Sunday, September 29, 2013

Buried Treasure

Being that Florida was once a haven for pirates - and some say it still is - you may well inadvertently stumble onto buried treasure at some point while digging for fishing worms. Herewith we present just a smattering of the possibilities, as we shall continue to feature in future blog posts:

Canal Point. This spot on the southern end of Lake Okeechobee was one of the hideouts for the infamous John Ashley, a 1920s-era pirate/bandit/smuggler. It's one of several different spots where Ashley and his girlfriend, Laura Upthegrove, are said to have hidden vast sums of loot from their criminal empire. What makes Canal Point doubly of interest is that Laura opened a filling station there after John's death. $110,000 in gold coins John and Laura stole in a bank heist were never recovered. Another $250,000 is said to be hidden on one of the small islands in St. Lucie Inlet. )The pair were the subject of the 1973 film Little Laura and Big John starring Fabian and Karen Black.)

The Treasure Coast. Located on the state's Atlantic coast, formed by Indian River, St. Lucie, and Martin, and in some definitions, Palm Beach counties, this region is well known for its numerous finds of booty which the Spanish Treasure Fleet lost in a 1715 hurricane.

Bokeelia Island. Supposedly there's buried pirate treasure here, but one website cites it as being that of "Bocilla the Pirate", of which a google search brings up that site and that site only. In other words, I think someone's really confused.

Pine Island. Another website says that nearby Pine Island is the site of the lost treasure of Bru Baker, a man said to be the sidekick of Jose Gaspar. But since it's pretty much assumed now that Gaspar/Gasparilla was only a legend, it doesn't say much for the veracity of a story about his sidekick, now does it?

Egmont Key. As we've already touched upon here, Egmont Key was once called Castor Cayo, so named for a mysterious Caribbean pirate about whom I can find very little information. Supposedly, if internet chatter is to be believed, this Castor the Pirate buried treasure on Egmont Key and and near Sweetwater Creek at Rocky Point, and held his own pirate community called Castortown on the East end of the key.

Somewhere near St. Petersburg. I know, I know, how vague is that? But that's all we have to go on from this old newspaper article from the Evening Independent, August 20, 1937. One old codger - and he was old even then - named John Girard was certain he could remember, with his photographic memory, an alleged treasure map he'd seen briefly as a young boy.

The Everglades. During the Civil War in 1865, Captain John Riley and his squad of Confederate troops were sent from Kentucky with a half ton of gold bullion to be transported to Fort Mead, Florida. They were nearly overtaken by Union troops advancing, so the Confederate band quickly buried the gold and escaped into the swamps of the Everglades. When it came to reclaim it, of course, no one could remember exactly where they put it. The gold may stay there a long time: digging in the Everglades, now a Federally protected area, is forbidden.

Caesar's Rock. The treasure of "Black Caesar" is supposedly located here, as well as on Sanibel Island. Black Caesar's full real name was either Henri Caesar or Caesar LeGrand, depending on which historian you ask. He was originally either from Haiti or from Dominica, also depending on which historian is speaking. Reportedly he entered the solo pirate business by killing the captain of a ship he was a mate on, then became a privateer for the next 28 years.

Don Felipe's Plantation. The legend is often told locally about a Spaniard named Don Felipe, believed to have buried a large hoard of family heirloom silver and gold coins on his property during the Seminole war. Unfortunately, he was subsequently killed by Indians and the cache, allegedly located 2 miles NW of Ocala, is still lying there waiting for you to find it.

8 comments:

  1. Bullion Exchanges is a trusted Precious Metals Seller located in the heart of New York City's Diamond District.

    Bullion Exchanges have a massive selection of items including, precious metals that range from the popular gold & silver to platinum and palladium.

    They are offering an enormous selection of products appealing to 1st time buyers and for seasoned collectors.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I was in Ocala, Florida a few years back searching for some lost silver dimes. I had heard about the Don Felipe treasure and did a bit of research on it and actually located the property that it pertains to.
    Unfortunately, my timing was off and I never got the chance to go and ask the property owner for access to search for it. I was able to pick up 27 tics while searching for the lost dimes.

