Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. So, a real figure or a tall tale told by Floridians? Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. When you go in the attic you expect to find something old. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. He did what all retired people do in Florida he fell ill one day and died. "We are not sure what we're going to do with it," said Lopez. Since the 1870s, treasure hunters have been trying unsuccessfully to crack this code you see below: Some say its Spanish. But Rodney Kite-Powell, a Tampa-Bay curator, doesn't believe that the legendary figure was even real. Some more information on the cruise of the USS, I did not find a reference to Gaspar in Gardner Allen's, I was always Told Jose Gaspar, was also known as Juan Gomez. His flagship was eventually ran aground and he was ultimately killed by English warships off the East Coast of America. Gasparilla 2023: The pirate party master list. So are you juiced up and just caught the gold fever? Jose Gaspar has come in handy for parades and celebrations. You must log in or register to reply here. From real buried treasure, to massive pearl finds, these . Chasing Treasure: The myth of Gasparilla and the real-life man Juan Gomez. Canny readers will already recognize a certain romantic streak in these stories. Enjoy. Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla (supposedly lived c. Treasure hunter Michael Gattuso digs a hole in front of treasure hunters Stacey Hunt and Erin Melcher in an area where metal detectors notify of gold on a wetland believed to have lost treasure on the Peace River in Arcadia on Sunday, January 13, 2019. Legend has it that Gasparilla spotted a huge ship sailing in the distance. Other possible locations of Kidds treasure include Maryland in Druid Park, and Money Island off the coast of Connecticut is also claimed to be used by Kidd. Powell showed us museum exhibits full of gold coins recovered from shipwrecks and explained how the legend of Jose Gaspar launched the Gasparilla Pirate Festival we know and love today. So it is a huge, huge draw for people to come to Tampa.". Josh joins marine archaeologists and treasure hunters working to crack the mysteries of the pirate's life so they can find the riches he left behind. . Jose Lopez's sister, Maria, was cleaning out the attic of a home owned by her great-grandparents, Eve and Ernesto Lopez, in Tampa's historic Ybor City area, when she stumbled upon the box, WFLA-TV reports. Once it was in print, people kept spreading it as absolute truth. It was a simple wooden box, but inside were fascinating (and macabre) clues to a family mystery. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. These tunnels converged into a large chamber underground. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Some historians say Caesar has between two-and-six million dollars of treasure stashed on Pine Island. However, perhaps the most famous story of Gaspar concerns his death. The brochure relied heavily on the stories told by John Gomez. P.S. According to archives, the island community was created by Albert W. Gilchrist, Floridas 20th governor. 1. John Gomez, also known as Juan Gomez and Panther John. In fact, we dont even know for certain his real name. Dropa Stones: Are They 12,000 Year Old Discs? Some speculate that this is remnants of Rogers great treasure. "We go after Juan Gomez because everything, all the treasures and everything we've come through, is tied to him. Gasparilla seized her ship, and the hostages were brought to his hideout on Gasparilla Island. " Mar 2021 We really enjoyed shopping here! When Jose Gaspar died, he supposedly left an untold fortune in buried treasure somewhere along the Florida coast. Jos Gaspar. The theme and focal point of Gasparilla is a friendly "invasion" by mythical pirate Jos Gaspar and his crew, who are portrayed by members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla (YMKG), an organization created for this purpose in 1904. