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. Gordon White is not only a lucky guy, but a truly generous soul. It's dirty. The authorities had rescued more than 70 people in Jean Lafitte and surrounding communities. The feature is available in the free AccuWeather app and on AccuWeather.com. The Gulf Coast from Mississippi to Louisiana was left in shambles. Workers pump rainwater off of street after Tropical Storm Nicholas brought heavy rains after Hurricane Ida in Jean Lafitte, La., Saturday, Sept. 18, 2021. Our residents have gone through this their whole lives and they didn't think that this would happen.. This is horrible. But from what I just got off the phone when I was interrupted earlier, the water's still piling in. "We've suffered flooding before,. 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 demons from his days in Vietnam were haunting him. These hunters were busy combing the beaches and unearthing shiny pieces of Treasure Coast history. Keep checking back on AccuWeather.com and stay tuned to the AccuWeather Network on DirecTV, Frontier, Spectrum, FuboTV, Philo, and Verizon Fios. The Mystery of the Final Years of Jean Lafitte . But I'm being told that there was 10 foot of water an hour ago in lower Lafitte. This is one 1806 real from the hoard featuring King Charles IV with a Certificate of Authenticity. The parish had received more than 200 calls for rescue since Sunday. In an interview with Gulf States Newsroom reporter Shalina Chatlani, Rodriguez details information hes received from police officers working in Jean Lafitte and explains how the situation is likely more catastrophic than when Hurricane Katrina hit the area 16 years ago. I know this thread is quite old now, but I'm wondering if any other information has been discovered about this? hide caption, Aerial view of Barataria, La. 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. That's got to be heart-wrenching for them. ", "It's definitely 'go time.' 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. But the truth is, the winds wasn't like this. (AccuWeather / Bill Wadell), "I do it for the thrills and the booty," Mears quipped. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, South Florida Sports Headlines Newsletter. Poking at the can was the first step in uncovering a buried treasure of rare coins estimated to be worth $10 million. In other areas, rooves of homes and yards are covered in debris post-Ida. hide caption. 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. After stalling for time, Lafitte finally complied in 1821. Storm-hit New Orleans under curfew amid blackout, In pictures: Hurricane Ida lashes Gulf Coast, Street fighting in Bakhmut but Russia not in control, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh's legal troubles are far from over, The children left behind in Cuba's mass exodus, Xi Jinping's power grab - and why it matters, Snow, Fire and Lights: Photos of the Week. hide caption. Barataria Bay (French: Baie de Barataria), also Barrataria Bay, is a bay of the Gulf of Mexico, about 15 miles (24 km) long and 12 miles (19 km) wide, in southeastern Louisiana, in Jefferson Parish and Plaquemines Parish, United States.It is separated from the gulf by two barrier islands, Grand Isle and Grand Terre.. And, you know, I'm 70 years old. Another good book that has some good info on Lafitte is Coronado's Children, by J. Frank Dobie. I was looking at the weather on the TV, but it went out. (AccuWeather / Bill Wadell). 1417 Harborside Drive. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Evacuees consoled each other after leaving Jean Lafitte, La. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? 90% Silver! You know, most of them that's going to be the worst off are the ones that are not going to have insurance. What does it do any good for me to sit back there and drown or not make myself available? But the ones that don't have money to go and don't have transportation to go in and are stuck back there, that's sad. He told me the government tried digging but was denied by the owner. "The treasure," he added. Never again.. 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. I love this place built around 1640 . Items Shane Mears has found in New Orleans, Louisiana, with a metal detector. 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. Pirate Treasure's of Jean Lafitte An 1837 woodcut of Lafitte, W.C.C. And thats when the unclaimed property office found the most remarkable story of all From disabled vet to millionaireBack in the 1970s, Jimmy was a regional supervisor for what was then a small Southern hardware chain named Lowes. In LaPlace, in St. John the Baptist Parish, along the east of the Mississippi River, homes and businesses were torn from their foundations and left without roofs. He started with the company as a kid , fresh from the battlefields of Vietnam. Richard Fausset reported from Jefferson Parish, La., Rick Rojas from LaPlace, La., and Patricia Mazzei from Miami. While at my favorite used book store some months ago I stumbled across a copy of a book that I read as a kid. How many people do you think stayed behind and and and why do you think they stayed behind? Not only did she find silver but also a gold coin. On Monday, he was thankful she had. Cody Lauricella, a 30-year-old native of bayou country, sailed the 19-foot fishing trawler he usually uses to catch trout and flounder back and forth to Jean Lafitte throughout the day to help people get out. 