In searching some old newspapers.found a newspaper article from 1935, a full page on Jean Lafitte. Marcel Rodriguez: I'm hearing that it's not good. "We've suffered flooding before,. The state treasurer says the storm motivated him to start digging through the files to help people. But to our surprise, he says hes not going to use the fortune to finish building that house White: Most of it will go to St. Judes Childrens Hospital in Memphis thats where most of it will go. You know, right now, people are in the middle of this emergency and there's really not no answer for it. This one right here was the worst one Ive been in. The wind was howling, he said, and seemed to never stop. Residents told of hours of harsh winds and rising water as the storm blew through. This is going to be a nightmare. Click below to begin your paid subscription. But the truth is, the winds wasn't like this. 1987 .999 Silver American Eagle 1 Troy Ounce Bullion Coin W/ Airtite, SH129e JAPAN ORIGINAL EDO Hansatsu By YANAGIMOTO Han Silver 1 Monme 1830, Egypt,1965, 10 X 1 Pound Tutakhamon, Prefix 61 --> 70, P37, See Scan, 2011 (W) Silver Eagle PCGS MS70 West Point Mint, 1899 Barber Half. MR: I'm hearing that they feel like theyre trapped and they understand that nobody can get there, but they are in panic mode and they've got a good right to be. While at my favorite used book store some months ago I stumbled across a copy of a book that I read as a kid. Here is a transcription of their conversation: Shalina Chatlani: Hi, Sheriff Rodriguez. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Trees and power lines were also brought down. MR: Oh, I can't take it. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. I felt bad because I should have left with my kids, she said. (AccuWeather / Bill Wadell), "I do it for the thrills and the booty," Mears quipped. before Hurricane Ida hit SC: Well, thanks for chatting with us and giving us that update. I was crying, Juan recalled as he stood on the flooded street, the water lapping over his rubber boots. "The treasure," he added. The parish had received more than 200 calls for rescue since Sunday. So his home is a trailer. There are many stories about what happened to Lafitte and where he died. We did rescue missions all today, Sheriff Lopinto said. Jean Lafitte Mayor Tim Kerner said the town - 20 miles (32 km) south of New Orleans and outside the city's levee protection system - had suffered "catastrophic" flooding. Satellite images taken by Maxar on Tuesday shows just how extensive damage is over the Gulf Coast and southern Louisiana. "I'm shaking because I'm like, 'There's no way!' SC: I understand that this area was under a mandatory evacuation. Poking at the can was the first step in uncovering a buried treasure of rare coins estimated to be worth $10 million. Accuweather National Reporter Bill Wadell didn't mind getting dirty to take viewers along a journey with a history buff in New Orleans who searches for Louisiana's forgotten past. LaPlace, a town of quiet subdivisions on the eastern bank of the Mississippi River where many evacuees from New Orleans settled after Katrina, saw many of those homes mangled and streets flooded by Ida. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. hide caption, Aerial image of Jean Lafitte, La. I was looking at the weather on the TV, but it went out. I try to prepare for the worst and pray for the best. Jean Lafitte Mayor Tim Kerner said the town - 20 miles (32 km) south of New Orleans and outside the city's levee protection system - had suffered "catastrophic" flooding. When no one claims these valuables, theyre eventually turned over to a state, where they may languish for years. Some small towns outside New Orleans were inundated. Fast forward 25 years. The man who was killed left an estate of 60,000 in cash plus land in Mississippi. Great story! The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Its not coming anymore. I'm thinking tomorrow morning, I don't know if I'm going to be there at four o'clock in the morning, at three o'clock in the morning, I just don't know. Below are some stories to tell about other folks who now, more than ever, need to find a little lost money. In 1825 somebody had a large stash of coins buried under an oak tree just outside of the city of New Orleans. I found this site just now from a google search for Lafitte's treasure and it brought me here. Parts of Louisiana and Mississippi have been left devastated by Hurricane Ida, which flooded communities, knocked out power lines and littered roads with debris. