Have you ever heard of Money Hill near the southern tip of South Padre Island? What is the latest news? This lake has its dangers, of course. Exactly where he was from remains a bit clouded, The cousins have found buried treasure of sorts, their research has brought to life stories of pirates that come from a pivotal moment in our history when pirates became heroes. Jean Lafitte: Mystery of the Unfound Treasure, History of Louisianas State Bird: The Brown Pelican, Jacques St. Germain, The Infamous Louisiana Vampire. Although $25,000 worth of coins and jewelry have been accounted for, no one knows where the rest of the loot went, and Collins and Bass were killed before they revealed anything. States officials granted him legal authority to pirate and capture British History suggests there is a possibility that hidden treasuresgold coins, doubloons, precious jewelryare somewhere beneath the surface just waiting to be found! Read More about The wreck of La Belle, Did the infamous privateer Jean Laffite steal a $2 million fortune in silver from a Spanish galleon and bury it in the Sabine River near the East Texas town Sabine? So where is it? 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. Check out some of these lesser-known places throughout the state: Natural wonders in Texas are perfect for those with an affinity for the great outdoors: Where are the most beautiful lakes in Texas? Jean Lafitte (Privateer, Smuggler, Pirate, The Sabine River could potentially hold a $2 million fortune in stolen silver. i will try and take a picture of the location. wagons to be pushed down an embankment and into a lake. This catch rendered a lot of attention and by 1884, the Sabine River was riddled with silver hunters. Galveston after his adventures in Louisiana. If anyone has heared or knows any more info please let me know. The Lost Padre Mine Somewhere in the Franklin Mountains overlooking the Rio Grande River in El Paso County is the Lost Padre Mine. Daniel sought permission from the land commissioner to salvage the sunken ship and "exhibit whatever findings to the public," newspapers reported. His headquarters was a two-story building which became known as Maison Rouge - so called as it was painted red.Around 1820, Lafitte reportedly married Madeline Regaud. Abilene Reporter-News, June 24, 1958. The smuggling operations of the well-known privateer eventually came to a screeching halt, though, when the United States began enforcing the embargo in New Orleans city limits some time after the act passed. Some of them do have people who can corroborate the stories. 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. Blackbeard and the mysterious unsolved code of Olivier Levassuer, or The Buzzard, are mentioned. The story dates back to 1816 when pirate Jean Lafitte is said to have stolen $2 million in silver from the Santa Rosa. treasure According to TexasHillCountry.com, legend says theres close to $3 million buried near where Shoal Creek empties into the Colorado River. Just another myth? 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. Nobody knows for sure if all of these legends are true, but theyre interesting to read about nonetheless. because Lafittes treasure was thought to be underwater there. Well, according to a story by Mary Rogers of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, there is evidence that in the early 1800s the theft did happen and that Jean Lafittes men, afraid that they were about to be ambushed, pushed several wagons loaded with silver ingots into the muddy waters. 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. On the edge of this little-known Chambers County lake off the Trinity about 35 miles east of Houston, Jack wants to show where a ship sank in the 1800s. and brother in the early 1800s. WebThe Lost Treasure of Hendricks Lake The infamous pirate of the Gulf Jean Lafitte took a $2 million fortune in silver from a Spanish galleon and supposedly buried it in the Sabine Even the location and date of his birth varies on the document or biography at hand. Dallas Morning News, August 1, 1965. Before I started to work on the story running in the July 2009 issue (Sleeping Booty) about California musician Nathan Smiths quixotic attempt to find a lost Spanish treasure ship near the town of Refugio, north of Corpus Christi, I assumed that there was no buried treasure at all in Texas. I don't know about that if the government wanted to dig, they would. And the ship berry bros found look for gold on land nearby. The one I am thinking of was found. He frequently returned to Galveston or the barrier islands near New Orleans to unload booty or take on supplies procured by Pierre. Here are six of the supposedly greatest Texas treasures still out there. Ie. Omoa was the site of the largest Spanish fort in