He supposedly buried large amounts of treasures on the islands around the bay. Some records give him the honor of being what we would call an admiral. They took the box to a few antique stores around Tampa and the contents were described as "gruesome and authentic.". Gaspar's legend is one of a murderous, bloodthirsty swashbuckler who stole money from Spain, stole a ship, kidnapped a Spanish Princess, and left a trail of death and gold throughout the high seas. It appears Philip Gosse got the story from Bradlee's book. However there is a salacious twist to this tale, in that when this lovely young girl declined his romantic proposition, he had her executed. Before we get to the treasure hunt, let's touch on the historical background of Jose Gaspar and how a now infamous fictitious pirate became a Tampa legend. His theft discovered, he deserted his wife. Blackbeard captured an estimated 40 different ships and vessels in a little less than 2 years off the east coast of America and across the Caribbean. The 300,000 partiers who will swarm the streets Saturday in Tampa for the annual Gasparilla pirate parade wont care. Also check state and local regulations before you begin any activities such as digging or metal detecting. 2119 N Ocean Shore Blvd, Flagler Beach, FL 32136-2802. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. However, this treasure is also attributed to the infamous pirate Blackbeard. This characterization continues through the stories of Gasparilla as a pirate. This was to prove his doom as the ship he had targeted was no harmless cargo ship but in fact the USS Enterprise, a heavily armed and very dangerous pirate hunter. jose gaspar, coins, and treasuremap found. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Groups gather in St. Petersburg park to shed light on local violence, Tampas St. Josephs Childrens Hospital holds prom for pediatric patients, Photos: Rays back at Trop in spring game against Twins, Photos: Publix Gasparilla Distance Classic, Photos: New York's Naked Cowboy makes brief appearance in Tampa, Photos: Opening day for the Florida Strawberry Festival, Photos: IndyCar Series takes over streets of St. Petersburg, Hundreds of USF students join statewide walkout to protest DeSantis education policies, Photos: Lightning return home to take on Ducks, Photo Gallery: Family mourns Josiah Pinner during a candlelight vigil. He would then sell these items to local customers in east Texas. The Story of Jose Gaspar Jos Gaspar allegedly lived between 1756 and 1821 and was based on southwest Florida, on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. (PDF) The Real Pirate Billy Bowlegs: The Origins of the Billy Bowlegs Evidently, though, the treasure is not. Tampa family finds 'pirate treasure' in attic including treasure map The first written account of Gaspar was written in 1900 when the Charlotte . However, there is another story, that has some validity, of what happened to his treasure. Billy left the vast majority of his crew behind and sailed north to gather supplies to salvage his ship. Canny readers will already recognize a certain romantic streak in these stories. Mysterious Pirate Treasure Box Found in Tampa Bay Attic - Cult of Weird We also participate in programs from eBay, CJ, Bluehost, Clickbank, ShareASale, and other sites. Since the 1870s, treasure hunters have been trying unsuccessfully to crack this code you see below: Some say its Spanish. Historic City Memories: Pirate treasure rumors Read another story from us:Norways Saint Olaf Uncovered: Archaeologists Believe They have Discovered the Shrine of the Lost Viking King. The final and perhaps most intriguing possibility is around the Spanish Fort San Carlos in Pensacola. Captured ladies were not raped and murdered, but instead had the option of marrying one of his crew members or being transferred to Captiva Island in Florida. $ 6 reviews. On the Trail of Gasparilla'S Treasure Haunted by The Ghost of Notorious He spoke to local TV news network WFLA about the discovery, and the story kept getting stranger. Similar Names. He was said to have been extremely active for many years, attacking merchant ships and evading justice, and in this time he won himself a huge fortune. 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. The History of Gasparilla - Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla However there are several problems with the story which have led many to question whether Gasparilla as he was known was a real historical figure. (4) The person who gets most of the credit for the Gasparilla myth is John Gomez who drowned around 1900 at the age of 122. What year did Gasparilla start? In it, she introduced herself and wrote that her parents were. I was totally blown away," said Lopez. The prices seem lower, but not my thing. Gaspar did not exist, but never mind that. However, he spotted a British merchant ship and could not resist one final prize. During his 38 year career as a pirate, Gaspar attacked over four hundred ships in the Gulf waters of Florida, including supposedly the vessel