Pirate Capt. Ross and the Ross Island treasures

[ARC]

And when this this alleged incident take place?

Not alleged... factual.

 

Amazon Forum Fav 👍

A Handbook of Civil War Bullets and Cartridges - Grab it through Amazon!

[ARC]

Is anyone still looking for Ross's treasure?

Laws prohibit the digging or disturbance of areas suspected / as well as any submerged areas... where "most likely" any items... IF ANY... would exist.

The location is lower part of a Reserve... not even sure if the areas I suspect are even part of this.

 

[ARC]

Producer Cassie... I read the private msg you sent...

To answer your question whilst on this subject here... I have no further information that I am willing to post.
And what information I do have is... nothing of real substantial value concerning the "known" stories... which vary.

My opinons... and what I know from the blender of information long swallowed by brain cells also "vary"

 

[Old Bookaroo]

I.

(Schooner: dp. 171.5 tons; length 97 feet; beam 23 feet 6 inches; depth 9 feet 6 inches; complement 64; armament 12 guns)



The first Grampus, a schooner built at Washington Navy Yard under the supervision of naval constructor William Doughty on a design by Henry Eckford was laid down in 1820 on a 73-foot keel; and launched in early August 1821. The necessity of suppressing piracy and of maintaining ships to catch slavers led to the building of five such schooners, largest of which was Grampus. This was the first building program undertaken by the Navy since the War of 1812.

Lt. F. H. Gregory commanded Grampus on her first cruise, which took her to the West Indies in pursuit of pirates. In the company of Hornet, Enterprise, Spark,Porpoise, and Shark, Grampus helped convoy merchant vessels in the region, a policy encouraged by the lack of merchant ship protection received from local governments. Indeed, in October 1821, the governor at Gustavia in St. Barthelmy (modern Guadaloupe) refused to seize a known pirate ship or recover stolen American goods. Public opinion back in the United States waxed indignant over outrages like these and the squadron escorted friendly ships out of St. Thomas into 1822.

On 16 August 1822, Grampus gave chase to a brig flying Spanish colors, but which Lt. Gregory suspected was a pirate. When called upon to surrender, the privateer -- the brig Palmyra out of Puerto Rico -- replied with desultory cannon and musket fire. To this rebutt, Grampus answered in turn, firing broadsides that reduced Palmyra's rigging to a complete wreck, killing one and wounding six. The brig struck shortly thereafter, surrendering a crew of 88, one long 18-pounder gun and eight 18-pound carronades. Lt. Gregory discovered Palmyra carried the papers of a privateer merely as a subterfuge, as her officers acknowledged they had robbed the American schooner Coquette.

Grampus and the rest of the squadron shifted operations to Thompson's Island (later Key West) in 1823, continuing patrol and anti-piracy operations for ships sailing in the West Indies. The schooner took part in the landings in Puerto Rico in 1824, where the U.S. received an apology from the Spanish for firing on schooner Fox in March 1823.

Grampus continued her duties in the protection of shipping in the Caribbean Sea and in the South Atlantic Ocean for almost two more decades, although little is known about these cruises. Between 1840-41, Grampus sailed on the Africa Station, conducting anti-slavery patrols until detached from the African Squadron while lying at Boston Navy Yard. Attached to the Home Squadron at Norfolk, Va., 23 January 1843, Grampus [spoke the USS] Madison off St. Augustine, Florida, on 15 March 1843, [and] was lost at sea in March, presumably after having foundered in a gale off Charleston, S.C.

~ Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships

Good Luck to all,

The Old Bookaroo, CM

 

[Old Bookaroo]

ECS:

Most interesting!

May I ask - is your source the Francis Gregory (October 18, 1821) letter?

Good luck to all,

The Old Bookaroo, CM

 

[producercassie]

Producer Cassie... I read the private msg you sent...

To answer your question whilst on this subject here... I have no further information that I am willing to post.
And what information I do have is... nothing of real substantial value concerning the "known" stories... which vary.

My opinons... and what I know from the blender of information long swallowed by brain cells also "vary"

I see. Thank you for the information, I appreciate it!

We're just looking into this as a potential story for a Travel Channel show with Philippe and Ashlan Cousteau. There's not too much info out there on Ross and I thought he was an interesting subject. If we were to look into it we wouldn't do any "official" treasure hunting per say or give up anyone's secrets, but just want to learn more about these stories and the pirates behind them. Thanks again!