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. Kerner told Weather.com that the local levee was overpowered by Ida's floodwaters. It seem to be one less treasure for us to find. before Hurricane Ida. Galliano, on the Gulf Coast, has also been badly affected. Some stories to tell about other folks who now, more than ever, need to find a little lost money. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the public school system of New Orleans was one of the lowest-performing districts in the state of Louisiana. I've heard for years, about a spot along Dickinson Bayou where Lafitte supposedly hid Treasure (very very near a certain Cemetary), Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. All you have to do is log onto this unclaimed.org (not unclaimed.com). Reporting on health care, criminal justice, the economy and other important issues in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Pray for the people back there. What do you do? Mears told Wadell he doesn't by any means hope for a tropical storm or hurricane to impact New. This is the first time in my lifetime that I've left back there where I'm not actually looking at it. Woodblock print of the death of Jean Lafitte from The Pirates Own Book, published in 1837. The bay takes its name from the Spanish novel Don Quixote, in which the . Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies Hurricane Ian gave her her first taste of treasure. This hobby became a true passion for Mears after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005. I know people must be in a panic. The full extent of the wreckage in places like Houma remained unclear. Also, Dateline shows how you may be able to find that forgotten treasure on your own. Thats a lot of money for a man who was a laborer just a few years before. In searching some old newspapers.found a newspaper article from 1935, a full page on Jean Lafitte. LaPlace, La., saw many homes mangled and streets flooded by Ida. One estimate suggested. after Hurricane Ida hit the town. Right now, there's nothing. That's my real deal. New Orleans and its hardened storm infrastructure appeared to have held up, though the city had no electricity. hide caption. And they got some older folks back after that, I spoke back in. 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. And the last I heard in lower Lafitte is they had about 10 feet of water. But the water has stabilized. Its part of living in this community. 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. Three days after Hurricane Ida blew through Louisiana, high floodwaters are still causing serious issues to recovery efforts in areas closest to the coastline. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Message me if you have any questions about the item. They've got people that's trapped back there and there's no way to get home. So was the electricity. As of Tuesday, rescues were still being made with Louisiana's National Guard reporting that personnel have rescued 359 citizens and 55 pets either by high-water vehicles, by boats or by air during the aftermath from Hurricane Ida. 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. Some of those who stayed behind still had no plans to leave. Severe weather can also toss items from cargo ships, wash valuables away during a tsunami or unearth precious metals during a hurricane. Why Alex Murdaugh was spared the death penalty, Why Trudeau is facing calls for a public inquiry, The shocking legacy of the Dutch 'Hunger Winter'. This is a storm from the left side of Lafitte. One estimate suggested 90% of homes had suffered serious damage. Grand Isle, a narrow beachy islet of stilt-raised homes facing the Gulf of Mexico, near where Ida came ashore, could not be reached by road, which was underwater, or by air, because there was nowhere for a helicopter to land, said Sheriff Joseph P. Lopinto III of Jefferson Parish. Hurricane Veterans Were Stunned by Ida: Its Never Been as Bad, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/30/us/hurricane-ida-lafitte-houma.html. Gov. The man who told this did not or would not tell me the names of the two men. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Thats the way I do, help somebody who really needs help and those children are it. Your device does not support this visualisation. "I take advantage of the change of tides, every cycle during the storm while the storm is going on, as the storm is leaving.". In them, his 11-year-old brother, Juan, kept calling out, Hold the door, hold the door, terrified of the storms bluster. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Some believe it belonged to the pirate Jean . As New Orleans residents deal with a parish-wide power outage, small communities just outside the city and its levee protection system are being pummeled by Hurricane Ida, with hundreds of people asking for help but unable to be reached due to catastrophic flooding from several feet of stormwater. There those coins stayed until 2005, when hurricane Katrina knocked down the oak tree, revealing the treasure entombed in its roots. Jean Lafitte Mayor Tim Kerner said the town suffered "catastrophic" flooding Sunday following Hurricane Ida. Aerial image of LaPlace, La. It may not display this or other websites correctly. 