The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-23
Lafitte's Treasure.
The Mystery Of the Gulf.
ligging for Gold.

Most of our readers will doubtless call to
mind the loss of small yacht and its owner
some three years ago, near the Chandelier
Islands. The circumstance at the time at
tracted very general attention, and public
opinion was divided as 10 the canse Of death
to the unfortunate gentleman, who, singly
aud alone. had ventured ont in a tempestu-
Gus sea.
From Cape Cod to the Rio Grande, there
is hardly an island but what is the supposed
graveyard of untold millions. The creda-
lous have assigned as many islands as there
are in the Grecian Archipelago for the rest
ing place of Capt. Kidd's treasure, and, not
to be behind, Latitte has claimed his measure.
In the case we have referred to above, it
appears that old sailor, who had been one OF
Lafttes crew, gave to the grandfather
Of the drowned man the information that
on the Western isle OF the Chandelier group,
on the Louisiana coast, was hidden three
chests of old Spanish ionbloons and rough
diamonds. This story had been handed
down from father to son in the family, and
the deluded young man, who was at that
time a printer on one OF the city papers, de-
termined to 90 in search of the treasure.
He went, and was lost as, it seems, were
several of his relations previously, who were
bound Oh the same errand. Gradually it be-
came current in the household, that some
unknown divinity, like that which 81 zeal
Ously protected Coopers Water WITCH
guarded from intrusion the sacred isle and
that it was death to attempt to disturb the
sand covering the chests.
Oyster boats have daily passed the
Sandy Key, but few owners when the ira
ditiOn had been made known, ever dared to
cast anchor in the neighborhood Sailors
are generally superstitiOns. Their wild and
reckless lives serve to instill emotions of
reverence for chance and luck, and hence
they disliked to dare the spell which seemed
to rest about the dreaded island. Whether
Lattte ever buried any money at all is eX-
ceedingly prOblematical, for, after his sup
posed crimes were ended, it is known he
settled down to the humdrum Of civil life.
and was daily visitor to the cafes in this
city. If he had hidden treasure he hardly
would have left 1t beneath the sands when
he hourly saw the benefits to accrue from its
use.
Be that as it may, there are many here
who still believe firmly that there is a for
tune lying somewhere along our coast,
awaiting the industrious shovel Of some
lucky individual. Old Creoles nod signif-
cantly when the subject is mentioned, and
look as much as to say if would tell all
| knew, you'd see."
Near this mysterious place, it is said,
phantom long boats have been seen, pro-
PEELED by worm-eaten oars, welded by arms
long since folded. Hoarse voices have been
heard at midnight hailing passing schooners
with a sepulchural "ship ahoy - and flash
ing lights have startled the drowsy sailor
in mid watch at the wheel. All these
stories have been tod again and again, but
the calculating person Of to-day has re-
turned only cynical smile when some in
fatuated yachtman has ventured to repeat
his tale.
There is a party of young men in this
city who have obtained the old and faded
paper which is said to have come down from
one of Lafitte's sailing masters. In it full
directions are q ven for finding the exact
spot where the skinner Of the seas de
posted in sand bank his store, and Ger
tain landmarks still in existence afford a
point of departure. The party intend to
take yacht at an early day and go in
search, following closely the directions and
thoroughly scour the wierd island. What
their success will be no one can s"y, but we
will hazard the opinion that their trip will
afford an amusing sketch for our Sunday
paper.