 

[southerndata]

Excellent story. Curious what your source is? Very detailed. I've recently been to this island. Thanks

 

[southerndata]

Recently visited Ross island in March of 2017. It is very difficult to get to with no public anchorage in the near vicinity. The island is surrounded by shallow muck. This will not allow a boat to anchor closely and walk ashore. The muck has the consistency of quick sand and very unstable. I have a 12 foot Nucanoe with sail kit and was able to launch from the Gandy bridge and make the 4.5 mile trip down to the island. We were able to beach just south of the old lagoon. The first thing I noticed was inland of the beach was a large running ditch filled with debris. Much trash from Tampa Bay ends up on this island including large timbers from docks which apparently were destroyed during storms of recent years. Due to the amount of trash near and around the shore it was almost impossible to metal detect. Moving inland, the island is heavily foliage'd and I could not find distinct passage. We managed our way up to the old lagoon which is now grown over into mangrove. It's easy to visualize, even with rising sea levels what this island may have looked like 200 years ago. I was limited with time I could spend here due to having the trip back to Gandy Bridge and limited daylight. Looking forward to returning in the near future.

 

[ARC]

I know of many islands and the stories to go with em.

Some better... some equal... and of course... even some less... in intrigue and etc.

 

[southerndata]

US Naval records relate that the USS GRAMPUS in 1821, gave chase to Ross's 3mast schooner up Egmont Channel into Tampa Bay,and blew that schooner out of the water.The Grampus then sent a landing party onto Ross Island as the pirate residents fled.The landing party did search the warehouses and recovered some of the looted goods,no chests of gold,silver,or jems were found,then set fire to the warehouses,shacks,fort,and docks.
L Frank Hudson was convicted in the 1990's for unauthorized excavations to find pirate gold and damaging Calusa burial mounds on Ross Island,Gallagher Key,Big Mound Key,and Cockroach Island.Hudson never found any pirate treasure,but is also known for his search with Homer "Buz" Osbon and James Spink for pyramids in the Everglades Big Cypress Swamp and their encounter with Skunk Apes,Florida's bigfoot.
Many of the stories and tales of buried pirate treasure can be traced back to the creation of lore by Adrian P Jordan,editor of the PUNTA GORDA HERALD during the late 1890 to early 1900's.

The USS Grampus was commissioned in 1821 and was busy chasing puerto rican pirates shortly thereafter. Citing WC Jameson's book Floridas Lost and Buried Treasures, it was the USS Hornet which chased Ross back to his lair and blew up the shallow draft schooner. The Navy sent both Navy and Marines ashore which captured and hung 5 of Ross's crew. Ross himself escaped into the mangroves never to be heard from again. Little was found in the way of treasure that day and the structures on the island were burned to the ground. According to another source (which I can not find) this occurred in 1830, 13 years after Ross set up camp on the island.

Regarding L Frank Hudson, in his book, he cites pirates must of been responsible for digging in the mounds which in fact it was he himself who had done so. I visited the mound at Cockroach Bay and the first strange noticeable feature is a large gash dug into the south side of the mound. Which at the time seeing the gash did not make sense to me. Until I read Hudson's book and further research showed that in the late 1980's, Hudson was feeding off the Mel Fisher frenzy, that Hudson managed to raise enough investor money to get a backhoe to both Ross Island and Cockroach Bay and dig into both the mounds. He never found any treasure or dead Indians in either case. For this he received 5 years probation and died shortly thereafter. On Ross Island, on the east side of the island just south of Pappy's point I landed my nucanoe recently and just off the beach where the foliage begins there is a large trench. I believe this was dug by Hudson and speaks volumes that he had little in the way of plans in looking for treasure and was going for potluck. Poorly executed on his behalf.

Very little written about John Henry Ross though he is an interesting figure which played into the Tampa Bay area pirate legend.

 

[Old Bookaroo]

southerndata:

Interesting. I have found Mr. Jameson to be remarkably unreliable. However, we all know what they say about blind pigs.

I do share your opinion regarding Mr. Hudson.