Central America, a fort constructed to safeguard the Spanish silver shipments from the mines of Tegucigalpa in Honduras. parties, as the Mystery of Jean Lafittes Unfound Treasure seems to be a voyage History suggests there is a possibility that hidden treasuresgold coins, doubloons, precious jewelryare somewhere beneath the surface just waiting to be found! But why? And where? Louisianas most well-known buried treasure mystery still to this day is the unfound treasure of Jean Lafitte. Other sites considered to contain Lafitte treasure are islands south of New Orleans and Galveston Island in Texas. Both of them had consulted with Harry Rieseberg, the self-described worlds greatest underwater treasure hunter who had written articles about the legend in treasure magazines of the time. His brother, wanting to make something of himself as well, went exploring the coast of Texas to find buried treasure. Every dollar helps. knowledge (or educated guess) of Lafitte being the best privateer around, United According to legend, Singer hid the money he found in a large sand dune that he called Money Hill. But as fate would have it, he and his family had to abandon their Texas home during the Civil War because they were considered Union sympathizers. treasure of Jean Lafitte. Jean Lafitte Treasure Found - TreasureNet The Original The northwest tip of Padre Island has for years been known as Treasure Dunes. It happens every now and then," Hamilton said. Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. Copyright 2023 KSAT.com is managed by Graham Digital and published by Graham Media Group, a division of Graham Holdings. This information begs the question, though, How did Jean Lafitte have treasure in the first place, and if he did, why would he leave it behind?. down. 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. The first episode premiered on Tuesday November 17 at 10PM EST on the History Channel. Laffite was wounded in the battle and is believed to have died just after dawn. After getting some readings at the bottom of the lake (Hendricks Lake), two Dallas oilmen actually brought in a giant crane and attached a drag bucket to the cable. So read this, get up, and go after your pot of gold. a must to have. You must log in or register to reply here. Metal detector companies may be the only satisfied ships as a last-ditch effort to gain an advantage in the pivotal Battle of New he was in his early twenties. Jean Lafitte: Mystery of the Unfound Treasure - Pelican State of On an 1863 map of the area, it was named Flanagan Lake but since the 1880s has been known by its present name. So, if you google Money Hill in Abita Springs ,La . They say this inspired them to reach out to other treasure hunters and hear their stories. After pinpointing the wreck, he plans to have divers dig up to 9 feet deep for artifacts that might date or identify the ship. WebAlso mentioned was the lost mine of Wyndham Creek in Beauregard Parish, which also hugs the Louisiana/Texas border along the Sabine River. The first recorded mention of the wreck came from Jacob Haven Sherman Jr., a cotton gin operator, who told his nine children about discovering the site in the 1850s. 6. Over the years there have been many who made a minimal effort or spent a little time at the lake only to discover that the conditions were too difficult and they had neither the time nor the money for such an undertaking. The Lagina Brothers, famous for their search for the lost treasure on Oak Island and featured in the show The Curse of Oak Island, now hosts a new show called, But I am humored by the following observations : 1) have you ever noticed that when these fabled treasures are discussed, that the past tense of the word "find" is invariably always used. and the fear of being captured, Lafitte allegedly buried his treasure with the He also might have(might have, I remind you)come across a wooden chest containing what was then $80,000 in jewelry and coins. Then I did a litlle research and found this. The story goes that wagon loads of silver Louisiana State University alumnus (Geaux Tigers), fanatic of all things sports, pugs, and Star Wars, and teller of the occasional dad joke. Throughout Lafittes But there is no proof Lafitte scuttled a boat there, he says. I am interesting in pirates treasures in Connecticut. Do you think you could find them? It's in a very odd place for a large boat.". Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on the sofa with a hot cup of coffee, watching a crime TV show or scary movie. I determined that there were maybe five that might have contained some sort of treasure. 