Daryl Friesen
Sr. Member
The warm water was splashing up onto my face as we cruised into the old Port Royal in search of treasure.The thoughts I had inside as we got closer to the small key were of Mitchell Hedges daughter telling me about the treasure that was still buried there.It was one of complete wonder that finally my childhood dream is about to come true.As the salt water dripped down my face and into my mouth, the taste brought back such a wonderful feeling of adventure that I wanted the moment to last forever before we touched down on the beach of the small key.
The key was littered with garbage.There were pop cans, metal wire, a beat up fridge, old buckets and buoys.You name it and it was there, washed up on the key.The first thing that came into my mind was that metal detecting was going to be very difficult.I didn't want to share that information with the other two treasure hunters who had come on this adventure.Their morale about this whole idea of searching for treasure was already low enough.
David was the first to let out his ccynicism at the reality of what we were trying to do. "Man!We are not going to find a dam thing!" he said as he looked around the key.
Don't worry, this metal detector has discrimination.I said with fear in my voice as I really wanted to find something
I quickly started scanning the beach of the key as soon as we got to shore.I searched for several minutes with no hits.As I moved closer to shore we got our first strong hit, but as Shawn started digging we hit the remains of a rotted old tin can.I saw in his eyes that he was looking doubtful.I searched for almost a half an hour and found nothing, but more junk.I threw the metal detector down in frustration.Shawn walked over and picked it up and started searching.He dug one hole and found nothing, then he dug a second and found nothing.Slowly he made his way down to beach where we had landed the boat.
The metal detector let out one more of its irritating screeches and Shawn started digging and within moments he pulled a very old rusted piece of chain out of the sand.At first I thought nothing of it as he held the chain in his hands.It looked like another piece of rusted metal, and then it hit me.
I remember in the Mitchell Hedges story that when he found the first three chests they were wrapped in chains.He had to cut the chains to open the chest just before loading the chests onto his boat. We landed near the area where Hedges was because it was the only open in the mangrove to enter the key.The metal chain had to have been once wrapped around an old pirate chest. I quickly shared my news with my partners and everyone's spirit seemed to go up a little.
If the theory is true, here is a piece in our hands that was a link to the treasure!It brought the hopes of a successful conclusion to our quest closer to reality.I’ve always found treasure hunting to be a struggle with reality because for me it has always had a parallel with religion.If you don't believe in the treasure, then it will not exist for you.You will never search and never experience the divine as you pull ancient gold out from underneath the sand.For gold is the god that we all search for, even the church has a collection box.
<>We continued our search for another hour or so when David started staring at the black clouds that were forming in the sky overhead."Ah man, there is going be a storm man. , we have to head back, so hurry up and find the dam treasure.Hey!You forgot to check the fridge he said running over and checking inside the old fridge that was resting on the East Side of the key.I tried to ignore David 's rant, but Shawn was laughing hysterically.As I swung the metal detector back and forth across the sandy key I could feel any hope of finding a treasure chest filled with gold doubloons slowly slipping away.
The detector then made one louder screech that sounded different than all the other screeches it had made that day.This one sounded more successful, so I started digging when out of the sand I pulled a small silver statue of a carving of a naked woman.This sent a shiver up my spine.Come and have a look at this one boys! I yelled.Shawn and David came running over to where I was digging.They glared over my shoulders at the curious object I had unearthed which I had come to the conclusion was the handle of a dagger belonging to a pirate.Shawn and David looked at the object in question and quickly agreed that, yes indeed I had found an object, which once belonged to a pirate.
The treasure must be close, so we all assumed searching the key.Within five minutes the detector rang off again and this time we all started digging and almost at once we started finding large pieces of broken metal.We cleared away several pieces of the metal and came across what looked like the top of a treasure chest buried in the sand. My heart was in my throat and my palms where sweating as the three of us tried to pull it out from the sand.We dug around it in a moment of excitement that I will never forget.No one said anything because none of us ccould really believe what we were seeing as we tore the chest out.
< <![endif]>Shawn smashed at the lid with the shovel, which broke into pieces of shattered metal.We all looked inside and it wass ccompletely filled with muddy water.I reached inside the chest expecting to pull gold and jewels from the muddy water.For a second I felt something, but when I pulled my hands out of the water and there was nothing but mud."There has to be something inside! Shawn said reaching into the chest.When he pulled his hands out he also found nothing but mud.
