After spending countless hours searching old newspaper articles I've forgotten what year it is.
Finally sent this article on to someone who might be able to help. She referred me to Frank Cushings lost manuscript of Florida. Frank took a preliminary trip to the gulf coast of Florida in 1895, then an archaeological trip the following year, 1896. In his reports, are detailed digs recorded in Pine Island, San Carlos Bay, and Key Marco. None of which produced any large amount of Spanish gold, or Spanish armor.
So... Did this Zimmerman really just come to the mosquito coast from his fine seat of clerk of circuit court citrus county, where folks get lost with channel markers and GPS, go treasure hunting, and literally hit the nail on the hammer? Then he went all the way up to Atlanta to split the gold amongst the party? This is pretty big news for 1890s. Where did the note to Vasquez go? Or again the suits of armor, Being an archaeologist of note, it is awfully hard to find anything ever written by him, or documented.
So far even trying to research his seat only brings up a measely tale of him being too stubborn to move courthouses. Will be trying to dig more into Mr. W C Zimmerman tomorrow but for now, there is definitely more to this article. @Blak bart@ARC