Good luck to all,

The Old Bookaroo, CM

 

[Old Bookaroo]

"Hornet and Peacock"
"February 24 1813"

"At 3.30 p.m. while beating round Caroband bank, the Hornet discovered a sail on her weather quarter bearing down for her. This was the British brig-sloop Peacock of 16 24 pdr. carronades and 2 sixes, Captain William Peake, who had only sailed from Demerara at 10 a.m. At 4.20 Peacock hoisted her colors and at 5.10 having kept close to the wind to weather the Peacock, the Hornet tacked for that purpose and hoisted her colors. At 5.25 pm the ship and brig exchanged broadsides, within half pistol shot. The Peacock then wore to renew the action on the other tack, the Hornet quickly bearing up, received Peacock's starboard broadside, then ran the latter close aboard on the starboard quarter. The Hornet then poured in so heavy and well directed fire, that at 5.50, having had her commander killed, and being with six feet of water in the hold, and cut to pieces in hull and masts, the Peacock hoisted from her fore-rigging an ensign, union down as a signal of distress. Shortly afterwards her mainmast went by the board. Both Hornet and Peacock were immediately anchored, and every attempt made to save the latter, by throwing her guns overboard, by pumping and bailing her, and stopping such shot holes as could be got at; but all would not do, and in a very few minutes after she had anchored, Peacock went down in 5½ fathoms, with 13 of her men, four of whom afterwards got to the foretop and escaped, as well as 3 men belonging to the Hornet. An American lieutenant and midshipman, and the remainder of the Hornet's men on board the Peacock, with difficulty saved themselves by jumping, as the brig went down, into a boat which was lying on her booms. Four of the Peacock's men had just before taken to her stern boat, in which notwithstanding it was much damaged by shot, they arrived safely at Demerara."
US Naval History and Heritage Command photo # NH 42073

http://www.navsource.org/archives/09/86/098628505.jpg


1805-1829

The third Hornet, a large sloop-of-war, was built in Baltimore in 1805 and was the first of its name designed as a warship. During the War of 1812 with Britain, she was victorious in several noted battles. While under the command of James Lawrence in 1813, she defeated the HMS Peacock in a widely acclaimed sea battle. Lawrence was promoted and later awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Hornet continued carrying out anti-piracy operations in the Caribbean Sea after the war until lost at sea during a heavy gale off Tampico, Mexico in 1829.

https://www.uss-hornet.org/visit-hornet/history/legacy-of-ships-named-hornet/

Good luck to all,

The Old Bookaroo, CM

 

[Guillaume d 'Baie]

...and revived for you.

A friend of mine, Charles Sauders, related stories to me about Hudson's search for Bigfoot, which I believe they referred to as a "skunk ape." Charles Sauders also knew the "beat" writer Jack Kerouac during his final years in St. Petersburg. One of the places they hung out at was the Flamingo Bar - which I believe is still in business. Charles introduced me to Jack's widow, Stella Kerouac; the three of us going together for Easter services at St. Stephanos Church. As for Ross Island, correct me if I'm wrong, but Florida law prohibits using metal detectors in state parks, except coastal ones. Obviously, one is not to disturb sea turtle nests or nesting bird colonies. I know that Ross Island has been "worked over" by treasure hunters over the years. But has anyone checked out where Ross' ship went down?

 

[Guillaume d 'Baie]

Is anyone still looking for Ross's treasure?

Yes, I am. And I'm sure I'm not alone. As much as the island has been picked over, there are undoubtedly spaces that have not yet been scanned. In addition, I wonder if the bottom where Ross' ship was sunk has been throughly investigated.

 

[ARC]

Yes, I am. And I'm sure I'm not alone. As much as the island has been picked over, there are undoubtedly spaces that have not yet been scanned. In addition, I wonder if the bottom where Ross' ship was sunk has been throughly investigated.

Yes and no.... MOST of Weedon island has been combed pretty well... BUT... the south end and the "bay /lagoon " that is the IMO the final resting place of said ship as far as i know... has not to my knowledge been thoroughly searched... or searched at all for all i know.... several cannon were drag lined out of there and left on the beach... upon return they were gone... still a mystery story told from time to time.

 

[Guillaume d 'Baie]

Yes and no.... MOST of Weedon island has been combed pretty well... BUT... the south end and the "bay /lagoon " that is the IMO the final resting place of said ship as far as i know... has not to my knowledge been thoroughly searched... or searched at all for all i know.... several cannon were drag lined out of there and left on the beach... upon return they were gone... still a mystery story told from time to time.

I live in St Pete, and I'd be more than willing to buddy-up with others to scout out the South end of Ross Island. I have an up to date nautical chart of the area, if someone has a boat.