Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-12-01
TWO RESULTS AT GALVESTON.
Disappearance ofsflle Buzzarda and of
the Pirate LaAtte's Grove.


From the New Orleans Times -Dsmocrat.. 49,.
"One of the most carioi1s results Of the
great Galveston istorm," said gentleman
who has lived for number of years IN
the tempest-swept city twas the total de-
structon of the buzyards. From time out
of mind the lower end of the island has
been a favorite haunt of these birds, and
they could be seen there any day by the
hundreds. After the storm it was generally
supposed that they would flock to the scene
of ruin, and the appearance of the noisome
creatures was looked forward to as an in
evitable finishing touch on the horrors of
the great catastrophe. But, much to our
surprise, none to be seen, and s.nce
then l have been all over the island and
find that they have completely disappeared.
A good many of the oid-timers sand they
had taken refuge on the mainland and
would be back again in few days; but
weeks have elapsed and none has appeared.
The only explanation is that they either
persisted on the spot during that terrible
night or were blown out to sea and
drowned.
I'm speaking of the matter the other day
an old fisherman told me OF an almost sim
liar occurrence off the coast of Florida. He
said there was small island below Cedar
Keys that was formerly great resort for
buZzards: in fact. it was known among the
natives as 'BuZZards' cay. For some rea
son or other the big birds made it their rem
utLNUuS dlll tHt spot was pTdctlCdlly sur
rendered to them. One night about ten
years ago, terrific tropical storm came
sweeping up the coast, and this little is
land seemed to be directly in the path OF
the cyclone center At any rate, 1t was
swept clean and the whole colony of buzz
yards were drowned The fisherman told
me that scores of them were washed up on
the mainland, and not another one was
ever seen on the cay. The new general on
avoided it inStinctively. Perhaps they have
way of handing down such traditions
Speaking of the destruction wrought by
the storm on the lower end of Galveston
Island said another Texan who had lis
tened to the buZZard story, 1.-The frightful
wind that night uprooted and carried away
three gigantic oak trees that have been
known for years as Lafitte's grove Ac-
cording to tradition, the spot was one of the
buccaneers numerous places of rendezvous,
and ! scarcely need add that he is repyted
to have buried a lot of treasure somewhere
in the neighborhood. The oaks were sup
posed to mark the place, and am sure II
is no exaggeration to say that hundreds OF
people have hunted for it at one time and
another. The trees themselves were largely
responsible for keeping the legend alive.
and now that they are gone, l dare say 1t
will die out
IF the true history of treasure-seeking
along the gulf coast could be written" con-
tinued the speaker, lit would make vol
ume as big as an unabridged dictionary and
as thrilling as dime novel. l used to
know an old negro who lived at Corpus
Christi. who was regular center of infec-
vate opinion that the ,Jold rascal was half
crazy. but he pretended TO have Information
that had been banded down to him from
his grandfather as to The burying of a
chest full of gold and jewels. by pirates, on
the south coast. He never told the story
the same way twice hand running, but when
he got hold of fresh listener he reeled it
off in wonderfully cireumstant!al fashion
heard him tell 1t once myself and. sitting
there in his little cabin in the light of a
single candle. with the sound of the distant
breakers in my ears T must confess he
thrilled me clear down TO the soles OF my
feet. If could have started out then and
there. nothing could have prevented me
from joining an expedition to dig up the
chest; but when | thought it over by day
light I" concluded that the old man was
triple-plated liar, A number. of others
believed his yarn. however, and at least
a dozen well-equipped parties gent out at
various times on the strength q it. One OF
them was backed by banker noted for his
hard common sense
II never heard of any OF them finding
anything. although they dug up the sur
rounding beach until they made 1t look like
q section of honeycomb,'