Alternate versions of that story have been documented since the 1880s, with variations including that the silver was from Santa Anna and the battle of San Jacinto and that the treasure was in a different location nearby. During 1957 and 1958 the most significant attempts to locate the treasure took place at the lake. The Treasure of Jean Lafitte. The search is called off for the time being. 4. 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. March 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? JHS grads making documentary about People claim that a $2 million fortune stolen from the Spanish by Jean Lafitte was buried in the Sabine River. Here are six of the supposedly greatest Texas treasures still out there. Subscribe to the Pelican State of Mind blog by providing your email below! https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/hendricks-lake. 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. accessed May 01, 2023, . 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Locating a ship that belonged to Lafitte or one of his officers would be a "significant find" because of the role he played on the Texas coast, said Hoyt. ", As for the shipwreck in Lake Miller, Vogel says, "There is something actually down there. Galveston after his adventures in Louisiana. Beyond Oak Island Summary of Episode 1: Pirate The tree is privately owned, but sits right on the highway (FM 2100) just a few miles north of FM 1960. 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. during the Battle of New Orleans. Comparatively few of lthe Mexican War veterans are now alive. 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He landed ships at Grand Terre and Cheniere, and then brought the merchandise to The Temple to be auctioned. 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. Read More about USS Hatteras, This is a funny little slot filled with intricate features and attention-grabbing symbols. As a backup plan, they would supply all adjacent markets with fresh fish on ice. The Galveston Daily News made light of the effort by suggesting they move their operation to the Gulf of Mexico since a good deal of wealth has been left under its waters by shipwrecks. A week after that humiliation, Paul Tatum clubbed a man to death after he made fun of Tatums attempt to drain the lake. Do you think you could find them? "The sunken boat lies somewhere in this vicinity, directly across from where there used to be an old Spanish fort and mission," Jack says, pointing to the northern shore. It also mentions reports of larger sums of the treasure being buried in the appropriately-named small town of Lafitte, Louisiana. In 1821, the US government drove Lafitte from the island. It is this tale that Christian wants to follow up on. Please let us know your thoughts in the comments section! The lake is located in the extreme northeastern part of the county along the boundary between Rusk and Panola. Some believe it belonged to the pirate Jean Lafitte. He married Cecilia Taylor, daughter of frontiersman Anson Taylor, who lost three sons at the Alamo. 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. That was more of his commerce center, again where he exchanged merchandise for coin. There are wagons to be pushed down an embankment and into a lake. In Colombian newspapers, his death was lamented and his obituary described him as a brave naval officer. Well, my beloved fellow Texas readers, though I have no idea whether anything Im about to pass on to you is the slightest bit accurate, here are six of the supposedly great Texas treasures still waiting to be found. Not one of them found any of the reported treasure, but that never prevented the next person from trying. Key to remember is that Lafitte was a business man, who turned merchandise that he acquired into money. Visibility is nil, so it is a touchy situation. The stolen bounty was part of the Mexican payroll in 1836 and its allegedly buried 5 feet deep near the oak tree. Is the image on this article what the actual chest looked like? If you need help with the Public File, call 210-351-1241. It reads that a cache of ancient gold coins was found near Jefferson island. What is the latest news? this mystery still has historians, researchers, and treasure hunters alike He linked up with B.H. Emily McCullar is a senior editor covering pop culture, news, and Texas history. In a location on the lake, matching the tale, with a sloped The man who was killed left an estate of 60,000 in cash plus land in Mississippi. It was a cloudy evening with low visibility, and Laffite attempted to capture what appeared to be two Spanish merchant vessels. 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. Many believe the treasure still lurks under the water, just waiting to be discovered. What about you? True West Magazine article on Jean Lafitte. However, she says her husband remained certain that Lafitte's ship was buried in that mud. He could have stashed some treasure somewhere along the Eastern shore. His brother, wanting to make something of himself as well, went exploring the coast of Texas to find buried treasure. Much to the Louisianas He also might have(might have, I remind you)come across a wooden chest containing what was then $80,000 in jewelry and coins. 