<As my mind came to terms with the reality of the situation, I could feel my heart rip open and the hope of finding the Mitchell Hedges chest slip into thin air.We had found the chest all right, but it was fucken empty.How typical, I thought, as images from other failed expeditions raced through my mind.I came all the way to Honduras and found nothing but mud.What will the people at home think when they hear this one? I told you where dreaming would probably be the answer.Best to keep your head out of the clouds and stick to the meat and potatoes is how my father would so eloquently put it.
As the three of us sat on the key with wallowing in our defeat, you could see the clouds rolling in and the ocean starting to get rough. We better get out of here,David said, as a loud crash of thunder echoed across the key.We all quickly piled into the boat and started making our way across the ocean. The boat bounced across the waves and I could taste the salt in my mouth
Rain started pouring down on us and within seconds we where soaked to the bone.It was great feeling though, a feeling of being on an adventure and of being free.Searching for treasure has a way of thrusting you back into a different age and that feeling which is so hard to come by makes this defeat a victory itself.
That night Shawn and I sat in front of the Reef House drinking Port Royal beer and watched the lightning storms off in the distance.David stared off with a look of fright in his eyes, watching the lightning flashing down into the bay of Honduras. lightning man! he said, sounding scared it almost killed me once.I was living in Tegucigalpa at the time and there was this huge lightning storm and one of those bolts hit my house and burned it to the ground man.I came home that night and my house was in ashes.It burnt right to the ground.He then turned and walked back into the Reef House.Shawn and I didn"t know how to react other than to almost roll off our chairs in drunken laughter.
Later that night as we got drunker and drunker on Port Royal beer, which is very foul stuff, if I do say so myself.David returned with a friend of his named Terry who had heard about our treasure hunting fiasco that day and was interested in what we were hoping to find on the island.He pulled up a chair beside us cracked open a Port Royal for himself and we began a serious discussion of treasure, which lasted deep into the Honduras night.
I heard you where out on Key Comfort today man, he said. Yes we were.Shawn answered.You were on the right track my friends, let me tell you what he said, which really perked our curiosity.Last summer a strange ship entered Port Royal and took up anchor near Key Comfort where you were searching today.Everyday when I would make my trip to Helena, I would watch em.I would see them unloaded a bunch of gear on the key where you fellows were.One of the locals, a fisherman from Helena was out there and he told me he watched them pull a heavy chest from the ground and load it onto their boat.Terry replied.
I couldn't believe what he was telling us. I could feel my heart sink.He continued to tell us more, When I went out there the following day to do some snooping around the boat had gone, so I went to the key myself and those fellows forgot to fill in their hole, man.Those fellows had taken a treasure out of the ground I can assure you that.It looks like you two were to late.
So close! We were so close! Do you realize the last time I was here with Rob in 95, I sailed by that key and the treasure was there I said.I took another swig of my Port Royal, but I was really craving something stronger.I am not lying to ya man.It is the truth I am telling ya.Too bad you didn't dig in 95 man.You would have been rich!Terry rubbed the salt in the wound even more.
Shawn and I got lost in a sense defeat and began to drink more and more alcohol.We traded in the Port Royal beer and moved to Henry Morgan rum.I thought about the great pirate himself
as I drank his brand of poison.He would have laughed at us today because his quest did not fail.When he sacked Panama and robbed the Spanish Empire of their riches and sailed off across the blue waters of the Caribbean, he must have felt like he had become a king.A feeling most of us, including myself will probably never feel because most of my attempts to seize the throne end in defeat
Terry watched us drink like we were punishing ourselves.Just because you are not rich today does not mean you may not get rich tomorrow man.Terry said.And why do you say that? I asked, trying not to slur my speech.Â
Because this island still have loads of treasures. I know all about that, I guarantees you.Terry said, trying to reassure us.
That's great, but do you realize leads like the Mitchell Hedges treasure do not fall into your lap each day. I explained.
I can see into that man, but let it go.I know where you can find more treasures. Said Terry.
And what would that be? I slurred.
In the ocean man!Shipwrecks all over this country!Terry said with enthusiasm.
Our conversation was interrupted by a new and strange deep voice of in the distance. We looked over and noticed a large fat man who wore a ripped white shirt, which was open in front exposing his fat belly.He also carried a large sheathed knife,the man looked like a real as a pirate could get. Our real adventure was just about to begin.
