Key West Treasure

[Cappy Z.]

No I didn't find any. However I've read that years ago a street work crew was digging up a ditch and found many barrels of treasure. I was wondering if there is documented proof that this actually happened, maybe old newspaper articles etc. Old photos would be wonderful!

Anyone willing to point me in the right direction? Anyone have copies of this account in newspaper clippings? And where did all the treasure go? Any documentation of that?

Thanks.

 

[deepsix47]

In the late 70s I spent two years living on my boat and working as a diver for a bridge building company in the Keys. Then for another 2 years lived in Homestead and spent most of my time again in the Keys. It seems to me I remember the story you're talking about or something similar (along with many more). The Keys are full of those stories and Key West in particular.

Don't hold me to this but I think the News Paper in Key West is the "Key West Citizen". Contact them and you should be able to dig through their back issues.

The Keys in general and Key West in particular, have an almost unbelievable history to them and the Treasure Fleets play a huge part. Cashes like you are speaking of (but usually much smaller) turn up fairly often and there are no doubt many others still waiting to be found. There are still wrecks and sites to be found and many that are known and the finder just keeps quite about it. Treasure and artifacts still wait for those that are willing to go after them.

A word of warning though. The laws in the Keys have changed dramatically since I lived down there. Keep it straight and if you're not 100% positive, ask the Marine Patrol. They will give you all of the info you need to stay out of trouble. They are also the ones (along with several other agencies) that will lock you up, confiscate all of your equipment and prosecute you if you get caught in ANY violations.

We had a number of sites that we could dive and just snorkel in many cases to pick up artifacts. Through the years we had to abandon many of them one by one due to the changing laws. In short. STAY LEGAL IN THE KEYS or you're likely to end up in the slammer.

Deepsix

 

[artzstuff1]

Man thats to bad there deep six!!! I used to finish drywall down in the keys back in 1984,, worked up and down the keys for quite some time ,, wish I had never left really!!!! lived in tavenier, and whale harbor,,, went on a couple of dive trips,,, awesome,, to bad about the new laws,,,thanks for the info,,,,


arthur

 

[deepsix47]

Man that's to bad there deep six!!! I used to finish drywall down in the keys back in 1984,, worked up and down the keys for quite some time ,, wish I had never left really!!!! lived in tavenier, and whale harbor,,, went on a couple of dive trips,,, awesome,, to bad about the new laws,,,thanks for the info,,,,

arthur

Do you remember the Coral Grill or Shorty's (that was always an interesting place to hang out. The party's were wild. You could always pick up interesting information from the local bar flys for a couple of drinks and occasionally for a couple of pictures of beer get a Spanish Reale or two from a local diver). To bad those days have all but vanished. Now everyone from the DEA to Homeland Security hang out in those places putting faces together and, well, ....just and. You never know anymore who you are really talking to or who is watching.

Oh well, those were interesting days.

Deepsix

 

[Cappy Z.]

Okay this is not THE story however after some hefty research I found an old newspaper article that I could not copy or paste or anything. But here goes.

In 1979 in Key West right across from the Hemmingway house some guys were digging a well.

At 18 feet...again..18 feet their pump choked to a stop.

Later 2 pounds of gold nuggets were retrieved.

Now, I have believed all along that much treasure is DEEP.

 

[deepsix47]

Someone just PMed me on this topic and asked if I knew of any good lobster spots down in the Keys so I thought I'd answer it here. Actually, I do, lots of them....lol. Unfortunately, when it comes to those spiny little crustaceans, I'm a bit stingy I will tell you this though and let you figure it out from there. You don't need a boat. Mask, fins and snorkel are just fine and they are in 3-6 feet of water. One last clue. You can find them from Key Largo to Key West. There ya go, clues to a different kind of treasure.

Should you happen to figure it out, here's a little trick for a heck of a snack on your trip down or back. Bring your catch up. Break off the tail and Devain with one of the feelers. Rinse in the salt water. Split the Tail along the back with your divers knife and cut about half way into the tail meat. Stuff the tail with butter, sprinkle on a little paprika and wrap the tail in 2 layers of Aluminum foil.

Open the hood of your car and put the wrapped tails on the exhaust manifold (make sure they are tucked in well so they don't become litter on the highway). Get in your car and continue on. About 20-25 minutes down the road, pull over and remove the tails. Sit on the side of the road with a great view and enjoy your lobster snack.

Have Fun,

Deepsix

 

[Cappy Z.]

 

[sphillips]

Deepsix,

I lived on Plantation Key 1982-1993. I think the Coral Grill closed late '80's or early '90's. I'm trying to remember Shortys, but I'm sure you remember Woody's in Islamorada with the great band Big Dick and the Extenders. The early days were great.

 

[GoldenOldy]

Woody's in Islamorada was a great place. Don Washington and I used to hang out there.

 

[deepsix47]

Allright, there are some here that were there when the Keys were a place to drop out, get loose and have some fun. Shorty's was in Marathon, on the right, just before you went out on the bridge. It was mostly divers and fishermen that watered there. In the 70s there were a few notable confrontations between rival treasure crews. Henry Taylor, a notable TH'er in the early days, hung there a lot and on Plantation. To bad about the Coral Grill. I heard that it had been sold then started going down hill.

lmao!!!! Shame on you hanging around a place like that

Deepsix