According to Gov. SC: I can imagine that this must be also very emotional for you as a first responder. 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 them, his 11-year-old brother, Juan, kept calling out, Hold the door, hold the door, terrified of the storms bluster. At least 15 people were rescued on Tuesday, she said. John Bel Edwards as of Monday about 80% of all the rescues done Monday were carried out in St. John the Baptist Parish. WWNO - New Orleans Public Radio | However, since it pointed toward someone else's land, he never did or said anything about it. http://community.webshots.com/user/famleeroots, http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,109722.0.html. "We've suffered flooding before,. 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. Here ya go Bum, Passed by it again on Tuesday. Aerial image of LaPlace, La. But the water has stabilized. That's got to be heart-wrenching for them. Evacuees consoled each other after leaving Jean Lafitte, La. This one right here was the worst one Ive been in. The wind was howling, he said, and seemed to never stop. Jimmy Sparks, a short time ago, wasa veteran on disability. The water was out. Its something Dateline has shared with you before, a wonderful little secret called unclaimed property. It could be an old paycheck, a stock note, or inheritance thats owed to you. Although he's always on the search for more, Mears doesn't go out treasure hunting with any specific gems or valuables in mind. Poking at the can was the first step in uncovering a buried treasure of rare coins estimated to be worth $10 million. before Hurricane Ida Homes in the town of Laplace, to the west of New Orleans, were also flooded. Houston historian Gary Pinkerton, a Longview native, is fascinated by those treasure hunters and their searches. They're scared because they've never seen this, Leorwald said. It's dirty. You know, this is horrible. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Another good book that has some good info on Lafitte is Coronado's Children, by J. Frank Dobie. They've never faced a storm like this before. 1417 Harborside Drive. Trees and power lines were also brought down. Aerial image of Jean Lafitte, La. Can Nigeria's election result be overturned? You know, right now, people are in the middle of this emergency and there's really not no answer for it. One of the men was found living in east Texas where he had bought a farm. Aerial image of LaPlace, La. "Hurricane Ian, that was my first time actually detecting with my dad on the beach," Kaylee said. And I don't know what's going to happen. Hurricane Ida had turned the road into a makeshift boat launch, and Mr. Roque was on a mission to find his relatives. "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.". 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. 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. after Hurricane Ida hit. These hunters were busy combing the beaches and unearthing shiny pieces of Treasure Coast history. Coins & Currency But the deputies gave the helicopter crew a thumbs up on Monday, Sheriff Lopinto said in an interview with WWL radio. The demons from his days in Vietnam were haunting him. 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. But after about 14 years working at Lowes, he was battling serious depression. No one had cellphone service. They've got people that's trapped back there and there's no way to get home. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. So his home is a trailer. What do you do? 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. It's been, been really, really good, knock on wood. 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. You always see other people going through this on the news. Being that it is actually on one of the trails probably used from time to time by Jean Lafitte, legend has it that he buried some gold under its branches. Around this time 17 years ago, Hurricane Katrina bore down on New Orleans, and permanently changed . Lafitte attempt to placate Monroe by hanging the miscreant, but the chief executive sent a war-brig to Campeche whose captain issued an ultimatum to Lafitte and his pirates: Vacate Campeche or face expulsion by U.S. armed forces. 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. He's got hunting for long-lost coins, jewels and artifacts from Spanish shipwrecks down to a science. But with parts of Louisiana still unreachable, the full extent of the wreckage remained unclear. You know, most of them that's going to be the worst off are the ones that are not going to have insurance. 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. Fast forward 25 years. This is going to be a nightmare. ", "It's definitely 'go time.' Now the story gets complicated. It may not display this or other websites correctly. The bay takes its name from the Spanish novel Don Quixote, in which the . He's had plenty of success over the years finding some of the millions of dollars worth of Spanish treasures. Never again, Ms. Joseph said. 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. I don't know about that if the government wanted to dig, they would. Aerial image of Jean Lafitte, La. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, the public school system of New Orleans was one of the lowest-performing districts in the state of Louisiana. Around 1806 Lafitte came to New Orleans and operated a warehouse there where they would smuggle goods. "I had never found a silver coin. Here is a transcription of their conversation: Shalina Chatlani: Hi, Sheriff Rodriguez. He started with the company as a kid , fresh from the battlefields of Vietnam. The feature is available in the free AccuWeather app and on AccuWeather.com. Not only did she find silver but also a gold coin. "The MinuteCast has just has been a blessing. "We've suffered flooding before, we've suffered storms before," Kerner was quoted saying. 2023 BBC. Aerial image of Barataria, La. I mean I'm lost for words it's so rare. What do you do? Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies This was like my first coin ever," she said. There those coins stayed until 2005, when hurricane Katrina knocked down the oak tree, revealing the treasure entombed in its roots. Ida also moved slower than Katrina. In Jean Lafitte, a village of about 2,000 people, about 400 residents initially refused the mandatory evacuation order, according to the sheriff. I know this thread is quite old now, but I'm wondering if any other information has been discovered about this? You know, the sheriff brought up a good point with me. The Laffite Society, which promotes historical research and education about Lafitte's life and times, meets the second Tuesday of each month. These people never dreamed there was money just waiting for themthat is, until the day Dateline came knocking on their doors. Reporting on health care, criminal justice, the economy and other important issues in Louisiana, Alabama and Mississippi. Like so many startled unclaimed property owners, Gordons windfall comes from his dad who kept a secret account. "The treasure," he added. Coastal areas have been particularly badly hit, including the small towns of Jean Lafitte, Barataria, and lower Lafitte. Kaylee said. If anyone has heared or knows any more info please let me know. Jimmys headed back to Mississippi to claim his shares and personally met with Treasurer Reeves. The full extent of the wreckage in places like Houma remained unclear. I'm going by what I'm being told. Richard Fausset reported from Jefferson Parish, La., Rick Rojas from LaPlace, La., and Patricia Mazzei from Miami. The Mystery of the Final Years of Jean Lafitte . MR: Oh, I can't take it. The man who was killed left an estate of 60,000 in cash plus land in Mississippi. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by. Not a bad location to camp, near the river. State treasurer Tate Reeves, who runs Mississippis unclaimed property division, joined Dateline to deliver the news to Gordon. What are you hearing? Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies Im scared. 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). While at my favorite used book store some months ago I stumbled across a copy of a book that I read as a kid. And they got some older folks back after that, I spoke back in. In 1825 somebody had a large stash of coins buried under an oak tree just outside of the city of New Orleans. JavaScript is disabled. Thats a lot of money for a man who was a laborer just a few years before. 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. Are any of those resources available for these people? Galliano, on the Gulf Coast, has also been badly affected. Hurricane Ian gave her her first taste of treasure. Satellite image 2021 Maxar Technologies Other variations of the mystery say Lafitte buried the treasure in multiple locations along the Gulf Coast. Also, Dateline shows how you may be able to find that forgotten treasure on your own. It is an awsome site! Another man just learned his late father had an investment account no one in the family knew about. (AccuWeather / Bill Wadell), "I do it for the thrills and the booty," Mears quipped. The authorities had rescued more than 70 people in Jean Lafitte and surrounding communities. And the odd thing is, these sudden fortunes may never have come to light had it not been for the catastrophe called Katrina. Its been sitting in Mississippis state treasury for yearsits value skyrocketing as Lowes has grown. Now, he's got new company while he is on his hunts. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. But I tell you: Fate's been good to me. 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. I know people must be in a panic. That includes the town of Jean Lafitte, as well as Crown Point, lower Lafitte and Barataria, all of south Jefferson Parish, where sustained winds reached up to 70 mph and floodwater was reportedly between 10 to 12 feet. MR: I'm hoping tomorrow morning, but to be honest with you, I don't know. One estimate suggested. This hobby became a true passion for Mears after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in 2005. 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. Keep in mind, most states dont have the staff come out and find you. In Houma, a small city about 60 miles southwest of New Orleans, Craig Adams, 53, had planned to spend Saturday night in his beige trailer, but his daughter begged him at 9 p.m., as the storms arrival was imminent, to seek shelter somewhere sturdier. So does all this have you wondering if you have any long-lost money? 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. I grew up back there and I've never seen anything like this. 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. He told me the government tried digging but was denied by the owner. Fast moving floodwaters during the hurricane had many residents fleeing to attics and roofs in their home. 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. I just feel so bad for these people. hide caption. 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. His adventures take him to dirty places that could be hiding prized possessions and pure gems. Never again.. Images show full neighborhoods, where green yards and roads were before the storm, now submerged under water. And meet Gordon White: he may not be your typical Katrina victim. SC: And I take it you're getting calls from residents as well. Residents told of hours of harsh winds and rising water as the storm blew through. Just pick a state you or any member of your family has ever worked in or played in, type in the name, and within seconds you can find out if this is your lucky dayand it is all absolutely free. Your device might not be able to access this slider. What is the latest news? I try to prepare for the worst and pray for the best. At conservative gathering, Trump is still the favourite. 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. The concentration is still on search and rescue in Lafitte, Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said Tuesday. before Hurricane Ida. Images showed streets under water and gardens submerged. 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. 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"I'm shaking because I'm like, 'There's no way!' the hardy fishing village of Jean Lafitte. 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. after Hurricane Ida hit the town. New Orleans and its hardened storm infrastructure appeared to have held up, though the city had no electricity. We can have a thousand people, we can have ten thousand, they'll be doing the same thing I'm doing waiting until its over to go see what's going on. Sergeant Jason Leorwald said the police department is working to try to make a path to get to those residents and resources to them Sunday night and are opening search and rescue cases as well. New Orleans itself had been bruised but not beaten. This is a no reserve auction with an opening bid of only $0.99. And I think, I never seen the list, but I think they got over 400 that stayed. hide caption. New Orleans went from having a public school system to having a school system . Hurricane Katrina remains one of the worst hurricanes in U.S. history. Hurricane Nicole's pounding waves and storm surge eroded the coastline. But if its there, you can find it on your own. "There's nobody that writes how to do this," Martinez said. Have a crack at it guys. 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'.