Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-12-14

Reported Discovery of a Part of His
Hidden Plumber on the Arkansas
River.

Reported Discovery of a Part of His
Hidden Plumber on the Arkansas
River.
The southern portion of Jefferson
county, says Little Rock special Of Dec
9, is greatly excited over the reported dis.
coyery Of some part Of the treasure Of the
famous pirate LATTE. 1t has long been
a legend that an immense treasure had
been buried by the rObber chief at some
point below Pine Bluff, along the Ar.
kansas river. Forty or fifty years age
the belief was held as a certainty, and il
has passed into tradition, losing little il
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 LATTE. believing that the exDe-
ditiOn planned by the British was mainly
against himself and the island of Bar
ataria, decided TO remove his immens Sc
treasure up the Mississippi river TO some
point which would secure it against cap
ture in the event that New Orleans tell
into the hands of the British. With this
in view, he selected a spot on the Arkan-
sas river, in the southern part of Jeffer-
son county, and the immense horde of
wealth Of the pirate, consisting Of gold
bullion. 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 entire following Of
LATTE, each Of whom was sworn 10 in
viOlable secrecy. The battle of New Or
leans occurred on Jan. 8, 1912, and for
weeks preceding LATTE and his men were
working to remove the treasure to the
chosen hiding place.
In 1885 a man aged 60 years appeared
in BOgy township, Jefferson county, and
acknowledged that he was a member of
Latitte's band. He gave to Col. Ben Rich
ardsOn a full description OF the ascent Of
the Mississippi and Arkansas rivers in
ships and boats containing the treasure,
and its subsequent burial in some portion
of the township. Search was made, but
the lapse Of time had so changed the sur
face Of the country that the man could
not identify the exact locality where it
had been placed. He died five months
after bis arrival, at the residence of DR..
W. kimbrOugh. Up TO the hour of his
death he asserted the truth Of his state
ments. He believed that the treasure had
been hidden at some point along the banks
Of Kings bayou, and estimated its value
TO reach $1,000. GOO U $3.000000.
Since his death the search has been car
rled on secretly, vet with desperate zeal.
In 1867 a party Of three men encamped
on the McCrary farm, near the bayou
named. They had a wagon and two
horses, and remained in their tent as
much as possible, holding cOmmunica-
ton with no one. Suddenly they disap-
peaTed, and after their departure it was
found they had eXcaYated several holes
IN the vicinity. four feet square and six
feet deep. Later two men, strangers, ap-
peared on the Wright plantation, above
Pine Bluff, and made various excavations,
presumably in the hope Of finding the
treasure. Mai. Wright compelled the
men to desist. In 1882 parties of men
dug holes upon the plantations Of Col.
Hensley and Josiah Nichols. but found
nothing, il is believed. The work was done
secretly and after nightfall. In October
last the Pine Bluff and swan Lake Rail-
road. running from the town TO the lake,
was constructed, and it has Just leak ed
out that in constructing the road a p0r-
ton Of the long concealed treasure was
found. 1t Is claimed that three cOnyicts.
while eXcavating for the railway on the
banks o. Kings bayou, uneaTthed a large
iron safe, which, upon being opened, was
found 70 contain Spanish doubloOns and
other Old-time coin. The box was hauled
away n a wagon, and the cOnvicts were
told 70 say nothing about the extraOrdi-
nary find" All the parties engaged in
the transaction have preserved a strict
secrecy. and only wit IN week past has
TumOr concerning it spread abroad. The
consequence is widespread excitement,
which IS not lessened by the suppOsition
that other iron chests, as richly filled, are
sui concealed IN the immediate locality.