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. Citizens must also conserve water and remember the area remains under a boil water advisory. Though Lafitte's home is gone, this property across the street from the Port of Galveston contains the ruins of a later structure and a trove of ghost tales. This is one 1806 real from the hoard featuring King Charles IV with a Certificate of Authenticity. I still have no idea if it was really a JL marker, or if so, it treasure was ever found. Around 1806 Lafitte came to New Orleans and operated a warehouse there where they would smuggle goods. They understand that.. "We just pulled it out yesterday at this privy I'm telling you about. This is a no reserve auction with an opening bid of only $0.99. 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. He had no idea there was $30,000 just sitting in state coffers. Huge beautiful tree. They have good knowledge of what theyre doing, he said. "Hurricane Ian, that was my first time actually detecting with my dad on the beach," Kaylee said. And meet Gordon White: he may not be your typical Katrina victim. Though floodwaters in Lafitte have gone down significantly, it still presents a major issue, Lee Sheng said during a press conference. I hope that you can help me out. Hurricane Ida had turned the road into a makeshift boat launch, and Mr. Roque was on a mission to find his relatives. after Hurricane Ida hit the town. It's an actual gold medal, 1859, says it right there, gold medal. The water was out. 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. I'm speechless.". The authorities had rescued more than 70 people in Jean Lafitte and the surrounding communities, said Cynthia Lee Sheng, the Jefferson Parish president, after eight feet of water overtopped levees, sending several hundred people into attics and onto roofs. before Hurricane Ida hit. But I think some of them, which is the ones that my heart goes out, that my heart goes out to all of them, God bless them. Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies "They feel the wind. Read about our approach to external linking. 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. Many homes and businesses have also been devastated and boats capsized. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. 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. 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. Tree limbs and debris clogged the streets from the Bywater neighborhood to Uptown. "The minute that you start thinking about Lafitte's treasure or buried this and buried that, I think you go crazy and people already say I'm crazy," he said. "There's nobody that writes how to do this," Martinez said. This story was told to me several years ago by a man in his 80 s Back in 1940 or 41 two men hired to clean up around what is said to be Lafittes red house disapeared after a few days. Sounds like the Hendricks lake treasure. Jimmy says post traumatic stress disorder forced him to quit his job and move back home to Georgia. I'm going by what I'm hearing. This hobby became a true passion for Mears after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005. 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. Treasure hunters were out on the beach Friday after Hurricane Nicole turned up the sand, unearthing shiny pieces of Treasure Coast history. Parts of Louisiana and Mississippi have been left devastated by Hurricane Ida, which flooded communities, knocked out power lines and littered roads with debris. John Bel Edwards as of Monday about 80% of all the rescues done Monday were carried out in St. John the Baptist Parish. At least 15 people were rescued on Tuesday, she said. Residents there faced brutal winds and heavy rainfall. after Hurricane Ida. The images are focused on the hard-hit small coastal towns that local officials say received the worst of the storm. 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. i will try and take a picture of the location. He sounded exhausted as he rode a parish bus to find some sort of shelter. I know New Orleans got nailed with it because of that levee failure. Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies Its been sitting in Mississippis state treasury for yearsits value skyrocketing as Lowes has grown. "There were a bunch of old Spanish coins that were found recently, a bunch of old shipwreck pieces, fasteners, different things like that," Martinez said. 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 always see other people going through this on the news. Emergency service communications are still extremely limited and more than 18,300 residents are without power, according to the parish. before Hurricane Ida hit Shane Mears searching for artifacts along the Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana. after Hurricane Ida hit. Aerial image of Jean Lafitte, La. What do you do? Energy companies say they are working to restore power, but residents are being warned it could take weeks in some areas. I don't know about that if the government wanted to dig, they would. "We've suffered flooding before, we've suffered storms before," Kerner was quoted saying. This was like my first coin ever," she said. "The MinuteCast has just has been a blessing. His adventures take him to dirty places that could be hiding prized possessions and pure gems. Not a bad location to camp, near the river. 