Lafitte's large fleet and multinational band of pirates, privateers, and smugglers caused havoc in the Gulf of Mexico for a decade. Two oilmen from Texas actually brought a giant crane to the lake after getting some interesting readings from the bottom of Hendricks Lake. The first episode premiered on Tuesday November 17 at 10PM EST on the History Channel. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. It also has references to other lost treasure spots in Texas. Dallas Morning News, August 1, 1965. As early as next summer, Hoyt plans a preliminary investigation. Even though some, including Waldrop and Stotlar, had looked into draining the lake, there were no other attempts at that folly. ", As for the shipwreck in Lake Miller, Vogel says, "There is something actually down there. But all the treasure hunters declared that I must be hiding the truth. Much to the The story dates back to 1816 when pirate Jean Lafitte is said to have stolen $2 million in silver from the Santa Rosa. Peter Walker Adams lived in one of the houses on the hill near the lake and figured prominently in many of the newspaper stories. For decades the site has intrigued historians and treasure hunters. I grant you that in this case the O.P. He frequently returned to Galveston or the barrier islands near New Orleans to unload booty or take on supplies procured by Pierre. consisted of the currency he would receive in exchange for his foreign goods as Soldiers approach, wagons sunk in Hendricks Lake, an oxbow lake just south of the Sabine River in northeastern Rusk County. California musician Nathan Smith might have actually found one of Texas hidden treasure troves. did use the words "think" before that. I was living in high island Texas .mostly driving the beach further east to sea rim. that will never end. They used 10-foot poles to outline the vessel, which measured roughly 75 feet by 35 feet, news reports stated. Lafitte lived on Galveston island in the state of Texas, USA - from 1817 to 1821. Others have mounted full-scale salvage expeditions with backhoes and monster trucks and whatnot. Chambliss Jr. of Beaumont, F.F. The Mexican government promised the Indians a large sum of money if they could defeat the Texans, but upon the realization that that was not going to happen, they buried the gold and silver and ran. It may not display this or other websites correctly. Packsaddle Mountain in eastern Llano County is another alleged Bass treasure location. It is an awsome site! Lafitte became very familiar with, and eventually mastered, an illegal smuggling profession, which translated into an extremely lucrative career for him. Those looking for Gold, Diamonds, Jewelry etc wont find it. Besides the mysteries surrounding the locations of Lafittes buried booty, comes the mystery of the man himself. Here are seven stories of supposed buried lost treasure in Texas. I don't know about that if the government wanted to dig, they would. during the Battle of New Orleans. 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. 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 Discovering history is part of the adventure, and that never ends. My step father also grew up in East Texas, but in the country on a farm. which is said to contain many records and may hold the key to Frisbys buried treasure. 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. While his fleet took a hit, Lafitte himself managed to evade capture. In Colombian newspapers, his death was lamented and his obituary described him as a brave naval officer. Although the state owns the land and materials below the lake, it will coordinate its efforts with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which controls the surrounding property that is part of the Wallisville Reservoir project, he said. Ie. 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. Theres quite a bit of back story on this one which can be read on Texas Monthly. It is now thought that the money is on the southernmost tip of Padre Island. the treasure be today? She had his only known son, Jean Pierre Lafitte. Legend has it that El Pasos Guadalupe Mission was built in such a way that sends the noon sunlight shining straight on the mine.. More maps appeared showing various locations of a lost silver mine. Texas Monthly Is Nominated for Two 2023 Media Awards by the James Beard Foundation. This article provides images of newspapers from 1921, and one column in particular that talks about Lafittes treasure. 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. Some of the loot has been recovered, but the rest of these hidden treasures in Texas have mysteriously disappeared. WebHe was a French pirate and privateer. And if so is the treasure still there? But remember Lafittes black dogs are still around dont go a hunting unless you are prepared to suffer the consequences. It's okay, because we're here to bust them! With the threat of imprisonment I a month there. The search is called off for the time being. Christian knows his pirate history! 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. Adams was a Rusk County backwoodsman who wears an old slouch felt hat, bib overalls, and a denim jacket, buttoned at the throat even in hot weather, and a favorite character of columnist Frank X. Tolbert for many of his Tolberts Texas articles over the years. A few of the Cherokees were accompanied by agents of the Mexican government who had promised a lot of money to the tribe if they were able to drive out the Texans. hunt presented by Christian, Rick and Marty offer to send Matty Blake down to Signup today for our free newsletter, Especially Texan. On an 1863 map of the area, it was named Flanagan Lake but since the 1880s has been known by its present name. Abilene Reporter-News, June 24, 1958. My grandfather never got to look for the treasure s. Ive heard he would sometimes slip into Mobile Bay. A huge battle ensued between the two groups near what is now known as Tyler. It included G.C. 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. Just another myth? 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? hill on the Lakes side, the scans show some promising images. Many treasure hunters are convinced the money continues to lie beneath the mud of Little Cypress Creek in Upshur County. down. There are During the Mexican War of Independence, the Laffites served as spies for the Spanish, after moving to Galveston Island, Texas. Many from the area have taken artifacts from there, including coin. I have a file 2 in thick on Hendricks lake treasure. Mary Roger also tells us about how some fishermen much later got an unusual catch in their hoop net when fishing in the Sabine River; entangled in their net were several silver bars. The crescent-shaped lake is less than a mile long, thirty to fifty yards wide, and twelve to forty feet deep. I hope that you can help me out. The Sabine River could potentially hold a $2 million fortune in stolen silver. Im ready to break out my metal detector! Fearing an ambush by Native Americans, they then decided to hide the treasure by pushing it into the muddy waters of the Sabine River. They know its there. 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. treasure to speak of. 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. As a former channel of the Sabine, Hendricks Lake is fed intermittently by Black Slough and by seasonal overflow from both Cherokee Bayou and the Sabine River. 