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. This activity is a great way to enjoy some peaceful quite time outdoors or can be a unique experience for 8 Super Fun Family Treasure Hunt Ideas: With Real Treasure. We've been chasing his treasures. If there is one thing pirates are known for it is treasure. He found a hillside where he buried 2 pirate chests filled with valuable metals and jewels. When he was captured and offered the option of going to prison or joining the navy, he chose the latter, serving with distinction for several years before organizing a mutiny against a dictatorial captain and fleeing to Florida with a stolen ship. The most famous Florida pirate was Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla. After that, they searched his cabin and found a jar of gold coins and a small sheet of copper engraved with a code indicating the location of buried treasure. Treasure hunter Todd Stager holds a machete on a wetland where him and a small group of treasure hunters believe lies lost treasure on the Peace River in Arcadia. Seeing the writing on the wall, he decided to scuttle his own ship and hide with his crew in the forrest. Jose Gaspar (GC3FZAF) was created by seabreezedrive on 4/1/2012. Named for legendary pirate, Jose Gaspar, who terrorized the coastal waters of West Florida during the 18th and early 19th centuries, Tampa Bay's destination-wide annual Gasparilla celebration kicks off each January with a full schedule of exciting pirate-themed events. With his crew of cut-throat mercenaries, the last of the buccaneers terrorized shipping in the Gulf of Mexico for years, striking from his secret Florida base. They bribed the owner with some of the treasure to not divulge their location. Leaving Spain at an early age, he sailed to the West Coast of Florida. No contemporaneous mention of his existence or achievements has ever been found in Spanish or American ship logs, court documents, newspapers, or other archives, and no tangible items associated with Gaspar have been unearthed in the area where he is said to have operated. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. We also participate in programs from eBay, CJ, Bluehost, Clickbank, ShareASale, and other sites. The legend of Gaspar began making its way into other writings after that, without any other historical evidence to back it up. wtfflorida.com/information/gaspars-lost-treasure/. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. The parade that follows is one of the largest in the country, drawing hundreds of thousands of people to Tampa Bay. Much of his treasure was carried to him up the Peace River. The pirate is one of the most notorious in the history of pirates. Retail store with the following - shells, shellcraft, wood carvings, shark teeth and jaws,. As the legends go, the famed Spanish pirate Jose Gaspar, better known as Gasparilla, used the island as his home base of operations throughout the late 18th century and into the early 19th century. Blackbeard also spend some time in North Carolina, in fact he secured a Royal Pardon in the town of Bath. The legend of pirate Jose Gaspar, or Gasparilla as he is sometimes known, is shrouded in mystery. There are multiple stories about his life that vary greatly depending upon the source of the information, leading some to conclude that he was not a real person. He was most likely a sailor for the English Navy who became unemployed and turned to a life of piracy. A fisherman at Stafford Point in Connecticut is rumored to have spotted some pirates burying a heavy looking chest at Stratford Point in Connecticut during the late 1600s. "They were the ones that profited from the story to attract visitors to their new train stop and hotel (Gasparilla Inn)," Crystal Diff, Executive Director of the Boca Grande Historical Society and History Center, wrote in an email. Another report states that he hid several chests in a small river somewhere in the vicinity of the Bay. But Gasparilla himself did not survive the final battle. In or around 1806 the brothers arrived in New Orleans Louisiana and were licensed privateers operating in the Gulf of Mexico. It's a Small size geocache, with difficulty of 3.5, terrain of 5. This hoard was allegedly buried by a group of pirates in the early 1800s. Was there really a pirate named Jose Gaspar? "You'll hear more of us, you know; we'll do this until we're old and, you know, can't do it anymore.". Name of The Day. Find the treasure, don't report it, melt it down or sell it on the black market using a different name. 3. Sign up for our WTFF Newsletter to get weird Florida news delivered straight to your email: WTFF News: Because regular news is depressing. While Gaspar chained the anchor of his ship to his waist and dove into the water to avoid giving the enemy the satisfaction of killing him, Gmez lived to tell the tale. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. There are numerous tales and stories of pirate treasures hidden thought the world, some of which are not attributed to any particular pirate. There is another treasure said to be buried on Kelly Island in Delaware by James Gillian, a member of Kidds crew. In different accounts, details of his early life, motivations, and activities varied. Here Lafitte had a very fair treasure distribution policy that everyone seemed to like. Did Grandpa find pirate treasure? When he was wrongfully arrested, he hijacked a ship and fled, promising to seek revenge on his homeland. Box allegedly containing Gaspars hand and related items Photo Credit. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. By Geoff Dobson. Some of the add-ons on this site are powered by, Jose Gaspar is not the only mythical pirate character that has. 1 Review #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach. Jose Gaspar Treasure Co 5 1 #9 of 11 Shopping in Flagler Beach Speciality & Gift Shops Visit website Write a review What people are saying " Fun shop with good prices! He subsequently set fire to all his buildings before sailing out to sea, never to be heard from again. His theft discovered, he deserted his wife. St. Vincent Island off the coast of Florida is said to have been an island frequented by early pirates. Caesar was forced to push his pirate pack north to the Gulf of Mexico. 1. Stingy Jack and the History of the Jack-o-Lantern, The Varangians: Viking Conquerors turned Byzantium Honor Guard, The Secret Necropolis of Ancient Varna and the First Goldsmiths. Over and out from somewhere south, RumShopRyan. There have been many stories told of treasure Captain Kidd buried back in America. ", The story said Gaspar hid in the Charlotte Harbor area, and "while taking the census of 1900, two gentlemen stopped at Panther Key and spent the night with *John Gomez. There are a few pirates who may have hidden treasure at this spot, including Billy. Most, if not all, historians agree the pirate named Jose Gaspar never existed. In 1705 the group was killed by French traders who were tired of being robbed by these men. No Result Found. Source of the stories which became inspiration for the legend of Jose Gaspar. Legend states they marked a tree by driving a sword into it. (2) Most of the islands around Charlotte Harbor were named by the Cuban Spanish fishermen that lived there since the 1600's. They will be focused on the Florida coastline, right in my back yard. Leaving soon? All had been going along fine for Gasparilla until the year 1822. Evidently, though, the treasure is not. He apparently helped repeal a British Invasion on New Orleans. So that's why we believe that it was Juan Gomez. Source: Theartofphoto / Adobe Stock. Tampans have embraced Gasparilla for more than a century, whether or not the pirate Jose Gaspar ever came to town It's a huge juxtaposition from the quiet of the Touchton Map Library at the. We will discuss a few of them here. According to the sources we studied, Gaspar was probably born in Spain in 1756. Another instance of his softer side can be found in the account of Ann Jeffries, an English girl traveling from New Orleans to Liverpool. It seems the mythical pirate was a tall tale concocted by a man named Juan Gmez. Jean Lafitte. Pirate Photo byScott UmstattdonUnsplash, Lafitte Photo By Anonymous Rosenberg Library, Galveston, Texas, Public Domain, Skully Photo byLuke SouthernonUnsplash. Treasure hunter Erin Melcher drives his boat as Michael Gattuso navigates directions to a wetland believed to have lost treasure on the Peace River in Arcadia on Sunday, January 13, 2019. When his attempts to capture Joseffa's heart were met with contempt, Gaspar used Useppa Island to imprison the proud princess, and the isle came to be known as "Joseffa's Island." Barron G. Collier The poem, maps, comments from other searchers, and other guides to finding the treasure are online and easy to find. Upon returning he discovered that he had been labeled a pirate by the British government. If the legend is true, Gasparilla was extremely successful and plundered more than 400 ships. A Tampa, Florida family going through their grandparent's attic made an interesting discovery: a treasure map, some coins, and an old human hand! Gilchrist intended to turn the area into a community. These men witnessed the battle and when the pirate ship began to sink, they loaded this vast treasure onto small boats and escaped unnoticed to a place called Spanish Homestead around the Peace River. (5) The first written version of Gasparilla appeared in an advertising brochure of the Charlotte Harbor and Northern Railroad Co. printed in 1900. Gaspar was a rebel from an aristocratic upbringing. Save. His headquarters were at Boca Grande, on what is today known as Gasparilla Island.
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jose gaspar treasure found