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. None of them like this one, he repeated. The Louisiana town of Jean Lafitte has been "totally devastated" by Hurricane Ida, with rescuers unable to reach hundreds of stranded residents after a vehicle wiped out a bridge, Mayor Tim Kerner . "The deepest I've gone is over 15 feet, but this one, in particular, is about 8 feet deep and it's just incredible. Several small towns in the southern half of the parish, outside the giant storm protection system encircling New Orleans and some of its suburbs, were inundated. Thats the way I do, help somebody who really needs help and those children are it. New Orleans itself had been bruised but not beaten. ", Beachcombers find Spanish coins, pieces of shipwreck. Its part of living in this community. Flooding at a mobile home park in LaPlace. Oak Island the Strange, the Bizarre, and Maybe the "Truth! It may not display this or other websites correctly. So I don't know where it's going to stop. New Orleans and its hardened storm infrastructure appeared to have held up, though the city had no electricity. Treasure hunter Christian Roper is searching for Jean Lafitte's buried treasure that could be worth over 50 million dollars today - he meets with Rick and Marty Lagina to get their advice, in this clip from Season 1, \"Pirate Treasures.\" #BeyondOakIslandSubscribe for more from Beyond Oak Island and other great HISTORY shows:http://histv.co/SubscribeHistoryYTFind out more about the series and watch full episodes on our site:http://histv.co/BeyondOakIslandCheck out exclusive HISTORY content:History Newsletter - https://histv.co/newsletterWebsite - https://histv.co/HistoryFacebook - https://histv.co/FacebookTwitter - https://histv.co/TwitterFrom pirates such as Blackbeard and outlaws like Jesse James, to Aztec gold, priceless historical artifacts from American history and sunken treasure ships, Beyond Oak Island digs deep into the many treasure quests across the globe, revealing amazing new details and clues from past searches and in some cases, advancing the hunt.HISTORY is the leading destination for award-winning original series and specials that connect viewers with history in an informative, immersive, and entertaining manner across all platforms. He stated while talking to someone on the radio, who was a Jean L researcher, the guy described the markings Lafitte would leave pointing to treasure. It turns out Jimmy had benefits coming to him from a Lowes employee stock program. And they got some older folks back after that, I spoke back in. Hurricane Ida lingered over southern Louisiana for most of 29 August, bringing rainfall and floods before moving north and east into Mississippi and Alabama the following day. Hurricane Katrina remains one of the worst hurricanes in U.S. history. Edmund D. Fountain for The New York Times. How many people do you think stayed behind and and and why do you think they stayed behind? It's an actual gold medal, 1859, says it right there, gold medal. I know New Orleans got nailed with it because of that levee failure. No one had cellphone service. But after about 14 years working at Lowes, he was battling serious depression. The Treasure Map of Jean Lafitte Edit Main Page Trivia Quotes Gallery The Snake Bracelet of Cleopatra The Lost Love Letter of Captain John Smith The Star of Sultan Saladin The Treasure of Anne Bonny The Keys to the Alhambra Lawrence of Arabia's Headdress The Mussel Shell Armor of Apanuugpak Ponce de Len and the Lost Fountain of Youth After gathering strength over the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana and Mississippi on August 29, 2005, eventually carving a path up the East Coast. It was a book on the treasures of Galveston and the surrounding area. Read about our approach to external linking. By Richard Fausset,Rick Rojas and Patricia Mazzei. Hurricane Katrina was among the most destructive storms ever to hit U.S. shores. In coastal areas, particularly in Jefferson Parish, which includes the small towns of Jean Lafitte, Barataria, and lower Lafitte, floodwaters have taken over entire roads, bridges, and neighborhoods. Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio | Much of New Orleans has been plunged into darkness, with only emergency lighting seen in many areas. But with parts of Louisiana still unreachable, the full extent of the wreckage remained unclear. The one I am thinking of was found. Also, Dateline shows how you may be able to find that forgotten treasure on your own. "I just let fate guide me and you can't just think about it. My son is crying. Because Katrina took a turn and it hit toward Mississippi more than it hit over here. The town is about 20 miles south of New Orleans. In Jean Lafitte, a village of about 2,000 people, about 400 residents initially refused the mandatory evacuation order, according to the sheriff. John Bel Edwards said no major levees failed during Ida, thanks to a $14 billion hurricane risk-reduction system that was built in the greater New Orleans area following Katrina in 2005. Aerial image of Jean Lafitte, La. Edgar Sandoval contributed reporting from Houma, La. And I think, I never seen the list, but I think they got over 400 that stayed. There were reports that its roof had blown off. "They feel the wind. Its hard to believe there could be much good news after this, but weve found a silver lining actually, for some people, a whole lot of gold. Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies Articles, Great Discoveries: Metal Detectorist Finds 14th-Century Coin, 300-Year-Old Hairpin Beneath Farmland, The Market for Queen Elizabeth Collectibles Soars, Money as Marketing Material: Vintage Bank Note Ads. It took just a few clicks to find this one mans $400, and another $670 for another man who never received a payout from an old insurance claim. Your device does not support this visualisation. Energy companies say they are working to restore power, but residents are being warned it could take weeks in some areas. "This still happens on the Treasure Coast. I mean it's rare. This was like my first coin ever," she said. