Friers Point, Miss, "Mad Search" for Hidden Treasures in 1889

[jeff of pa]

The Clifton clarion. (Clifton, Graham County, A.T., Ariz.), 19 June 1889.


https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/...xt=&andtext=&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=10


it's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World ?

 

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[Crow]

Another interesting story Jeff.

Some these stories just slip under the radar. And this one is a little gem for a coin shooter detetorist. With a bit of research one might uncover a coin spill or coin cache.

Crow

 

[Crow]

Frost wee need as little background setting.

The town was founded in 1836 and originally called "Farrar's Point". When the town incorporated in 1852, its name was changed to "Friar's Point"[when?] to honor Robert Friar, an early settler, legislator, and businessman who sold fuel to passing steamboats. In 1850, the county seat was moved from the nearby town of Delta to Friars Point.

Strategically situated at a bend in the Mississippi River, Friars Point flourished before the Civil War as the largest shipping center for cotton south of Memphis.

But this is where it gets interesting.

Crow

 

[Crow]

During the Civil War, Union troops occupied and burned portions of the town. The Robinson-Slack-Marinelli House (now the Minie Ball House below),

which still stands and bears the mark of shelling from gunboats, was used as a headquarters by Union General Napoleon Bonaparte Buford.

General William Tecumseh Sherman below

and Admiral David Dixon Porter below.

used Friars Point as a rendezvous for 45 transport ships in December 1862, prior to attacking Vicksburg.

Friars Point was also home to Confederate Brigadier General James L. Alcorn, whose grave and former plantation, Eagles Nest, are located a short distance east of the town. Here is a picture of him below.

Alcorn turned from Whig to Republican after the war, and went on to become governor with the support of the large number of “carpetbaggers” who had settled in Friars Point.

The attack on Friars point was perhaps the catalyst in money being buried on the shore of river after fleeing union forces?

To be continued......


Crow

 

[Crow]

In 1875 towards the end of Reconstruction, violence from the Democrats (Mississippi Plan) included James L. Alcorn leading a whites against black Republicans at Friar's Point. The battle led to a number of people being killed, and served to suppress the black vote, allowing conservative Democrats to regain political power.

The famous gunman and train robber Jesse James Below.

came to Friars Point one evening during the 1880s. He visited with the Methodist minister, then played poker and had some drinks at the local saloon. The next morning he was gone.

Interesting to think that only 9 years later Civil was coins was found believed to have been from fleeing southern planters from union troops.

The question if there was various caches being in the civil war era shoreline could there still be coins there today in the sand and mud. After all there was not metal detectors in 1889?

Crow

 

[Crow]

The following pictures was taken from the roof of the demolished now courthouse in 1900 showing in relation to river bank and two the town where these coins was found.

You can see the newly constructed levy. one whole street of friars point was demolished to make way for the levy.

The sandy area below is where the coins was found in front of the levy.

Here a picture of demolish court house. Today the levy bank runs through that site that was once a street facing the river.

Crow

 

[Crow]

If you look on the maps below you can see where the piers was out into the river in relationship of friars point. 1967 map below.

in the 1937 map below you can see how the banks and river dynamics change over time.

in the 1955 map below shows how much the river changes over time.

Thankfully the town stays by enlarge in the same place.

Crow

 

[Crow]

Today where those piers was is some time buried by shifting sands and mud of the river.

This site would be an excellent site to detect between the remain of wooden piers dating back to the civil war era. Since there has been discoveries of coins in the mud and sand her in 1880. Its not beyond the realms of impossibility that not all the gold coins was recovered in 1889.

In 1860 fairs point was prosperous shipping port along the river. Cotton farmers racking in huge profits from cotton production via slave labor. During the advance of Union by land and water.

Rich planters desperate to flee buried in the sand between the river port piers money they hope to recover. But as the war progressed many it appears never returned for one reason or another.

For me while there is no guarantees if i was a would be treasure hunter in the locality or passing through. It might be worth well indeed to spend some time detecting along shores of the river.

Crow

 

[Crow]

1860 Liberty Head $10 gold eagles are generally regarded as scarce coins as relatively few pieces were originally made. These popular U.S. gold coins were designed by United States Mint Chief Engraver Christian Gobrecht, who was the third individual to serve in that role. In addition to creating the design on 1860 Liberty Head eagles coins, Gobrecht designed Seated Liberty coinage, which was made from the late 1830s through early 1890s and remains popular with numismatists nowadays.


1860 $10 gold eagle coins contain 0.4806 ounces of gold. While these coins are valued for their intrinsic gold content, they are also highly prized as numismatic collectibles and are worth considerably more than their gold value alone. Here’s a look at the 1860 Liberty Head gold eagle $10 coin mintage figures and values:

• 1860, 15,105 minted; $1,567
• 1860-O, 11,100; $1,881
• 1860-S, 5,000; $5,500

While a 1860 10 dollar coin alone can worth between 1567 and 5500 dollars. The most humblest of equipment metal detectorist can hit pay dirt and reaming lost coins

Crow