The morning news., 1897-08-29
BURIED GOLD.
sTILL SEEKING FOR THE SUPPOSED
TREASURE OF THE PIRATE.

Tho Fear of Ghosts Kept an OIu Ne
GRO Cook From Revealing the Hid
ing PIaces-A French Canadians
Accidental DiscOvery-Lntitte's Pr
rotc Schooner Visible at Low Watt
er.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Having heard so many conflicting stories
concerning the visits Of Lafitte, the fam
ais nitrate. to Southwestern Louisiana, IN
tbe early days of the nineteenth century,
concluded to investigate the sources OF
these legends and give the public the re-
srdts of my researches. 1t Is well known
that Iaftte used to run up the Calcasleu
or1 Nfermentau rivers to dispose of con-
eroband goods or bury treasure which had
4.en taken from merchant vessels on the
high seas.
On one occasion he came up the Cal
casieu as far as Lake Charles and soid one
of his crew, negro cook, to a resident.
This negro died about four years ago, ana
80 srnnosed TO have been 10 years of age
This darly knew of many places where
t,easrre was buried, but could never be
persuaded to tell any more than that
oreat deal was buried along the Contra
hand bavou. a tributary to the Calcasieu.
Il. said that MARS Lafitte, when he bury
dat money, kilt a niger, an put MIN III
ID hole. too. right on top O. dat money
on, tole rs dat if we eber tole any ibin'
.o,l where hit wuz dat de sperit o dat
nigqer shore gwine ha'nt us until our dy-
,n, dey. and wouldn' glib us no res. Noh'
sab. vo' gemmen can do whatsomeber yo'
like 70 me: yo can kill me eff yo' wants to-
bnt amt gwine show yo' nothin' bout
dat buried money 'ceptin' it's along Con-
trabond bayou somewheres.
Resides this darlzey, there is still one
othAr who is alive and whom 1 have often
seen. and is supposed to have peeh Oh
Iadtte's crew. He however, stoutly ue-
nies all knowledge of Lafitte or his treas
q nro vent to a ranch about five miles
out from Lake Charles a short ulne
q since where I knew I would ma hin' l
questioned him about many Things con-
cerning the early history of this country,
Int when LATTE was mentioned coulu
see that he was displeased, and falled
TO obtain any further information from
hin, than that he knew nothing OF La
8tre and ne even declared that he had
never heard of him, Notwithstanding ms
rrevious statement that he was IL years
old a the time of "Jackson's war
French Canadian living on the porder
Of the sea marsh has at times told me
many strange stories, and really knows
more about the great pirate than any per
son I have met. l once happened at ms
ranch While he was suffering from the
erccts Of a trip into the great marsh.
asked him what took him in there.
oh just loking for something. rev
more questions developed the fact that
he had been looking for the treasure. HaN-
ing known him for a long time l did not
hesitate to ask him why he supposed lhe
81 treasure to have been buried in such
place and away from water course linen
he told me the following story;
"On the other side Of the marsh, south-
east from here, right on the banks OF the
Mermentau. there is a pile of brickoats
anl mortar. the remains of what was once
brick tomb, marked simply by an IRON
cross, bearing no inscription OF any klhu'
To the few supplemented Catho4ic set'iers
scattered through that section II convey
Cd no hint of being otherwise than the
lonely resting place of one of the faithful.
One afternoon some years ago a schoner
sailed up the river and dropped anchor
nearly opposite this tomb. No attention.
however was paid to this circumstance, as
small craft often passed up the river TO
tde upper country. This schooner lay at
anchor for three or four days, and sailed
away under cover Of the night. The next
DAY sore one discovered that the tomb
had been broken into. A large iron kette
was found lying a short distance away,
and near by was picked up small Span
hn gold coin of ancient date. Now, it is
evident that LATTE shTewdiy conceived
,Ae idea of building the kettle Of gold,
knowing that the supposed resting place of
lne dead would probably remain undis-
lroei forever. Having no occasion to
use me money the chart showing its To-
nm. 10 a. 10.
'.ehNants of some Of the crew, which ac-
sho0ncr"
here my friend paused, and / explained
MIN that / still failed to understand
WY he should risk his life searching in
.dsl marsh for treasure that had already
Ee1 carried away
Watt Doe said "and I'll tell you. Soon
,r l"e departure OF the schooner
oIHs lli.nl of mine living near the Ner-
.'''A shot and killed one of three broth
NJ 'n aiihculty and Of course he had
IN ~, 'l once, as there was no officer
'"e dW in that section. and the rela-
NJ on we dead man swore vengeance.
was AFRAID to take the trail along the
fn HHe' TO Loesburg, as this was the
os' way out. and he knew It would be
= watched"
mi N'1l mere. 10y way OF explanation,
s,,a+,' 'Nat the high prairies OF this
fHs
49,. W." 'o twenty miles OF almost inn
lr5. sea marsh, which. In fact ex-
eastward 20 the Atchafaiaya. At
GW Ws of which we are speaking the
IN l 'Il Sea- marsh are separated hy a
t- oi varying width extending
N -.t M rmontau river westward along
6-. 'u. Scattered here ana there
F-. Iiie are small ranches owned
ur,, IN,h known familiarity IN this
ss.,. "ClIens," corruption OF
M an. 40" their only communlca-
saa 'Ne upper country ~ either 10
t f. ,.''n.r up the Mcrmontau or fol-
stIr,o '." Westward along the ridge 10
N. ltuo town on the Caloaelen
cb.,' 'At' the mail boat north FOR
af U make this short expiana-
Hr. laN OF the country 10 show
which confronted the fugi-
. continued my friend. she
r.,' s desperate ldca of crossin,,
which ia about nftoon miles
il. ". POINT 90 knew about ~
r ranch from the chenier
i,n., 'l u he could only reach