4. they might find something, a storm rolls in. It was a cloudy evening with low visibility, and Laffite attempted to capture what appeared to be two Spanish merchant vessels. . Jean Lafitte was sent to the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Island where he took command of the island - with an iron fist. Few besides him, who took part in the Battle of San Jacinto, are alive today. See link. Six wagon loads of silver carried north along Trammels Trace. Singer Treasure on Padre Island In the mid-nineteenth century, a man named Isaac Merritt Singer made significant improvements to the sewing machine. Official Blog of Pelican State Credit Union. Mysterious Writings: Featured Contributor Segment and Update, Forgotten History Hunts: Featured Contributor Segment, Privacy Policy, Disclaimer and Affiliate Disclosure. They just might inspire you to become a treasure hunter and find some real adventure out there! A.C. SoRelle, Jr., and his brother, Henry, were oilmen who brought detection equipment, draglines, and other heavy machinery to dig into the gumbo mud on the bottom of the lake. If information about one of the last searchers had been documented and publicized it would likely have discouraged further similar attempts in the future. It has never been found. Texas Just Wouldnt Be The Same Without These 7 Charming Small Towns, The Scenic Train Ride In Texas That Runs Year-Round, Experience The Magic Of The San Antonio River Walk At Night With A Guided Boat Tour And Scenic Drive In Texas, Climb 82 Feet To The Top Of The John Jacob Observation Tower In Texas And You Can See For Miles, Enjoy A Themed Train Ride For Every Season On The Grapevine Vintage Railroad In Texas, This Chilling Texas Tour Takes You Back To When Americas First Serial Killer Was Terrorizing The Streets Of Austin, Kayak To A Waterfall On The Beautiful Lake Buchanan For A Year-Round Texas Adventure, Few People Know You Can Kayak A Hidden Stretch Of The San Antonio Riverwalk In Texas, Natural Bridge Caverns and Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. Some historians recount that Lafitte went back to a life of crime, leaving the SAN ANTONIO You could find buried treasure in the Texas Hill Country -- an estimated $340 million worth. They did their research and, with dredging equipment and electronics gear, made multiple trips to Hendricks Lake but had no success. Nice little interesting overview but the bit many accounts say lafitte settled in Galveston casts unnecessary doubt, The settlement in Galveston (Campeche) is firmly established in the history, theres even a museum there about it. California musician Nathan Smith might have actually found one of Texas hidden treasure troves. If you change your mind, you can easily unsubscribe. No matter where you are in the state, youre bound to be able to search for some tempting hidden loot. It included G.C. 1. The state of I also. have buried a large cache of treasure somewhere in the bayous of Louisiana. May the hunters strike gold. 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. In 1816 Jean Lafitte, who was reputed to be an agent of the Spanish government (Agent 13, to be exact), raided a Spanish vessel called the Santa Rosa. As they retreated, they headed into what is now known as Upshur County. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! In 1821, the US government drove Lafitte from the island. There were no chests. The tree is privately owned, but sits right on the highway (FM 2100) just a few miles north of FM 1960. Some of the loot has been recovered, but the rest of these hidden treasures in Texas have mysteriously disappeared. I still have no idea if it was really a JL marker, or if so, it treasure was ever found. I know this thread is quite old now, but I'm wondering if any other information has been discovered about this? 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. Jean Laffite (sometimes spelled Lafitte) was a pirate and the subject of many stories of romance and adventure across the Gulf of Mexico during the early 19th Jack -- whose official, but seldom-used, name is Lawrence Looney -- is a Trinity River guide for the Chambers-Liberty Navigation District. When a giant storm hit the region, the raft was washed away and destroyed. During the Mexican War of Independence, the Laffites served as spies for the Spanish, after moving to Galveston Island, Texas. It was a book on the treasures of Galveston and the surrounding area. The treasure is estimated to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The Discover New Orleans rich cultural mix. The silver that Lafitte accumulated from selling captured slaves, cotton, and other goods was stored in wooden kegs or casks. Very old 3 x 3 nches by 2 inches. Lafitte's large fleet and multinational band of pirates, privateers, and smugglers caused havoc in the Gulf of Mexico for a decade. She had his only known son, Jean Pierre Lafitte. JHS grads making documentary about As background, the