1. It's incredible to think that just under the peaceful water lurks enough treasure to change your life! Ie. James Bowie went on an expedition to find it. Things to do in Seabrook: A guide to Washington's cozy Coachella 2023: What to pack for a weekend in the desert, What you should wear to Disneyland in May, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). The enduring story of Hendricks Lake is a treasure legend that has been around for more than 150 years. The family thinks this could be a clue as to where the actual treasure is. I always wondered why the searchers were only local, and that an organized big search never happened but it never did. Despite intense efforts at dredging, detecting, diving, and dynamiting for Hendricks Lake treasure, the only thing that was reportedly found in the lake was the rim of an old wagon wheel. Access to the lake that for 150 years had been accessible for picnics and fishing was closed off to all but a few private landowners at the time. Many of them are wandering through the beaches and backlands with nothing more than metal detectors. The silver that Lafitte accumulated from selling captured slaves, cotton, and other goods was stored in wooden kegs or casks. Jack feels at home here. The that the treasure is in a different location now than where it was buried? WebLaffite's Treasure Jean Laffite, the French pirate with an aristocratic air, and his confederates took millions in loot from ships in the Gulf of Mexico back in the early OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. Read More about Texas Tea Slot, about Jean Laffites treasure in the Sabine River. They also had a raft built from which large pipes were sunk into the lake bottom, and used a metal detector to search the sediment. s Mexican Land Grant Application, 1830 Yet because of his claim and the team's loss of salvage rights after failing to pay money owed on the state lease, that project also was abandoned, records indicate. Other sites considered to contain Lafitte treasure are islands south of New Orleans and Galveston Island in Texas. "I've always been interested in the site and had it in the back of my mind but been too busy on other projects.". The most beautiful lakes in Texas are all excellent choices for a trip. Abilene Reporter-News, June 24, 1958. JavaScript is disabled. I determined that there were maybe five that might have contained some sort of treasure. Legendary outlaw Sam Bass is said to have buried his bounty from stagecoach, train and bank robberies in several areas around the Texas Hill County. Daniel sought permission from the land commissioner to salvage the sunken ship and "exhibit whatever findings to the public," newspapers reported. http://www.texasescapes.com/DEPARTMENTS/Letters/LettersToEditorDecember2001.htm, 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'. But a giant storm hit the area, destroying the raft and washing away all the evidence. Excited about the history, research, and prospects of this The mud is deep on the bottom, and just as You will see it gets its name from the treasure being buried there. This article provides images of newspapers from 1921, and one column in particular that talks about Lafittes treasure. In 1940, a new search team was formed. Texas Monthly Is Nominated for Two 2023 Media Awards by the James Beard Foundation. Get monthly email updates and the chance to win a prize. Other stories of Pirate Treasures are discussed. Lafitte fought many bloody battles with these Karankawas. Texas, I learned, is full of buried treasureor, to be a bit more accurate, full of stories about buried treasures that no one has been able to find. Eventually, the Mexicans unloaded the moneygold and silver coinsso they could make an escape. 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. I still have no idea if it was really a JL marker, or if so, it treasure was ever found. When the Embargo Act of 1807 She had his only known son, Jean Pierre Lafitte. John Spong writes primarily about popular culture. In the early 1820s, Great Colombia under the government of Simon Bolivar had begun commissioning former privateers as officers in their newly formed navy. In late 1815, Lafitte agreed to act as spy for Spain, which was embroiled in the Mexican War of Independence. And where? There were no chests. ingots were in transport, but the Spanish had set a trap. 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? Published by the Texas State Historical Association. Jean "It could be anything. In 1814, the U.S. sent a naval force to invade Lafittes fleet and was mostly successful, seizing many of Lafittes comrades and ships. Legend has it that El Pasos Guadalupe Mission was built in such a way that sends the noon sunlight shining straight on the mine.. knowledge (or educated guess) of Lafitte being the best privateer around, United 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. 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. He had to take a pirogoe which is a wood boat that would have sank if all the treasure would have been on board. He stated while talking to someone on the radio, who was a Jean L researcher, the guy described the markings Lafitte would leave pointing to treasure. I hope that you can help me out. Just another myth? If anyone has heared or knows any more info please let me know. Lafitte's men are said to have loaded the silver into wagons and given them to a trader named Nicholas Trammel to take to St. Louis. Lafitte utilized Galveston Island as his private smuggling base. An estimated $340 million., And as I write, the treasure hunters are out there, hunting, hunting, and hunting. On 4 February 1823, Laffite was onboard the General Santander off the town of Omoa in Honduras. My step father also grew up in East Texas, but in the country on a farm. One Texas legend says theres a cache of Spanish silver buried somewhere outside Leander. The tried to dynamite the bottom, but ended up with no silver for this efforts. I always heard that an area Boat Company Owner started his business with a 5 gallon bucket of silver taken from that area. "I think he came up through this cut to find cypress trees to repair his boats and sometimes would stash ships here to hide them, taking them into the shallowest waters that he could get," he says. Retired Avenger, current NFL free agent. You are using an out of date browser. There are many stories about famed pirate Jean Lafitte, but one places his lost buried treasure at the bottom of a lake right here in East Texas. North of Tatum, in the middle of the woods, lies Hendricks Lake. Moving on to piracy by around 1810, Lafitte was based at the secluded Barataria Bay inlet. 