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Her 13-year-old son, Cesar, showed videos he had shared with friends on Snapchat of the wind and water descending on the familys home. before Hurricane Ida. He went all the way to lower Lafitte, he said, but found few takers for a boat ride. In the 1950s, the Sabine River and the nearby lake (Hendrick's Lake) experienced a new onslaught of treasure seekers when the story of Laffite's silver was published by the True West magazine. "That's why we're out here. BRITAINS 17474 Pirate Jean Lafitte New Orleans 1815, Britains 17474 Pirate Jean Lafitte Battle Of New Orleans Americana Serie, 1956 Saga Men's Magazine Feb. Issue Jean Lafitte Pirate, 1972 Crescent City Tri Multi Bronze Mardi Gras Doubloon Jean Lafitte Pir, 1950s - 60s Fifth Bombardment Group 4 Jean Lafitte Pirate Patch, Barzso War Of 1812 (Battle Of New Orleans) Jean Lafitte And American Reg, 1814 Pirate Jean Lafitte Barataria Front Pg Louisiana, *Barzso*+*Conte*Cannon~Pewter*Battle O New Orleans Playset Cap Jean Lafi, 1950's - 60's Fifth Bombardment Group 4" Jean Lafitte Pirate Patch, 1960 Spanish Main By Swank Pirate Jean LaFitte Toby-Style Mug, The Coins Of The Greek And Scythic Kings Of Bactria And India In The Bri, Catalogue Of Chinese Coins From The VIIth Cent. My step father knew where one of these markers were, he had found it while hunting years ago and thought it might be a grave marker or something. So was the electricity. As such, the treasure hunter keeps a close eye on the forecast and levee construction projects protecting the Big Easy to plan each expedition. No one had heard from the Nolans since Sunday morning, and now the village, along with much of the southeastern Louisiana bayou area, was underwater. I mean, right now, if they have 10 foot of water, they're basically there in the Gulf of Mexico in a hurricane. You are using an out of date browser. Tropical storms, hurricanes and flooded rivers can be incredibly destructive, but they also help uncover memories from the past. TREASURE COAST, Fla. Right after and believe it or not even during hurricanes, there is a group of brave souls who take to the shoreline. The muddy man on a mission wades along the banks of the Mississippi River and has been searching for unique finds since the 1980s when he first ventured out with his dad. You're in the sheriff's office, but you're getting reports and deputies. Even so, Ida terrified him. Jean Lafitte, a one-time resident of Louisiana and privateer, is believed by some to have buried a large cache of treasure somewhere in the bayous of Louisiana. The heavy rains and tidal surge from Hurricane Ida prompted a flash flood emergency Sunday night in areas south of New Orleans, as a failed levee in the town of Jean Lafitte left up to 200 people . Best of all, Dateline was one of the ones who get to deliver the good news in person. New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, as seen in the new documentary Katrina Babies . hide caption, Aerial view of Barataria, La. If residents that evacuated don't need to return, local officials are asking they stay away for the the time being. Bill Wadell interviewing Shane Mears on the bank of the Mississippi River about his treasures. I don't know about that if the government wanted to dig, they would. I just don't know what to think. On Whitlow Court, a strip of mobile homes, every truck attempting to drive down the street stirred a wake. (AccuWeather / Bill Wadell). Jean Lafitte Police Chief Marcel Rodriguez believes there are at least 400 people left in the area who, for financial or physical reasons, were not able to heed the mandatory evacuation issued ahead of the storm. The booty of gold and silver bullion amounted to 11,509,524 . JavaScript is disabled. He started with the company as a kid , fresh from the battlefields of Vietnam. Though floodwaters in Lafitte have gone down significantly, it still presents a major issue, Lee Sheng said during a press conference. Items in the Price Guide are obtained exclusively from licensors and partners solely for our members research needs. Residents surveying the damage to their home in Houma, La. Hurricane Nicole's pounding waves and storm surge eroded the coastline. It seem to be one less treasure for us to find. I grew up back there and I've never seen anything like this. "I had never found a silver coin. Shane Mears and Susanna French looking for treasure along the Mississippi River with a metal detector. He kept asking, When is the eye passing, when is the eye passing?. When the river levels drop, Mears and his exploration buddy, Susanna French, load up and head out with shovels, a probe and a metal detector. The networks all-original programming slate features a roster of hit series, premium documentaries, and scripted event programming. Mears has also turned up collectibles from the Louisiana militia in the early to mid-1800s as well as pelican buttons, which are a really rare find, he explained. Jordan Roque pulled his