The Aberdeen examiner. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1866-current, 1884-12-25


A dispatch from Little Rock, Ark
says: Southern portion of jefferson
county is greatly excited over the
reported discovery of some part Of the
treasure OF the famous pirate La6tte.
1t has long been a legend that an i'm
mense treasure had been buried by
the robber chief at some point below
Pine Bluff, along the Arkansas River.
Forty or fifty years ago the belief
was held as a certainty, and it has
passed into tradition, losing little if
anything, through the lapse OF time.
The facts as given the Times cores
pendent by several of the oldest set
tiers of Jefferson county are as fol-
lows:
Prior to the battle ofNew Orleans,
believing that the expedition planned
by the British was mainly against
himself and the island of Barataria,
decided to remove his immense treas
ure up the Mississippi River to some
point which would secure it against
capture in the event that New Or
leens fell into the hands Of the British.
With this view, he selected spot on
the Arkansas River, in tho southern
part of Jefferson county, and the i'm
mense horde Of wealth of the pirate,
consisting of gold bullion, silver and
valuable jewels, was buried, had been
first placed in iron chests and secure
ly sealed by means of IRON bands, Frod
accomplish the work of removal and
oonceainent required the united
efforts OF the entire followers O
LATTE, each of whom was sworn to
inviolable secrecy. The battle of
New Orleans occurred Jan. s, 1915,
and for weeks preceding Lahtte and
his men We're working to remove the
treasure to the chosen hiding place.
In 1885 man aged SO years az
peared in Boone township, Jefferson
courtyard acknowledged that he was
a member Of Laftte's band. He gave
to Col. Ben Richardson a full de-
scription of the ascent Of the MiSsis-
sippi and Arkansas Rivers by ships |
and boats containg the treasure, and
the subsequent burial in some por-
ton of the township. Search was
made, but the lapse Of time had so
changed the surface of the country |
that the man could not identify 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 of
his death he asserted the trutk Of his
statements. He believed that the
treasure had been hidden at some
point along the banks of Kings
bayou, and estimated its value to
reach two or three millions of dollars.
Since his death the search has been
carried on secretly, yet with desper-
ate zeal. In 1867, a party Of three
men encamped on the McCrary farm
near the bayou named. They had u
wagon and two horses, and remained
IN their tent as much as possible,
holding communication with no en-
they disappeared, and after
their departure it was found they had
eXcayated several holes in the vicin-
ty, four feet square and six deep.
Later two men, strangers, appeared
IN the Wright plantation, above Pine
d, ulf, and made various excavations,
presumably in the hope Of finding the
treasure Major Wright compelled (,
he men to desist. In 1882 parties
If men dug holes upon the pIauta-
ions of Col. Hensley and Josiah
but found nothing, it is be-
ieved. The work was done secretly
md after nightlall, In October last
he Pine Bluff and Swan Lake Rail-
Dad, running from the town to the
axe, was constructed, and it has Just
3aked out that in constructing
Dad a portion OF the long concealed
reasue was found. 1t is claimed
hat three convlcts, while eXcavatmg
or the railway on the banks Of Kings
'ayou, unearthed large iron safe,
which, upon being opened, was found
0 contain Spanish doubIoons aud
'ther old-time coin. The box was
.auled away in wagon, and the
onyicts were told to say nothing
bout the extraordinary find" All
he parties engaged in the transac-
ion have preserved strict secrecy,
nd only within a week past has
umor concerning it spread abroad.
he consequence is widespread ex-
ltement, which is not lessened by
ne supposition that other iron chests,
S richly filled, are stilled concealed
Il the immediate locality.
Three Tons of Silver.