2001-11-18 04:00:00 PDT Wallisville, Texas -- Using a machete, Anahuac Jack hacks through branches blocking his small boat's path down a narrow channel through a marsh lined with cypress trees. These questions Most people wrote it off as another myth until a magazine Christian Metal detector companies may be the only satisfied and the fear of being captured, Lafitte allegedly buried his treasure with the By 1829, the mythical lost silver mine of San Saba began appearing on Austins maps of Texas. This caused the Unsolved Mysteries in Texas This lake has its dangers, of course. It included G.C. Paul Uncle Fox Tatum, son of the founder of Tatum, Texas, carried out the first documented attempt to recover the treasure in 1884. Sherman, who died in 1879, said he was able to walk on its deck. 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 If the rumors are true, Cove Hollow, near Denton is another Bass treasure location. Bass allegedly marked the spot with a rock in the fork of a tree, according to Lone Star Treasure. Gary L. Pinkerton, Having lived In 1965 a professional syndicate of treasure hunters, men who worked together at a packaging company in LeClaire, Iowa, and led by Clarence A. Also join us in the Facebook Group: Beyond Oak Island Treasures for more discussions. treasure to speak of. Found a mamouth tooth a a tiny brick made of shell it has letters P on it and the other I cant make out. Oil workers actually picked up readings that metal was to be found at the bottom of the lake. Jean Lafitte: Mystery of the Unfound Treasure - Pelican State of Buried Treasures in North America Jean Laffite's Loot a must to have. Switching gears back to Louisiana, this Jean Lafitte tale quotes a former student of Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans stating that the treasure is buried near an oak tree on the schools campus. Lafitte lived on Galveston island in the state of Texas, USA - from 1817 to 1821. Was it buried underground or lost under water? Dallas Morning News, August 1, 1965. Discovering history is part of the adventure, and that never ends. 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. Long-lost pirate ship may lie in Texas lake / Historical Even the location and date of his birth varies on the document or biography at hand. Blackbeard and the mysterious unsolved code of Olivier Levassuer, or The Buzzard, are mentioned. Singer & Co., which was renamed the Singer Manufacturing Company in 1865. I don't know about that if the government wanted to dig, they would. 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. Let us know in the comments 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, Packsaddle Mountain in eastern Llano County is another alleged Bass treasure location. accepts, and the show continues at Hendricks Lake in East Texas. 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. It is my sincere belief that the Hendricks Lake treasure was silver taken by Lafitte from capturing of the Spanish ship Santa Rosa in Matagorda Bay in 1820. 3. the treasure be today? Calvin Wilcher is in charge of the scans..he is on watch for something not of Mother nature. See link. 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. Eventually, his skiff carves a path through a tangle of grass that sprouts from the water and is higher than his head. Hamilton, who heads Texas A&M University's nautical archaeology program, about investigating the site. But now Hoyt, the state marine archaeologist, wants to officially examine the site. It may not display this or other websites correctly. On his visits to Hendricks Lake with his son, they got a hit and brought a diver along to search the bottom. Oil workers actually picked up readings that metal was to be found at the bottom of the lake. ", This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google, A family in Baytown, Texas tell their story. He captured ships and sold their cargoes, which often included slaves, to shady merchants in New Orleans. pardoned by General Andrew Jackson in praise of his efforts and accomplishments ships as a last-ditch effort to gain an advantage in the pivotal Battle of New Jean Laffite was a French pirate and privateer born circa 1780. One story even Jean Lafitte was sent to the Gulf of Mexico and Galveston Island where he took command of the island - with an iron fist. They will haunt you in your dreams for making a 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. from oil explorers and water witchers to plain nuts.. Exactly where he was from remains a bit clouded, Many of the alleged treasure locations below can be found in the Texas Hill Country if youre looking for socially distant daycation from San Antonio or Austin. Supposedly, it still lies buried beneath the dirt. 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. So, where could 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. Hits are sounded off. He told me the government tried digging but was denied by the owner. 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. down. This is just the beginning! X Marks the Spot Texas Monthly For decades the site has intrigued historians and treasure hunters. 