| align="center"> | | | | the American effort, Lafitte soured toward the |
| Buried treasure…. | | | | United States. He established a new base in |
| Beaumont, Texas is certainly not what one would | | | | Galveston, which grew to around 1000, including |
| think of when talking about buried pirate treasure | | | | outlaws from America, drawn to the profitable |
| but a book by Frank J. Dobie ties it to some of | | | | business of capturing Spanish ships. |
| the booty of the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte. As | | | | However, the United States was determined to |
| Jason Whitney the President of First Fidelity | | | | rout Lafitte from Galveston. Sensing an ending to |
| Reserve discovered when reading the book | | | | his Gulf of Mexico operations, Lafitte began hiding |
| “Legends of Texas: Pirates' Gold and Other | | | | his loot. |
| Tales,” a famous meeting took place | | | | In 1821, when the schooner USS Enterprise |
| between two treasure hunters just a few miles | | | | approached Galveston and demanded that the |
| from his First Fidelity Reserve office. These two | | | | privateering camp be destroyed, Lafitte left the |
| individuals were named Meredith and Clawson. | | | | island without a fight on his flagship, the Pride, |
| Clawson lived in Beaumont, Texas and was | | | | burning his fortress and settlements and |
| believed to have had encountered some terrible | | | | reportedly taking immense amounts of treasure |
| apparition when he was searching for | | | | with him. Stories abound that he died soon after, |
| Lafitte’s gold. Meridith begged Clawson to | | | | but what’s known is Lafitte faded from |
| accompany him on one more adventure but | | | | recorded history. All that remains of his lavishly |
| Clawson refused. | | | | furnished mansion, Maison Rouge, is the |
| The thought of hidden treasures make the heart | | | | foundation, located at 1417 Avenue A near the |
| beat faster. Images of chests of gold and jewels | | | | Galveston wharf. |
| buried somewhere, just waiting to be found. Like | | | | After Lafitte's death, tales of his buried treasure |
| Jean Lafitte’s treasure…..was what | | | | abounded on the Louisiana and Texas coast. He |
| drove Clawson initially to search for that ill gotten | | | | was said to have made caches of loot in |
| fortune. | | | | Galveston. Other stories told by a Lafitte slave |
| Jean Lafitte was a famous pirate who in the early | | | | had Lafitte’s hiding treasure along the |
| 1800’s sailed from Grand Terre Island, | | | | Calcasieu and Mermenteau Rivers. Another very |
| south of New Orleans, Louisiana. Grand Terre was | | | | large cache is said to be at the Sabine River near |
| part of an area called Barataria and included all the | | | | a grove of gum tress, about 3 miles east of the |
| lakes, bayous, swamps and bays south of New | | | | Old Spanish Trail. |
| Orleans. An area perfect for piracy and | | | | Coins from that era are found from time to time |
| smuggling…. | | | | on Grand Terre, which is accessible only by boat. |
| A handsome man by all accounts, Lafitte | | | | In 1915 a New Orleans worker uncovered a chest |
| reportedly exhibited great personal charm and | | | | filled with more than 1,500 doubloons. In Gretna in |
| became a legend in his own time, even more so | | | | 1960, across the river from New Orleans, many |
| with his patriotic actions in the Battle of New | | | | gold coins were uncovered in an area frequented |
| Orleans. Because he supplied American with | | | | by Lafitte and his men .In still another story, an |
| cannons, munitions and trained gunners, he was | | | | unnamed island in Lake Borgne, east of New |
| pardoned for his nefarious deeds. | | | | Orleans, is also said to hold buried treasure. |
| Unable to reclaim goods seized before he joined | | | | |