Written by the TreasureGuide for the exclusive use of the Treasure Beaches Report.
Talk of treasure fuels the imagination. It is the stuff of novels, dreams, fantasy, adventure and myth, but it is also real. There are amazing treasures that have been found, more that have not yet been found, and there are treasures that are thought to be real but are totally fiction.
It can be difficult to separate fact from fiction. Fact and fiction can be tightly intertwined. But that is not unique to treasure hunting - it is the same with unidentified aerial phenomena and pandemics. It is up to the individual to weigh the evidence and separate fact from fiction. I've often presented my own thoughts on how to do just that.
Lately, I've been giving some treasure leads from L. Frank Hudson's books. I've written before that Hudson's reputation for accuracy is not flawless, but I've also heard from some who have followed up on his leads and found them precise. In one case, a reader of this blog followed a lead and found a rectangular depression in the earth where it appeared that a chest they sought had already been removed. I once followed a similar lead and at the location found an iron digging bar. where someone another seeker might have been - successful or not.
Some of Hudson's treasure locations are easily verified by other sources and I have verified a few by personal experience. I am struck, though, by what appears to be a huge discrepancy. Wikipedia says that buried pirate treasure is actually very rare and there are very few actual examples, while Hudson's book, Lost Treasures of Florida's West Coast lists about 60 locations for buried treasure chests - and that does not include those found in his other books.
Here is what Wikipedia says: "Pirates burying treasure was rare. The only pirate known to have actually buried treasure was William Kidd, who is believed to have buried at least some of his wealth on Gardiner's Island near Long Island before sailing into New York City. Kidd had originally been commissioned as a privateer for England, but his behavior had strayed into outright piracy, and he hoped that his treasure could serve as a bargaining chip in negotiations to avoid punishment. His bid was unsuccessful, however, and Kidd was hanged as a pirate."But you can find other references to buried treasure in Wikipedia. Here are just a couple.
"The only authenticated treasure chest in the United States, once owned by Thomas Tew, is kept at the Pirate Soul Museum in St. Augustine, Florida.
Wikpedia also says, "Pirate Olivier Lavasseur, also known as "The Buzzard" (La Buse), was rumored to have hidden treasure before his death in 1730. No such treasure has been found."
So, Wikipedia seems to be somewhat inconsistent.
Is Wikipedia right in saying there are almost no chests buried by pirates, or is Frank Hudson right? Or are they both right? Is there some truth in both?
Most detectorists don't search for buried chests. That requires additional research. It is a different kind of project. Gaining access to the site might not be easy, and if the target is found, digging a big hole and removing a large target would require additional tools and effort. That kind of search would not be conducted in public view. The information about that kind of treasure or any such find would most likely be kept secret. It would not be done in public view like beach metal detecting.
So, is Wikipedia right that buried treasure chests are almost non-existent, or are there as many as Frank Hudson suggests?
Here are some considerations. The information in Wikipedia comes from anyone who wants to make it public. Those who seek or find that kind of treasure might not be willing to say much about it. Hudson, on the other hand, is selling just that kind of information, so there is the profit motive. In any case, leads need to be verified, and that is part of the fun, and you never know what you might discover in the process. You might find something other than what you were looking for.
Many times, I've been metal detecting on the beach, and somebody came up and asked me if I'd find the ring they just lost. As I said before, always ask for a good description before searching for a specific lost item because it is not uncommon to find something other than the ring you were looking for. It is like that with other things. You go out looking for one thing and discover something just as good or better. And when exploring new locations, especially those having historic associations, you almost always learn something interesting and useful in the process.
So, once again, is Wikipedia right, or is Hudson right. I say there is some truth in both. Wikipedia probably underestimates, and Hudson probably overestimates. Yet, one of the best things you can do is research and explore, and if you really look into it, it will pay off in one way or another.
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| Source: magicseaweed.com. |
Looks like we'll have a little higher surf, peaking around Saturday.
Good hunting,
TreasureGuide@comcast.net