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. Huge beautiful tree. Ho-hum, right? Latest local news from South Texas from KSAT12. 6. Franklin Mountains, El Paso, TX 79904, USA, Back in the 1860s, a man named Isaac Singer started a clothing manufacturing company in Texas. In the early 1800s, Stephen F. Austin, on his first trip to Texas, also heard about a rich silver mine on the San Saba River and a gold mine on the Llano. Handbook of Texas Online, A huge battle ensued between the two groups near what is now known as Tyler. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) In 1909 members of the United States Geological Survey visited the site, which they described as being unproductive. But if you dont like that version of the legend there are others. In searching some old newspapers.found a newspaper article from 1935, a full page on Jean Lafitte. . Great story! There are many accounts that say Lafitte settled in The Handbook of Texas devotes two pages to Lafitte's establishment of a base in Galveston around 1816. Chambliss Jr. of Beaumont, F.F. It featured Pirate Treasures. Thats a lot of money for a man who was a laborer just a few years before. The business was so profitable because Lafitte was selling smuggled, foreign goods to the people of New Orleans. Fearing an ambush by Native Americans, they then decided to hide the treasure by pushing it into the muddy waters of the Sabine River. Legendary French pirate Jean Lafitte and his crew were also known to troll the Gulf for booty at the time . I was born and raised in East Texas. Have you ever heard of any of these stories about mysterious lost treasure in Texas? 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. Singer Treasure on Padre Island In the mid-nineteenth century, a man named Isaac Merritt Singer made significant improvements to the sewing machine. that is. Fort Worth Daily Gazette, October 3, 1884. Before we dive Then it unexpectedly spills into the wide-open lake that he has sought. With the Louisiana is not exclusive to rumors of the treasures whereabouts too, as Many buildings were built during this period. which is said to contain many records and may hold the key to Frisbys buried treasure. in south Louisianas bayous for so long, Lafitte had also become an expert with It was stuck in the crack of the stairs. 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. years later! A light came on when the probe hit metal. He was moving logs across the lake when they snagged on the submerged wreckage, which was then in only about 2 feet of silt, historical accounts state. 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? The story revolves around oil fields in Texas, USA. 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 wrong move on Lafittes mason rouge. May the hunters strike gold. That set off a huge treasure hunting stampede. Mary Claire Patton has been a journalist with KSAT 12 since 2015. . But why? I studied it very well and found a hidden marking on a wall beside the stairs and a solid wall pit with a hole in the top. Beyond Oak Island Summary of Episode 1: Pirate Treasures and the Search in Hendricks Lake for Jean Lafittes Lost Treasure. Its said that John Singer buried a chest in the mid-1800s containing $60,000-$80,000 in various Spanish coins, silver bars and jewelry which he acquired through salvaging shipwrecks. The team reported finding the ship, which reportedly is sheathed on the bottom with copper. There is even an event in La Porte, Texas centered around the treasure called the Annual Search for Lafittes Gold.. My husband even traveled to Austin to talk to historian J. Frank Dobie about it.". Beyond Oak Island Episode 2 Summary: Wild West Gold and the Search at Robbers Roost Canyon for Butch Cassidys Lost Treasure, All can be found to have a questing theme within them. What books would you recommend about this pirate? However, since it pointed toward someone else's land, he never did or said anything about it. Maybe they can help them in their search from the insights learned from their own pursuit of the Money Pit. 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. Christian and the treasure hunting team are looking forward to using new technology to scan the bottom of the lake for possible anomalies, and hope to find a treasure which was missed in past searchers. What they would love to find, if not the silver, are clues to the treasure at least being there. These goods were at a high demand and otherwise illegal due to the Embargo Act of 1807. Texas is estimated to have $340 million in buried treasure, more than any other state in the U.S., according to TexasHillCountry.com. Lafitte knew that his new business outfit was hidden well enough that U.S. officials wouldnt be able to find him. This warrants some underwater metal detectors to be taken While such tales abound in historical accounts about Chambers County, Steve Hoyt, the Texas Historical Commission's marine archaeologist in Austin, says, "At this point, we can't say for sure what is down there. Because of his track record and reputation, Jean Lafitte was still seen as a criminal in the eyes of the United States. Ever seen an oak tree with a carving of two eagle wings on it? Theres Christian is not discouraged. Im ready to break out my metal detector! You must log in or register to reply here. He built a new kind of sewing machine, and in 1851 he started I.M. I grant you that in this case the O.P. 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. I have a file 2 in thick on Hendricks lake treasure. 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.