Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1898-04-03
WEALTH OF PIRATES.
MYSTERIOUS HOARDS RECENTLY DIS.
COVERED IN ST. AUGUSTINE.

|
Some negroes engaged recently in re-
moving the coquina walls OF an old
| spanish casa at ST. Augustine, Fla,
that had been demolished to make
room for a modern structure, found a
few Spanish doubloons in little niche
that had been cut into the wall. The
date on one of the coins showed it to
be 100 years old. 1t is supposed that
the coins were placed in the hole in the
Wall during the Seminole Indian war
Oh halt a century ago. Every man was
MS own banker in those days, and they
hid their gold in the walls, chimneys,
under the houses, and those who be-
| heved that ghosts would keep bad peo-
pie away hid their gold in the grave
yard. Periodically there is n revival OF
gold hunting, many of the early settlers
believing that the old town Is rich In
goia deposits, and whenever an old
building Is to be torn down many vol
uhteer to work for Just what they can
| lind. Within the past few years sew
eral sums OF gold have been dug IN on
Anastasta Island. opposite ST. Angus
/ tine. by fishermen. This led to organ
| II
| guided by visions from clairvoyants,
who can discover fortunes for others,
but not for themselves.
Ihat there Is great deal Of hidden
treasure in Florida there can be little
doubt, but the secret Of the hiding
place died with the Spaniards, who
were killed by the fcrocious Seminoles
| and the pirates who infested this coast
IN earlier times. Anastasia Islard was
frequently visited by Lafitte, the pirate
OF the Gulf coast. whose voyages
extended to Galveston. Texas, and the
lakes OF Southern Louisiana. Tho
Government finally ran him down, and
he left buried gold at many points OH
the coast. Drake sacked and burned
the town shortly after it's settlement,
and the bloodthirsty Blackboard" took
what he could find when his piratical
vessel landed there. Morgan and Floyd
also paid visits to st. Augustine, and
black Caesar" negro, also scourged
the coast. and 1t Is believed buried
some OF his stolen treasure on Anasta-
sa Island. His negro crew mutinied
over division Of the spoils nnd some
we're killed. Two or three deserted,
and they have left tradition that
large sums were buried and landmarks
taken SO that the treasure could be
round on the return Of the vessel. But
Black Caesar and his long. low. rakish
craft never returned The landmarks
| soon disappeared. Certain 1t Is that
several farmers who located upon this
island shortly after Florida was coded
to the United States have become
wealthy. The yield of their farms was
not very large, and the suppostion
is that they accidentally stumbled upon
jars of gold in digging foundations for
| houses
Black Caesar was the most blood
thirsty pirate that visited this coast,
not excepting the drunken ruflan
blackboard. lie invariably burned any
vessel that he overhauled. and either
cut the threats OF the crew or let them
go down in the burning vessel. There
is creek in Southern Florida bearing
his name. 1t Is deep creek, It's out
let almost hidden from view. Up this
creek he would sail and secrete his
booty, repair his vessel or wait for
vessels to come along the coast. when
his black painted vessel, flying the
black flag, would suddenly appear, as
II vision from the Internal regions. In
the center of this creek Is a rock.
known as Caesars rock. which still
shows evidence OF the visitation OF
Caesars yessel-rusty pieces of iron,
an anchor and part Of an old can
non.
The crews OF wrecked vessels also
buried their money along the coast and
were either killed by the hostile Indi-
ans or fled for their lives. In either
event. the treasure remained buried
and its location forgotten or the Sailors
never returned.
| The stories Of hidden treasure on
the coast Of Florida and In this ancient
| city are not myths based upon stories
OF early Spanish residents, as many
lucky finds will testify. An exploring
party. under the guise Of tourists, re-
Gently took trip down the coast.
touching at the various Islands aud
putting In at the inlets, ostensibly fish.
ing and hunting. While this is part of
the programme. they are out more for
profit than for pleasure.
Remedy Worse Than the Disease.
A story told by Audubon is OF an
asthmatic clergyman who procured
the glands OF a skunk and kept them
corked in smelling bottle, to be ap-
piled to his nose when symptoms OF
his complaint made themselves mani
fest. He believed that he had discoy-
cred a specific for his distressing NAL
ady, but on one occasion he uncorked
the bottle in the pulpit and drove the
congregation out of church.
Jealous Old DOE.
a certain English retriever is SO fond
of children that he will permit, with
out even growing. one Of them to take
n bone out of his mouth. Yet the sight