The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-12-25
LAFITTE's TREASURE.

Reported Discovery of Part of His Hid
den Plumber on the Arkansas River.
The southern portion of Jefferson
county, saws a Little Rock speci al of
December 9, is greatly excited over
the reported discovery Of some part Of
the tseasure OF the famous pirate, La
titte. It has long been a legend that
an immense treasure had been buried
by the robber chief at some point be-
low Pine Bluff along the Arkansas
river. Forty or fifty years ago the
belief was held as certainty, and it
has passed into tradition, losing little
ii anything through the lapse of time.
The facts as given by several
of the Oldest settlers OF
Jefferson county are as fol
lows: Prior TO the battle of New Or
leans Laftte, believing that the eXpe-
dition planned by the British was
mainly against himself and the island
of Baratarla, decided to remove his i'm
mense treasure up the MISSISSIPPI
river to some point which would Sc
cure it against capture in the event
that New Orleans fell into the hands
of the British. With this in view, he
selected spot on the Arkansas river,
in the southern part OF Jefferson coun-
ty, and the immense horde of wealth
of the pirate, consisting OF gold bull
lion, silver coin and valuable jewels,
was buried, having been first placed
in iron chests and securely sealed by
means of iron bands. To accomplish
, the work of removal and concealment
required the united efforts OF the en-
tire following OF Latitte, each OF
whom was sworn to inviolable secrecy,
n L IS nrlr nn0Ilrro6 on
January s, 1872, and for weeks pre-
ceding Latitte and his men were
working to remove the treasure to the
chosen hiding place.
In 1885 man aged sixty years ap-
peared in Bogy township, Jefferson
county, and acknowledged that he
was member of Lafitte's band, He
gave to Col. Ben Richardson a full
description of the ascent OF the Mlssls-
Sippi and and Arkansas rivers IN ships
and boats containing the treasure, and
subsequent burial in some portion OF
the township. ST arch was made, but
the lapse OF time had so changed the
surface of the country that the man
could not identity the exact locality
where it had been placed. He died
five months after his arrival at the
residence of Dr.. w. Kimbrough. Up
to the hour III his death he asserted
the truth of his statements. He be-
lieyed the treasure to be buried att
some point along the banks of Kings
BAYOU. and estimated its value TO-
reach 60 100000 to $3,0G0,000.
Since his death the search has been
carried on secretly, yet with a desper-
ate zeal. In 1867 parry of three men
encamped on the McCraty farm, near
the bayou named. They had wagon
and two horses. and TeIualns in their
tent as.much as possible, holding Con-
munication with no one. Suddenly they
disappeared. and after their departure
it was found they had eXcavated sew
eral heles in the vicinity four feet
square and six fest deep. Later two
men. strangers, appeared on the
Wright plantation. above Pine Bluff,
and made various eXcavati( Ms, pre-
sumeably in the hope of finding the
treasure. Maj. Wright compelled
the men to desist. In 1862
parties OF men dug holes
upon the plantation of Colonel
Hensley and Jo-iah Nichols butfou I'd
nothing. it is believed. The work,
was done secretly and after nightf ALL
In October last the Pine Bluff and
Swan Lake railroad, running from the
town to the lake, was constructed. and
it has Just leaked out that in construct
ing the road portion of the long coz
cealad treasures was found. 1t IS
claimed that three conviets. while eK
cavating for the railway on the banks
of Kings bayou, uneaIthed large
iron safe. which, upon being opened,
was found to contain Spanish doub-
looms and other old-time coin. The
chest was hauled az ay in a wagon, and
the convicts were told to say nothing
about the extraordinary ''lind All
the parties engaged IN the transaction
have preserved d strict SECRECY. and
only within 2 weak Fast hes Tnmor
concerning itspreai abroad The con-
seoueDce Is wi.igspead excitement,
which is not lessened by tae supposi-
ton that other iron chests, as richly
filed, are still concealed in the lmme-
diate locality.