. Is there anything better than the tale of someone discovering a hidden clue, figuring out an obscure reference, finding the final piece of the puzzle, and then discovering a fantastic stash of gold or silver? Dallas Morning News, August 1, 1965. And the ship berry bros found look for gold on land nearby. Forced to leave the city, Lafitte decided to set up shop on a small island in Barataria Bay, about 40 miles south of New Orleans, to continue his smuggling ways. was born in France around the year 1780 and traveled to the United States when Apparently, he found a chest full of Spanish coins and jewelry amounting to over $80,000. Get it? What they would love to find, if not the silver, are clues to the treasure at least being there. This same engineer, only two years earlier, had led the team who located the Tecumseh, a Union metalclad ship sunk during the battle of Mobile Bay in August 1864. They send a probe down and it hit metal just before a giant storm hit, destroying the raft and any other evidence, according to OnlyInYourState.com. That is because he not only commandeered goods from dozens of foreign ships and traded slaves, but he also helped Gen. Andrew Jackson defeat the British in the Battle of New Orleans and escorted a mapping expedition into Arkansas. Probably inside the hidden stairs that went to the first floor of his mason rouge. Retired Avenger, current NFL free agent. Skip Hollandsworth specializes in long-form narratives. Is the image on this article what the actual chest looked like? Access to those treasure seekers was largely through land owned by a former Panola County sheriff, Corbett Akins, and one of his deputies, L.E. Some fishermen in the last century pulled several silver bars from those very waters with a hoop net. So, if you google Money Hill in Abita Springs ,La . The first episode premiered on Tuesday November 17 at 10PM EST on the History Channel. Lets be honest, everybody loves a good treasure story. 2. A lookout for alligators and venomous snakes is What books would you recommend about this pirate? which is said to contain many records and may hold the key to Frisbys buried treasure. One legend says the ship was laden with bearskins full of gold doubloons and silver pieces when it was run aground by Lafitte while attempting to evade a U. S. revenue cutter. the treasure be today? I have no doubt that the Historians will decry what Ive said here, and Im cool with that, I know what I saw and found, and I know what others saw and found. The silver has yet to be discovered, according to Lone Star Treasure, which says the story is based on a Spanish document from the conquistador era. Discover New Orleans rich cultural mix. The lake is located in the extreme northeastern part of the county along the boundary between Rusk and Panola. He uses rain barrels to get his water. Jean Lafittes treasure Photo of Hendricks Lake, courtesy of Gary L. Pinkerton One particularly famous legend is that of Jean Lafittes treasure. The popularity of treasure hunting during this time period was profiled in numerous pulp magazines and news features, and the business of supplying treasure hunters was page one news in the Wall Street Journal. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, A family in Baytown, Texas tell their story. Read More about Jean Laffites treasure in the Sabine River, USS Hatteras (formerly St. Mary) was a 1,126-ton steamer purchased by the Union Navy during the early part of the American Civil War. Have you ever heard of any of these stories about mysterious lost treasure in Texas? If you fill out the first name, last name, or agree to terms fields, you will NOT be added to the newsletter list. WebHe was a French pirate and privateer. Williams of Anahuac and their attorney, state Rep. Price Daniel of Liberty, who later became governor. Tensions were high during this time between the United States and Great Britain, creating the War of 1812 and forcing the United States to be on edge about who they could and could not trust. Soldiers approach, wagons sunk in Hendricks Lake, an oxbow lake just south of the Sabine River in northeastern Rusk County. even tales that the treasure was not intentionally buried. Other potential treasure troves require a longer drive but if youre willing to camp out or find a hotel, AirBnb, etc., you could be in for a big payday. It is still The man who told this did not or would not tell me the names of the two men. The man who was killed left an estate of 60,000 in cash plus land in Mississippi. While at my favorite used book store some months ago I stumbled across a copy of a book that I read as a kid. Legendary French pirate Jean Lafitte and his crew were also known to troll the Gulf for booty at the time . These questions And he says, Treasure has a way of keeping its secrets. national hero. I have a file 2 in thick on Hendricks lake treasure. Learn Cajun traditions from people who live them. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) Texas Monthly Is Nominated for Two 2023 Media Awards by the James Beard Foundation. He has no need for modern conveniences, living in a primitive cabin on the Trinity that is accessible only by boat and has no telephone. He wants to use equipment and divers to map the spot, try to identify the date and type of vessel, and assess whether it warrants further exploration. So where is it? Maybe they can help them in their search from the insights learned from their own pursuit of the Money Pit. My Grandpa told me often when I was very young that everyone thought that Lafittes fort was on Grand Isle, but it never was. treasure to speak of. this mystery still has historians, researchers, and treasure hunters alike The treasure is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. So read this, get up, and go after your pot of gold. Jean Lafitte became labeled by some as a The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. At the age of 25, Jean Laffite was living in New Orleans, operating a warehouse essential to dispersing the goods smuggled by his brother Pierre. One of the men was found living in east Texas where he had bought a farm. Just about every book written about Texas in that era mentioned it.
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