Karankawa were an Indigenous people concentrated in southern Texas along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico; they consisted of several independent seasonal nomadic groups who shared the same language and much of the same culture.Lafitte named his island Campeche, after a Mexican outpost further south along the Gulf Coast of Mexico. Jean Laffite's treasure in the Sabine River - Lone star The Lost Treasure of Hendricks Lake The infamous pirate of the Gulf Jean Lafitte took a $2 million fortune in silver from a Spanish galleon and supposedly buried it in the Sabine River near the East Texas town of Sabine. Lets be honest, everybody loves a good treasure story. WebPerhaps not coincidentally, this was the same area where his former slave trading colleague Jean Lafitte had once had his headquarters. Here are seven stories of supposed buried lost treasure in Texas. The show starts with the Lagina brothers, Rick and Marty, sharing how their search on Oak Island opened them up to a world full of mysteries and lost treasures to explore. Two films, starring Fredric March in the 1930s and Yul Brynner in the 1950s, also romanticized Lafitte's life, although Vogel notes that the pirate's life was "more equivalent to that of a 19th century cocaine smuggler. On 4 February 1823, Laffite was onboard the General Santander off the town of Omoa in Honduras. 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. A huge battle ensued between the two groups near what is now known as Tyler. However, since it pointed toward someone else's land, he never did or said anything about it. To him it is the Chase and the history. Laffite spent the rest of his life attacking merchant ships around Central American ports; sometimes as a pirate and sometimes as a privateer. No treasure chests, hooks or parrot skeletons have been reported as of yet. Get monthly email updates and the chance to win a prize. Rumor has it the money is somewhere underneath Little, A man named Nathan Smith thinks he's found the remnants of a sunken ship from an 1822 hurricane north of. It seem to be one less treasure for us to find. Numerous springs within and around the lake keep it filled. Lafitte knew that his new business outfit was hidden well enough that U.S. officials wouldnt be able to find him. His treasure Before we dive In 1814, the U.S. sent a naval force to invade Lafittes fleet and was mostly successful, seizing many of Lafittes comrades and ships. 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. Yes I visited his home the Mason rouge in Campeche Galveston tx. One Texas legend says theres a cache of Spanish silver buried somewhere outside Leander. Many treasure hunters are convinced the money continues to lie beneath the mud of Little Cypress Creek in Upshur County. https://www.tshaonline.org, https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/hendricks-lake. Click the image below to read our free eBook "The Big Book of Credit Union MythsBUSTED! years later! More information can be found in Guide to Treasure in Texas A minimum of five treasure ships are said to have sunk at or near the mouth of the Rio Grande. Lafitte became very familiar with, and eventually mastered, an illegal smuggling profession, which translated into an extremely lucrative career for him. Hamilton, who heads Texas A&M University's nautical archaeology program, about investigating the site. They know its there. They used 10-foot poles to outline the vessel, which measured roughly 75 feet by 35 feet, news reports stated. In Texas they still search for a great deposit of silver and gold that Lafitte is reputed to have abandoned there. His exact whereabouts after that NOWHERE BUT TEXAS: SEARCHING FOR JEAN Another legend has it that in 1595, Juan de Oate hid five silver bars, 4,336 gold ingots, nine burro loads of jewels, and four priceless Aztec codices (books or manuscripts) in the mine. NOWHERE BUT TEXAS: SEARCHING FOR JEAN WebSpanish silver stolen by the privateer, Jean Lafitte. One story even In 1969 an MIT graduate with a degree in electrical engineering and a patent for an underwater device for locating metals motored along the surface of Hendricks Lake in an eight-foot fiberglass boat towing his electronics. Bass is also tied to legends of treasure buried treasure in Burnet and Llano counties as well as Packsaddle Mountain, Lone Star Treasure reports. Roughly $60,000 in gold and silver coins is said to buried in a creek bed near Castell, a community in Llano County. hill on the Lakes side, the scans show some promising images. He was now legally authorized by Great Colombia to take Spanish ships. We are a community-supported, non-profit organization and we humbly ask for your support because the careful and accurate recording of our history has never been more important. The