carrying $11.75 million in gold bullion that the United States had paid Napoleon for the Louisiana Purchase. Gasparilla 2023: The pirate party master list. It's part of our family now.". "It's a bunch of heartbreak with little reward and a lot of imagination," said treasure hunter Erin Melcher. Rogers is said to have hidden huge amounts of gold and silver bars worth a fortune today. New Castle Island in Delaware is said to house treasure hidden by pirates from Madagascar in 1699. The legend of Gaspar was first recorded in promotional materials for this Boca Grande Hotel. He did what all retired people do in Florida he fell ill one day and died. Gattuso leads a a small group called the The Treasure Hunters who spend their weekends hiking the wilderness near the Peace River in search of lost treasure believed to have been left behind by Jose Gaspar. Answer: True This is an area where the stories of Gaspar are for once consistent. 10 Lost Treasures in America Waiting to be Found - History Collection Keep me posted! 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 author of the pamphlet readily stated that the spectacular tale was a work of fiction with no genuine facts in it. Over and out from somewhere south, RumShopRyan. A unique legend of pirate treasure in Indiana is intriguing. Born in 1756 in Spain, Gaspar served in the Spanish Navy until a mutiny in 1783. These stories and locations presented are based on our research but should be taken with some skepticism. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. ", 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. 6 reviews of Jose Gaspar Treasure "This sweet little shell shop is nestled in along A1A and the beautiful Atlantic shoreline. again not sure of the thought process of choosing a tree as a landmark for millions of dollars in treasure, but that is how the story goes. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Caesar was forced to push his pirate pack north to the Gulf of Mexico. The story of Juan Gomez is also published in the Library of Congress. You must log in or register to reply here. Jos Gaspar, known by his nickname Gasparilla (supposedly lived c. With Sandy Toes and Salty Kisses, How We Became Mr. and Mrs. The map is estimated to be from the 1930s and shows the Tampa area. Gaspar was a rebel from an aristocratic upbringing. Copyright 2023 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. He apparently helped repeal a British Invasion on New Orleans. But treasure hunters believe there is truth in his tall tale, and buried treasure is out there. Finally Pirates Cove, which is on the southern tip of Connecticut may house these valuable chests. Or at least thats what Florida folklore would have you believe. Jose Gaspar | bakersfield.com These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. Gattuso leads a a small group called the The Treasure Hunters who spend their weekends hiking the wilderness near the Peace River in search of lost treasure believed to have been left behind by Jose Gaspar. The prices are great and you can walk more than one foot without seeing some adorable little trinket that you just can't live without. Okay, that was. Bald Point is another hotspot but for rumors of pirate treasure. Rumors take on a life of their own and ultimately cause hurt or expense. To add more to the story, the treasure map contained the name of the infamous mythical pirate Gaspar. The Legend of Gasparilla and His Treasure is a gripping, heart-pounding action adventure that's akin to a modern-day Indiana Jones story. Supposedly this fort had hidden tunnels leading under the fort. Photos show a centuries-old shipwreck found off Colombia's coast carrying lost treasure worth billions of dollars, including gold coins and emeralds. Gasparilla, if he existed, wrapped himself in chain and jumped overboard with both hands still attached. When it comes to the legend of Jose Gaspar, Diff told us to "be cautious that the information you present as there are lots of versions of this story and everyone's version is 'true.' But the idea of a pirate named Gasparilla (or some variant) goes way back. "So, it's interesting how Tampa, in a sense, stole; we were pirates ourselves. There are numerous legends and tales of buried treasure on this island. So it is a huge, huge draw for people to come to Tampa.". One such account concerns Maria Louise, a lovely Spanish princess, who was returning to Spain after a journey to Mexico with 11 Mexican princesses who were to be educated and married in Spain. This is believed to be part of the bribe money given to the owner. We've been chasing his treasures. It is said that Captain Kidd came ashore here. Jose Gaspar Treasure Company | Flagler Beach FL Jose Gaspar Treasure Co | Flagler Beach, FL 32136 Whilst swimming in Key West, he and a team of specialists find a huge anchor that may have been from Gaspar's vessel. Many took the deal. His methods were black and bloody, and he stands out among all the pirates who used Florida to bury their wealth.
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