Chevy pickup truck onto the last stretch of highway outside of town that was not inundated by water on Monday, hauling an airboat. He had no idea there was $30,000 just sitting in state coffers. She reminded residents to stay optimistic, "We are battered but we will not be broken. Lea Joseph took her children to try to sleep in the trembling car once the power went out; the wind was whipping her house, uprooting trees and peeling roof shingles. Thats a lot of money for a man who was a laborer just a few years before. Digging in the toilets," Mears said. We're excited about it," Mears said. For the residents that stayed, Leorwald called it a personal decision, noting that some people couldnt afford to leave. He said they're not digging for the value but working to unearth and collect pieces of history. I just feel so bad for these people. Although he's always on the search for more, Mears doesn't go out treasure hunting with any specific gems or valuables in mind. So we do have a lot of resources when this was over to go to whatever is left after. Though the city looked sturdy and dry on the outside, many of the problems were unfolding indoors, where the lights could be out for days. (AccuWeather / Bill Wadell). SC: It's pretty eerie, and I've heard this from a lot of residents here, that this is happening on the 16th anniversary of Katrina SC: Is this worse, given what you're hearing? On Monday, he was thankful she had. Some discoveries, like unremarkable parts to an old ship, are disappointing; however, other finds are tough to put a price on, Mears explained to Wadell. His aunt and uncle, Diane and Buddy Nolan, had ridden out the fierce Category 4 storm at home in the hardy fishing village of Jean Lafitte. Shane Mears searching for artifacts along the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana. Across the path of Idas destruction, the weathered and storm-weary people of the northern Gulf Coast waded out of flooded communities on Monday and surveyed the damage left by one of the most fearsome hurricanes to strike the region since Katrina 16 years ago. B. C., To A. D. 621. Kaylee said. In fact, its receding.. ", Aerial view of Barataria, La. hide caption. Pray for the people back there. Hurricane Veterans Were Stunned by Ida: Its Never Been as Bad, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/30/us/hurricane-ida-lafitte-houma.html. Thats a lot of money for a man who was a laborer just a few years before. He sounded exhausted as he rode a parish bus to find some sort of shelter. LaPlace, La., saw many homes mangled and streets flooded by Ida. This is a no reserve auction with an opening bid of only $0.99. After Hurricane Katrina, which damaged more than 100 school buildings, the state seized control of almost all urban schools and turned them over to independent charter groups. Evacuees consoled each other after leaving Jean Lafitte, La. Three days after Hurricane Ida blew through Louisiana, high floodwaters are still causing serious issues to recovery efforts in areas closest to the coastline. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the public school system of New Orleans was one of the lowest-performing districts in the state of Louisiana. Mr. Roque felt certain his aunt and uncle, whom he lovingly described as hippies, would be all right. he captured a Spanish treasure fleet off Cuba's Bay of Mantanzas in 1628. He told The New York Times he might have his team drop radios by helicopter so deputies on the isle could communicate. Never again.. There is no way to know that these coins are his, but the timing, location, and the fact that it is buried treasure all hint toward not only a pirate, but the pirate Jean Lafitte. Its been sitting in Mississippis state treasury for yearsits value skyrocketing as Lowes has grown. i will try and take a picture of the location. after Hurricane Ida hit. And looking it up, it's so rare. I mean you look at that, it's so accurate," Mears said, referring to AccuWeather MinuteCast, which is a forecast offering that highlights the exact start and end times as well as the intensity of precipitation for precise locations over the next four hours. Updated: 6:19 PM CDT June 21, 2018 HOUSTON It's the treasure hunt of a lifetime, and now it's landed them on national TV. Richard Fausset reported from Jefferson Parish, La., Rick Rojas from LaPlace, La., and Patricia Mazzei from Miami. The Gulf Coast from Mississippi to Louisiana was left in shambles. At the last I heard, it was still a Cat 4. "And looking in the river here, you know, when it starts to go down, that's when I need to come out and do my digging.". The people that didn't leave, they got some people probably thought they could wait it out, had the resources to leave. About 90% of homes in the small town have "serious damage. The storm arrived in New Orleans 16 years after Hurricane Katrina followed a similar path in 2005, killing 1,800 people. The demons from his days in Vietnam were haunting him. Never again, Ms. Joseph said. Coastal areas have been particularly badly hit, including the small towns of Jean Lafitte, Barataria, and lower Lafitte. Aerial image of Jean Lafitte, La. You can't get to. I have a file 2 in thick on Hendricks lake