There is more for your to read
Daryl Friesen
Spindle Explorations
www.bc-alter.net/dfriesen/islandtreasure.html
The key was littered with garbage.There were pop cans, metal wire, a beat up fridge, old buckets and buoys.You name it and it was there, washed up on the key.The first thing that came into my mind was that metal detecting was going to be very difficult.I didn't want to share that information with the other two treasure hunters who had come on this adventure.Their morale about this whole idea of searching for treasure was already low enough.
David was the first to let out his ccynicism at the reality of what we were trying to do. "Man!We are not going to find a dam thing!" he said as he looked around the key.
Don't worry, this metal detector has discrimination.I said with fear in my voice as I really wanted to find something
I quickly started scanning the beach of the key as soon as we got to shore.I searched for several minutes with no hits.As I moved closer to shore we got our first strong hit, but as Shawn started digging we hit the remains of a rotted old tin can.I saw in his eyes that he was looking doubtful.I searched for almost a half an hour and found nothing, but more junk.I threw the metal detector down in frustration.Shawn walked over and picked it up and started searching.He dug one hole and found nothing, then he dug a second and found nothing.Slowly he made his way down to beach where we had landed the boat.
The metal detector let out one more of its irritating screeches and Shawn started digging and within moments he pulled a very old rusted piece of chain out of the sand.At first I thought nothing of it as he held the chain in his hands.It looked like another piece of rusted metal, and then it hit me.
I remember in the Mitchell Hedges story that when he found the first three chests they were wrapped in chains.He had to cut the chains to open the chest just before loading the chests onto his boat. We landed near the area where Hedges was because it was the only open in the mangrove to enter the key.The metal chain had to have been once wrapped around an old pirate chest. I quickly shared my news with my partners and everyone's spirit seemed to go up a little.
If the theory is true, here is a piece in our hands that was a link to the treasure!It brought the hopes of a successful conclusion to our quest closer to reality.I’ve always found treasure hunting to be a struggle with reality because for me it has always had a parallel with religion.If you don't believe in the treasure, then it will not exist for you.You will never search and never experience the divine as you pull ancient gold out from underneath the sand.For gold is the god that we all search for, even the church has a collection box.
<>We continued our search for another hour or so when David started staring at the black clouds that were forming in the sky overhead."Ah man, there is going be a storm man. , we have to head back, so hurry up and find the dam treasure.Hey!You forgot to check the fridge he said running over and checking inside the old fridge that was resting on the East Side of the key.I tried to ignore David 's rant, but Shawn was laughing hysterically.As I swung the metal detector back and forth across the sandy key I could feel any hope of finding a treasure chest filled with gold doubloons slowly slipping away.
The detector then made one louder screech that sounded different than all the other screeches it had made that day.This one sounded more successful, so I started digging when out of the sand I pulled a small silver statue of a carving of a naked woman.This sent a shiver up my spine.Come and have a look at this one boys! I yelled.Shawn and David came running over to where I was digging.They glared over my shoulders at the curious object I had unearthed which I had come to the conclusion was the handle of a dagger belonging to a pirate.Shawn and David looked at the object in question and quickly agreed that, yes indeed I had found an object, which once belonged to a pirate.
The treasure must be close, so we all assumed searching the key.Within five minutes the detector rang off again and this time we all started digging and almost at once we started finding large pieces of broken metal.We cleared away several pieces of the metal and came across what looked like the top of a treasure chest buried in the sand. My heart was in my throat and my palms where sweating as the three of us tried to pull it out from the sand.We dug around it in a moment of excitement that I will never forget.No one said anything because none of us ccould really believe what we were seeing as we tore the chest out.
< <![endif]>Shawn smashed at the lid with the shovel, which broke into pieces of shattered metal.We all looked inside and it wass ccompletely filled with muddy water.I reached inside the chest expecting to pull gold and jewels from the muddy water.For a second I felt something, but when I pulled my hands out of the water and there was nothing but mud."There has to be something inside! Shawn said reaching into the chest.When he pulled his hands out he also found nothing but mud.
