I've heard the stories and have read the paragaraphs in various treasure books. I've never seen anything written that proves if these wrecks are factual. It could be a HOAX. Many blockade runner did carry gold on their vessels as paper money wasn't trustworthy. If I was an enterprising captain, I'd be wise enough to drop the barrels where I could recover them later. Did you know that Bayport, Florida was a smuggler's port? There was a Confederate two gun battery on a bluff protecting it. Now don't go trespassing on that realtor's land cause there is nothing left after the last hundred TH'ing hit it about 15 years ago and I got yelled at by the landowner when I sought permission. Rifle pits across the channel may still be virgin. Area used during Prohibition too. But three sloops and a sidewheel steamer were burned by Union gunboat and sunk there. I've never had the chance to dive the site but have been warned to do it in cold weather as Stone Crabs are prevalent in the area and they hurt when they get your pinkie in their claws. If there are gold coins lying on the bottom of the Suwannee then it'll take a darn good tow fish to find them. They are probably sitting on bedrock. Now Fowler's Bluff yielded several pirates chest in days of yore but I think its all been recovered. Don't forget that Jose' Gaspar's ship still lies near Gasparilla Island with a million in gold and guarded by the Tiger Sharks that reproduce there. Good luck!

• Re: Suwanee River Civil War shipwreck, HOAX??? Jeff K 20:11:36 9/10/2001 (0)