My Intrigue With...Jean Lafitte!
Beyond Oak Island...Season 1...Episode 1...tells the tale of
Jean Lafitte.
I first heard the story of Jean Laffite 35 years ago while I was living in the port town of Progreso in the Yucatan Peninsula.
I had family connections within the Mexican Government and was studying Archaeology of the ancient Maya, more precisely ancient Mayan Cenotes (wells) and the ritual of the Maya of tossing in gold for the appeasement to their Gods.
The American mid-19th century John Stephens had dredged the Cenote at Chichen Itza and at that time recovered $2 million in gold and this find became foremost in my mind.
I had located other isolated Cenotes and wished to treasure hunt the same. (another story).
My Brother-in-law was acting Secretary for the Mexican Government in the Yucatan State, and he arranged the loan of their helicopter to research the Gulf of Mexico from Merida up to Rio la Gatos.
We set down in between at the small village of Dzilam De Bravo where I heard the most interesting tale of Jean Laffite.
The Mayan history is not recorded by writing but by word of mouth…and to this day is very accurate!
It was here at a grave that the locals told me the story that in the early 1800's Jean had arrived by ship, deathly ill, seeking help.
I was told by the old ones that he was sick and was trying to get to Merida for medical help but died on route.
It was stated that Jean died at Dzilam De Bravo and was buried there.
The locals were proud to show me where his grave was located. (since destroyed by Hurricane Gilbert)
It was always curious to me why Lafitte chose this location and what was he doing in this remote part of the world?
The best I could surmise was he was driven out of America once his usefulness was achieved and was searching for a location to conceal his treasure still close to his American homeland.
At Progreso, I inquired from the locals about a secret island of sand, just out 17 kilometers from Progreso, where when fisherman did risk going there, usually after a hurricane, they would find Spanish coins on the beach.
Shortly after I heard the Mexican Government declared this island to be off limits to all.
To date... I always thought of boating out to this island for a pick nick.
At Dzilam De Bravo a statue dedicated to the pirate Jean Lafitte can be found next to the ocean water.
In February 1823, the infamous pirate Jean Lafitte, severely wounded from an encounter with Spanish warships, sailed his schooner General Santander westward from the coast of Cuba into oblivion.
Lafitte’s fate has remained a mystery for 183 years.
Historians and biographers have offered different theories.
Some believe he died of his wounds and was buried on Isla Mujeres, Yucatan’s Isle of Women.
Others believe he was buried at Dzilam De Bravo which is now shown by a monument erected to mark the site after a hurricane washed the original grave into the sea.
Some more fanciful theories are that he recovered from his wounds and sailed to the Mediterranean where he succeeded in rescuing Napoleon Bonaparte from St. Helena.
There are many theories...But the one that seems to have the most credence to me is the one passed down as fact over the generations by the families of Dzilam De Bravo.
According to oral history, the dying Lafitte was brought ashore by his brother Philipe and his daughter Lucia.
When Jean died, he was buried in the local churchyard.
Lucia remained in the village, was adopted by Inez Estrada Cedil, and was later married, which started the blue-eyed dynasty which I had previously heard about years before.
I was curious why Jean Lafitte would have named one of his ships “General Santander" which was of “Columbian Registry”, so I researched it.
It appears General Francisco de Paula Santander was a revolutionary leader in South America for its independence from Spain.
Francisco de Paula Santander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
He fought under Simon Bolivar who later became the President of the Republic of Columbia.
Jean Lafitte also proclaimed that he was not a pirate but a fighter for the War of Independence of Mexico against Spain.
All the time lines co-ordinate with these three Patriots!
Lafitte and his men continued to take Spanish ships in the Gulf of Mexico, often returning to Galveston or the barrier islands near New Orleans to unload cargo or take on supplies arranged by Pierre.
The congressional delegation in Louisiana began to demand that the Federal Government do something to halt the smuggling, and sent more U.S. Navy ships to the Gulf.
Their patrols and interventions reduced the number of active pirates in the region.
In October or November 1821, Lafitte's ship was ambushed as he attempted to ransom a recent prize.
After first escaping with some crew, he and his men were captured and jailed.
On February 13, he escaped, likely with outside help.
Maybe he returned to Mexico.
Maybe his Treasure is still safely buried…on an unnamed island…just off the coast of Progreso, Yucatan, Mexico