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. I can't see what's going on no more. You never think its going to be you until it is.. Because the water system parish-wide is still being repaired, Lee Sheng said residents must limit how much wastewater goes down the drain for now. In 1825 somebody had a large stash of coins buried under an oak tree just outside of the city of New Orleans. About 90% of homes in the small town have "serious damage. Jean Lafitte Mayor Tim Kerner said the town suffered "catastrophic" flooding Sunday following Hurricane Ida. Digging in the toilets," Mears said. At the last I heard, it was still a Cat 4. I saved the newspaper to my hard drive and will try to break it down. 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. Edgar Sandoval contributed reporting from Houma, La. New Orleans, Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina, as seen in the new documentary Katrina Babies . That means everything that's going on is still going on back there. Over the years, Hendrick's Lake near Tatum has been a place where many people have visited in search of a legendary treasure that was supposedly left at the site by Pirate Jean LaFitte. Aerial image of Jean Lafitte, La. Some small towns outside New Orleans were inundated. Although New Orleans did not receive a direct hit from the storm, the levees protecting the city fell under . But that also lured Jonah Martinez to the shore in search of treasure. SC: And when do you expect to be able to reach them? I know I'm gonna get there as soon as I can. So does all this have you wondering if you have any long-lost money? Treasure hunters seize an opportunity to get an. Night-time imagery from Nasa captured the extent of blackouts across the affected area after the storm, with lights knocked out in many places, including New Orleans. before Hurricane Ida. (AccuWeather / Bill Wadell). Now, he's got new company while he is on his hunts. Items Shane Mears has found along the Mississippi River with a metal detector. More a thousand people died, and at least 800,000 were left homeless. They feel the rain. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. SC: I understand that this area was under a mandatory evacuation. The other went north later over seas where he was killed during WW2. Im going to have to start all over again. Aerial image of Jean Lafitte, La. after Hurricane Ida. "The deepest I've gone is over 15 feet, but this one, in particular, is about 8 feet deep and it's just incredible. Its not coming anymore. Have a crack at it guys. 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. If you see me dirty now, this is what I like," Mears said. Tate Reeves, Mississippi state treasurer: We have for you 3,4 99 shares of Wachovia bank stock.Gordon White: How many shares?Reeves:So this particular amount of stock is worth over $200,000White: That will make me happy (laughter). http://www.texasescapes.com/DEPARTMENTS/Letters/LettersToEditorDecember2001.htm. But the deputies gave the helicopter crew a thumbs up on Monday, Sheriff Lopinto said in an interview with WWL radio. 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. And I think, I never seen the list, but I think they got over 400 that stayed. I mean it's rare. I mean, right now, if they have 10 foot of water, they're basically there in the Gulf of Mexico in a hurricane. A few New Orleanians had begun venturing out to walk their dogs, ride bikes and assess the state of things early on Monday. When no one claims these valuables, theyre eventually turned over to a state, where they may languish for years. 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. You are using an out of date browser. Their house, like others in the village, was elevated, and their neighbor had a boat. You know, this is horrible. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. He told me there is an old, very old oak tree. "I'm shaking because I'm like, 'There's no way!' According to Gov. Welcome to BiloxiMississippis treasury department has set up temporary shop in a courthouse to try to find people who have unclaimed property coming to them. 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. SC: I do know that the state had requested help from the National Guard and had activated the entire National Guard and even got help from FEMA resources. The storm arrived in New Orleans 16 years after Hurricane Katrina followed a similar path in 2005, killing 1,800 people. What is the latest news? The storm had his mobile home vibrating then it popped a skylight over the bathroom, dumping water inside. Aerial image of Jean Lafitte, La. ", Beachcombers find Spanish coins, pieces of shipwreck. Aerial image of LaPlace, La. 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. Although he's always on the search for more, Mears doesn't go out treasure hunting with any specific gems or valuables in mind. Aerial image of Barataria, La. Huffman is a community of some historical significance, but is hard to define as a town. Its never been as bad as it is this time, said Jesse Touro, 62, who was rescued from Jean Lafitte after riding out storms in town for the past 12 years. Jimmy Sparks, a short time ago, wasa veteran on disability. The man who was killed left an estate of 60,000 in cash plus land in Mississippi. And so it went for two straight days; $250,000 for one couple who lost everything (including their floorboards); and $100,000 for a woman struggling to rebuild her and her mothers homes. He went all the way to lower Lafitte, he said, but found few takers for a boat ride.