<As my mind came to terms with the reality of the situation, I could feel my heart rip open and the hope of finding the Mitchell Hedges chest slip into thin air.We had found the chest all right, but it was fucken empty.How typical, I thought, as images from other failed expeditions raced through my mind.I came all the way to Honduras and found nothing but mud.What will the people at home think when they hear this one? I told you where dreaming would probably be the answer.Best to keep your head out of the clouds and stick to the meat and potatoes is how my father would so eloquently put it.
As the three of us sat on the key with wallowing in our defeat, you could see the clouds rolling in and the ocean starting to get rough. We better get out of here,David said, as a loud crash of thunder echoed across the key.We all quickly piled into the boat and started making our way across the ocean. The boat bounced across the waves and I could taste the salt in my mouth
Rain started pouring down on us and within seconds we where soaked to the bone.It was great feeling though, a feeling of being on an adventure and of being free.Searching for treasure has a way of thrusting you back into a different age and that feeling which is so hard to come by makes this defeat a victory itself.
That night Shawn and I sat in front of the Reef House drinking Port Royal beer and watched the lightning storms off in the distance.David stared off with a look of fright in his eyes, watching the lightning flashing down into the bay of Honduras. lightning man! he said, sounding scared it almost killed me once.I was living in Tegucigalpa at the time and there was this huge lightning storm and one of those bolts hit my house and burned it to the ground man.I came home that night and my house was in ashes.It burnt right to the ground.He then turned and walked back into the Reef House.Shawn and I didn"t know how to react other than to almost roll off our chairs in drunken laughter.
Later that night as we got drunker and drunker on Port Royal beer, which is very foul stuff, if I do say so myself.David returned with a friend of his named Terry who had heard about our treasure hunting fiasco that day and was interested in what we were hoping to find on the island.He pulled up a chair beside us cracked open a Port Royal for himself and we began a serious discussion of treasure, which lasted deep into the Honduras night.
I heard you where out on Key Comfort today man, he said. Yes we were.Shawn answered.You were on the right track my friends, let me tell you what he said, which really perked our curiosity.Last summer a strange ship entered Port Royal and took up anchor near Key Comfort where you were searching today.Everyday when I would make my trip to Helena, I would watch em.I would see them unloaded a bunch of gear on the key where you fellows were.One of the locals, a fisherman from Helena was out there and he told me he watched them pull a heavy chest from the ground and load it onto their boat.Terry replied.
I couldn't believe what he was telling us. I could feel my heart sink.He continued to tell us more, When I went out there the following day to do some snooping around the boat had gone, so I went to the key myself and those fellows forgot to fill in their hole, man.Those fellows had taken a treasure out of the ground I can assure you that.It looks like you two were to late.
So close! We were so close! Do you realize the last time I was here with Rob in 95, I sailed by that key and the treasure was there I said.I took another swig of my Port Royal, but I was really craving something stronger.I am not lying to ya man.It is the truth I am telling ya.Too bad you didn't dig in 95 man.You would have been rich!Terry rubbed the salt in the wound even more.
Shawn and I got lost in a sense defeat and began to drink more and more alcohol.We traded in the Port Royal beer and moved to Henry Morgan rum.I thought about the great pirate himself
as I drank his brand of poison.He would have laughed at us today because his quest did not fail.When he sacked Panama and robbed the Spanish Empire of their riches and sailed off across the blue waters of the Caribbean, he must have felt like he had become a king.A feeling most of us, including myself will probably never feel because most of my attempts to seize the throne end in defeat
Terry watched us drink like we were punishing ourselves.Just because you are not rich today does not mean you may not get rich tomorrow man.Terry said.And why do you say that? I asked, trying not to slur my speech.Â
Because this island still have loads of treasures. I know all about that, I guarantees you.Terry said, trying to reassure us.
That's great, but do you realize leads like the Mitchell Hedges treasure do not fall into your lap each day. I explained.
I can see into that man, but let it go.I know where you can find more treasures. Said Terry.
And what would that be? I slurred.
In the ocean man!Shipwrecks all over this country!Terry said with enthusiasm.
Our conversation was interrupted by a new and strange deep voice of in the distance. We looked over and noticed a large fat man who wore a ripped white shirt, which was open in front exposing his fat belly.He also carried a large sheathed knife,the man looked like a real as a pirate could get. Our real adventure was just about to begin.
There is more for your to read
Daryl Friesen
Spindle Explorations
www.bc-alter.net/dfriesen/islandtreasure.html