    With all the treasures in Florida (be it pirate, Civil War, or wrecked ships) there are three things you can do.
    1. Find the treasure, report it, and go to jail for committing a 3rd Degree Felony
    2. Find the treasure, don't report it, melt it down or sell it on the black market using a different name.
    3. Go find it, unbury it, take tons of pictures, bury it back again, and prove to the world that you found it.


    Yes, Reconnaissance knows where there is treasure in Florida inland from the beaches but to gain access to it is a Felony. To report it would be to re-introduce treasure to greedy Archaeologists, politicians, and other treasure hunters. After all the millions (if not billions) of dollars that have been found and uncovered, how many of these "treasures" or "historic items" are sitting in a museum for all to see? I can tell you, not near as much as it should be. So is there corruption? Or not?

    What would we do if we were allowed to access the entire state of Florida? First, Reconnaissance would like to work out a 10 percent cut of everything we find. We would also like to become immune from prosecution, and even then, I would walk softly. We would also secure the right to make 4 different dig holes in the area we were in to verify something was there prior to notifying the State. If there was something of monetary value (gold, silver, jewels, etc) we would reserve the right to remove it and have it secured and properly inventoried prior to handing over to Law Enforcement and before contacting any Archaeologists.

    But, this will never happen. Not in FLorida.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You forgot option 2.5... find it, dig it, take photos, tell no one, and enjoy the historical value in your own personal collection. Because in the end, something you find should bring you enjoyment. For me, that's historical enjoyment, not monetary... so I would have no plans to sell anything.

      And to your point, I've worked with a local archaeological group in my area for about 5-6 years as a kid. I saw how artifacts were cataloged, boxed, and stored in dark closets to usually never see the day of light for the public to enjoy. That lack of enjoyment on the public's part, due to how finds are handled, can still be appreciated on a personal level. That's my own personal opinion, of course.

      Delete
  3. Found a Mysterious old key near Eggmont Key doing research on pirates there thanks for the info

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Would love to see that. I found an old unfired period rifle round at Fort DeSoto once while metal detecting (by permit) around the edge of the beach. I'd love to be able to detect on Egmont Key...

      Delete
  4. Wow what a great blog, i really enjoyed reading this, good luck in your work. Directional Pole Signs

    ReplyDelete
  5. I've lived in the middle of Florida 56 year's born 10 miles from where I live 56 year's ago, I have found more meteorite than old coins latest from my reacearch 2020 me my now deceased wife who suddenly died, anyway looking at the sky its not uncommon to see a half dozen a night.this last one I thought was going to take my home as we sat and looked north I seen a blue plume bright and it came in quick. no noise I seen where it hit anyone who knows how thick sugarsand is its super granulated and pull a vehicle off in it you're stuck one spin you're on the axle. I seen it hit right in front of a pond that separates my house from the shell rock rd. I took my metal detector and nothing so I waited until night and used a 10 thousand watt spot lite and I found a tennis ball size I assume utilize or a hell of a big diamond. cloudy glass no shell no metal just a burnt 3 piece glass. I have it sitting with things I've found in 56 years of living in Florida. I didn't check to see if it had heat like a diamond I did experiment on a mirror and it dam near cut a hole half the width of the mirror. there's a earth planet called earth55 difference the plants 3 times the size of earth and rotates every 18 days ago unlike ares 365 and the temperature is28 hundred degrees. from what I have seen is the planet earth 55e us composed of a hole diamond and occasionally a piece has been dislodged. I would like to know but I'm like the other gentleman I take it out and look at it and put it back. metal detecting meteorite is about the size of a nickel and someday my grandchildren will get them and they will know what I've found forsure. ft. Basinger is a great place to find arrow heads spear heads old cannon balls muskets pretty much if you can find them buried there salvageable if not pretty much a piece of steel.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's very fascinating! I'd love to find a meteorite! I found one up in Missouri once that I think was a meteorite, but the size of a bowling ball. I had just gotten into treasure hunting and didn't have a metal detector, or know how to check with a magnet... and was never able to go back and check again.

      Delete