The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1922-03-11
HISTORIC SHIP SUNKEN IN MUD
OF BILOXI BAY HAS TREASURE
Is Belief of Veteran Fisherman Who
Reclaimed Vessels Relics Still
Hope that Treasure Awaits Divers.
May Have Been Pirate Craft.
by A. V. Ragusin in N. 0. Item.)

In the Back Bay of Biloxi, near
The mouth of Bayou Poteau, in the
mud about eight feet below the sur
face lies what was once one of the
ships of the first colonists. The YES
sci had been sunk there over 10o
years before it was discovered.
It was in the summer of 1898 that
Captain Eugent Tiblier. Jr., deseen-
dant of one of the earliest French
families of Biloxi, saw it in clear
water. Padding up and down in his
skiff he saw cannons on deck. Some
days later party of IA aboard a
small schooner, went to the spot to
find what they could. Captain Tib-
lier was in charge of the expedition.
Four cannons from the deck. now
in the yard of Captain Tiblier, were
brought up, smooth and in fine con-
dition. Indeed, they were thought at
first to he made of bronze. Two of
them are about six feet in length
the 9th er two are about four feet
long. lit was no easy job getting the
balls up by tying them under the
water, but more than so were re-
covered Captain Tiblier believes
there are several hundred more lying
around the ship.
Old time cutglass and swords were
also fou nd on the decks. These
swords were lost in 1898 shortly af-
ter the expedition, when storm
swept the gulf coast. At that time
the words were at the home of
Captain Eugene Tiblier, Sr., on the
bay, and were swept away. 1t is
possible, however, that someone took
them while the storm was raging.
This i the only trip to the wreck.
Meanwhf fle, the schooner, which is
twin dedked, is sinking in the mud.
Both Tibliers, father and son, be-
lieve thai the boat is one of Iberville
type, but some think it is pirate
vessel used by some outlaw of the
sea in til mes before the American in
dependence. Possibly the pirate boat
chased bly, some sloop of war, took
refuge ih the Back Bay, they say.
Old residents say that pirate vessels
entered Back Bay in the old days,
as it was only short distance from
outlying islands.
However, Captain Tiblier clings to
the belief that the sunken vessel was
once used by Iberville. Cannons on
pirate boat, he declares, were un-
usually firmly bound to the sides of
the vessel whereas, these cannons
were on travelling carriages. All
that was necessary to get them from
the deck was to tie a rope around it.
Another point in favor of Captain
Tiblier's statement is that the first
fort, which Iberville and his men er-
ected upon landing here, was located
a short distance from the old sunken
ship. Captain Tiblier thinks that
Iberville was bringing the cannon
and balls to the fort.
Too. the vessel could have been
that of an explorer, who took refuge
from either pirates or a storm.
Asked if he believed that there
was a treasure on the ship, Captain
Tiblier smiled: "Sure, I believe
there is" he said, ''but it will take
some trouble to get it."
He said that the valuables are in
a safety box, in the captains room,
below the first deck. The fisherman
say that when the first expedition
was made one of the party said he
saw a chest on the deck. However,
it was never found. Captain Tiblier
would like to go down again in a
diving uniform and make a thorough
examination. But it takes money for
Such an exDeditiou