parade of those who made documented efforts for the treasure included oilmen, a television repairman, a pharmacist, a grocery store owner, dirt contractors, water well diggers, fraudulent treasure hunting equipment hucksters, a heating and air-conditioning technician, and numerous other true believers. Searchers used aerial photos, underwater metal detectors, and magnetometers to aid in their efforts. Many believe the treasure still lurks under the water, just waiting to be discovered. which is said to contain many records and may hold the key to Frisbys buried treasure. There was no treasure found. By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. Found a mamouth tooth a a tiny brick made of shell it has letters P on it and the other I cant make out. True West Magazine article on Jean Lafitte. JavaScript is disabled. but what is clear is that he settled in the New Orleans area with his mother If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. Beyond Oak Island Summary of Episode 1: Pirate It is widely believed that Lafitte buried his treasure on Galveston before he left - and this video is about my search at three likely treasure sites. According to one legend, a group of priests put about three hundred burro loads of silver in a mine on one of their expeditions to New Mexico. They know it. 3. 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. About 229 treasure sites are spread across the Lone Star State, and some are even accessible to the public with permission from the landowners. A lookout for alligators and venomous snakes is Moving on to piracy by around 1810, Lafitte was based at the secluded Barataria Bay inlet. What about you? Packsaddle Mountain in eastern Llano County is another alleged Bass treasure location. He married Cecilia Taylor, daughter of frontiersman Anson Taylor, who lost three sons at the Alamo. He was a French pirate and privateer. Small but made like a brick. She was then forgotten for nearly 300 years. 2. 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. By 1829, the mythical lost silver mine of San Saba began appearing on Austins maps of Texas. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/hendricks-lake. TSHA | Hendricks Lake - Handbook of Texas For decades the site has intrigued historians and treasure hunters. Krigar and Leo Behme, two World War II veterans who had advertised in the Houston Chronicle that they wanted to use surplus mine detectors to locate buried treasure. All they found was a big sawblade from one of the sawmills that had operated on the lake; they left the artifact behind for future treasure hunters. during the Battle of New Orleans. The basic story is that in 1816 silver stolen by pirate Jean Lafitte from the Spanish brig Santa Rosa was being moved north from Matagorda Bay to St. Louis, Missouri, for disposal. Sherman, who died in 1879, said he was able to walk on its deck. While at my favorite used book store some months ago I stumbled across a copy of a book that I read as a kid. Handbook of Texas Online, was born in France around the year 1780 and traveled to the United States when In 1909 members of the United States Geological Survey visited the site, which they described as being unproductive. well as the fortunes left on the merchant ships that he captured. An estimated $340 million., And as I write, the treasure hunters are out there, hunting, hunting, and hunting. into these uncharted waters, we need to know more about who Lafitte was. The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this entry. They got away with three thousand freshly-minted 1877 $20 gold pieces. Here ya go Bum, Passed by it again on Tuesday. Louisiana is not exclusive to rumors of the treasures whereabouts too, as A light came on when the probe hit metal. 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. The total value? "He had talked to a man who had located the spot with a metal detector and walked on its deck. Many from the area have taken artifacts from there, including coin. I'm a descendant of his first mate and so while as a general rule I love history/archeology/treasure hunting, naturally this is the treasure that interests me the most. wrong move on Lafittes mason rouge. But the treasure is in my best belief to be in Galveston. You will see it gets its name from the treasure being buried there. Comparatively few of lthe Mexican War veterans are now alive. (In English documents, his last name was often spelled Lafitte, but Laffite was the spelling used by Jean and his brother Pierre.). Unsolved Mysteries in Texas 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. What if these stories are factual? 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. He told me there is an old, very old oak tree. 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