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, Beyond Oak Island. Fort Worth Daily Gazette, October 3, 1884. well as the fortunes left on the merchant ships that he captured. The story revolves around oil fields in Texas, USA. 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. I still have no idea if it was really a JL marker, or if so, it treasure was ever found. With the 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. Wheres your backyard? times as a smuggler and privateer, he became very wealthy. https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/hendricks-lake. They then filled in the shaft. The tree is privately owned, but sits right on the highway (FM 2100) just a few miles north of FM 1960. Lafitte fought many bloody battles with these Karankawas. Just about every book written about Texas in that era mentioned it. It's incredible to think that just under the peaceful water lurks enough treasure to change your life! JavaScript is disabled. Accompanying Bowie to Texas in 1830 were 109 enslaved workers, identified on the land grant as dependents. goal to once again evade U.S. seizure and to come back to it later. Many believe the treasure still lurks under the water, just waiting to be discovered. (In English documents, his last name was often spelled Lafitte, but Laffite was the spelling used by Jean and his brother Pierre.). So read this, get up, and go after your pot of gold. 5. Hispanic conquistadors reportedly hid a massive cache of gold and jewels in a mine shaft in the Franklin Mountains near El Pasos Guadalupe Mission, OnlyInYourState.com reported. Read the full story of Money Hill on LegendsOfAmerica.com. The business was so profitable because Lafitte was selling smuggled, foreign goods to the people of New Orleans. In Jean Lafitte's day, silver and gold filled a pirate's treasure chest, but today's treasures are people, places, and memories. Christian is not discouraged. NOWHERE BUT TEXAS: SEARCHING FOR JEAN LAFITTE'S TREASURE ON GALVESTON ISLAND Jean Lafitte was born in 1780 and below! 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. 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. If information about one of the last searchers had been documented and publicized it would likely have discouraged further similar attempts in the future. Between 1821 and 1828, Mexico issued many laws restricting or outlawing slavery. Lafitte knew that his new business outfit was hidden well enough that U.S. officials wouldnt be able to find him. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) 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. 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. By clicking "Accept," you agree to the use of cookies on Pelican State of Mind. But if you dont like that version of the legend there are others. and its inlets. On 4 February 1823, Laffite was onboard the General Santander off the town of Omoa in Honduras. Probably inside the hidden stairs that went to the first floor of his mason rouge. 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. Not one of them found any of the reported treasure, but that never prevented the next person from trying. The ships turned out to be heavily armed privateers and they mounted a frontal counterattack that included heavy fire. parties, as the Mystery of Jean Lafittes Unfound Treasure seems to be a voyage accessed May 01, 2023, With his business carrying on and continuing to grow, so did his wealth. I have a metal detector. Let us know in the comments The tried to dynamite the bottom, but ended up with no silver for this efforts. Charles F. Grice, Interview by Gary Pinkerton, February 2019. "It could be anything. We need your support because we are a non-profit organization that relies upon contributions from our community in order to record and preserve the history of our state. March 2023 Reader Quiz: What Did You Learn? After pinpointing the wreck, he plans to have divers dig up to 9 feet deep for artifacts that might date or identify the ship. Not a bad location to camp, near the river. I also. 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. He was now legally authorized by Great Colombia to take Spanish ships. There is even an event in La Porte, Texas centered around the treasure called the Annual Search for Lafittes Gold.. Think you can find some of the legendary hidden booty? 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. Then I did a litlle research and found this. In one Internet posting, I read the following: Texas has more buried treasure than any other state, with 229 sites within the states borders. It is this tale that Christian wants to follow up on. If you study your info you will be lost. into these uncharted waters, we need to know more about who Lafitte was. Hispanic conquistadors reportedly hid a massive cache of gold and jewels in a mine shaft The Lost San Saba Silver Mine This lost mine, with its rich vein of silver, has been what one treasure hunter writer has called the Holy Grail of Texas treasure seekers. In 1756 a Mexican official traveling through Texas learned from Indians of an exposed strain of pure silver that ran through a certain hill in Central Texas. and the fear of being captured, Lafitte allegedly buried his treasure with the In the early 1820s, Great Colombia under the government of Simon Bolivar had begun commissioning former privateers as officers in their newly formed navy. 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Most people wrote it off as another myth until a magazine Calvin Wilcher is in charge of the scans..he is on watch for something not of Mother nature. There are still treasure hunters to this day who believe the Lafitte fortune would be found if the lake was drained. May the odds be ever in your favor. Okay, that was a really bad joke. An historian named Herbert Bolton, using the original journals of the Mexicans from the eighteenth century, found what is now known as the Boyd shaft on Honey Creek. Today, Katie writes for the Texas and Arizona pages of OnlyInYourState.com and has never been more passionate about a job before. I once made a scientific study of all the known shipwrecks, from ancient to modern, that occurred off the Texas coast. unclear why Lafitte had to bury his treasure or even where he was last seen. 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. He told me the government tried digging but was denied by the owner. 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. 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He also might have(might have, I remind you)come across a wooden chest containing what was then $80,000 in jewelry and coins. One such story, according to multiple sources, says Bass stashed loot in an old hollow tree around 2 miles west of Round Rock. East Texas Gold From Mexico In 1839 Mirabeau B. Lamar, the newly inaugurated successor to Sam Houston as President of Texas, sent the Texas Army out to get rid of the Cherokees. The story of rogue pirate Jean Lafitte is a fascinating one. 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. He had to take a pirogoe which is a wood boat that would have sank if all the treasure would have been on board. Before we dive 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 One story even brought up to the surface. In searching some old newspapers.found a newspaper article from 1935, a full page on Jean Lafitte. 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.