treasure. It also has references to other lost treasure spots in Texas. There is no way to know that these coins are his, but the timing, location, and the fact that it is buried treasure all hint toward not only a pirate, but the pirate Jean Lafitte. I'm going by what I'm being told. In a recent report from multiple U.S. federal agencies, updated projections for sea level rise found that water levels along the Gulf Coast near Lafitte are expected to rise up 1.5 - 2 feet by 2050. David Sanford, who has lived in the neighborhood for eight years, considered himself something of a hurricane veteran, having lived on the Florida coast, in Pensacola, before moving to Louisiana. Pirate Treasure's of Jean Lafitte An 1837 woodcut of Lafitte, W.C.C. Harry: I feared losing memories of mum during therapy, US-made cheese can be called 'gruyere' - court, The children left behind in Cuba's exodus, Canadian grandma helps police snag phone scammer, AOC under investigation for Met Gala dress. Jimmys headed back to Mississippi to claim his shares and personally met with Treasurer Reeves. before Hurricane Ida hit. According to one account, published in 1885, The Historical Guide to New Orleans, Jean Lafitte died of sickness on the island of Mugeres, off the Yucatan, in 1826. Other variations of the mystery say Lafitte buried the treasure in multiple locations along the Gulf Coast. Hurricane Ida had turned the road into a makeshift boat launch, and Mr. Roque was on a mission to find his relatives. I can't see what's going on no more. I would suspect that its higher now. Jefferson Parish was hit by Hurricane Ida's winds that reached up to 70 mph and floodwater that reportedly reached between 10 to 12 feet, according to New Orleans Public Radio. His 16-year-old daughter, Kaylee, has joined him combing the beach. The day before meeting with Wadell, Mears unearthed a first-place gold medal from the Mechanics and Agricultural Fair of New Orleans that was held in 1859. I can't do nothing. But the water has stabilized. Emergency service communications are still extremely limited and more than 18,300 residents are without power, according to the parish. Images showed streets under water and gardens submerged. The hurricane passed through the area, flattening trees and ripping apart smaller buildings. hide caption. All you have to do is log onto this unclaimed.org (not unclaimed.com). hide caption. JavaScript is disabled. Keep in mind, most states dont have the staff come out and find you. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. Some of those who stayed behind still had no plans to leave. Items Shane Mears has found in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a metal detector. "The MinuteCast has just has been a blessing. SC: And I take it you're getting calls from residents as well. But he expected fewer actually stayed once they saw Idas strength. I'm a descendant of his first mate and so while as a general rule I love history/archeology/treasure hunting, naturally this is the treasure that interests me the most. Jean Lafitte was a French pirate and privateer who was active in the Gulf of Mexico region from the early 19th century, and who is rumored to have buried treasure and gold in many locations, including sites along coastal Louisiana. Fast moving floodwaters during the hurricane had many residents fleeing to attics and roofs in their home. MR: We've got, I think from what I understand, I think they've got about 200 National Guard, which is that's great but nobody can do anything right now. The feature is available in the free AccuWeather app and on AccuWeather.com. What are you hearing about the situation down there? Their house, like others in the village, was elevated, and their neighbor had a boat. So I can't validate or confirm anything. "He grabs it out of the pile and we were just sitting there freaking out.". You must log in or register to reply here. Aerial images show whole neighbourhoods submerged. The irony is not lost on Mears who explained that as the river has gone up and down over the years, the water has taken a lot with it, but it has also deposited a lot of artifacts. Mears has a personal collection at home and said he shares the rest of the treasures he digs up with local libraries. Now, he's got new company while he is on his hunts. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. If you see me dirty now, this is what I like," Mears said. Aerial image of Barataria, La. "I take advantage of the change of tides, every cycle during the storm while the storm is going on, as the storm is leaving.". Mississippi's treasury department has set up temporary shop in a courthouse to try to find people who have unclaimed property coming to them. And dont say It could never happen to me. Some states have billions of dollars to give away. before Hurricane Ida. This is a storm from the left side of Lafitte. Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies ", "It's definitely 'go time.' Jean Lafitte Mayor Tim Kerner said the town suffered "catastrophic" flooding Sunday following Hurricane Ida. I hope that you can help me out. Now the story gets complicated. Co-worker told me a story about Jean Lafitte having buried treasure near where we live.