As with most legends, the story of Treasure Bay seems to be a colorful mixture of truth, tall tales, and exaggeration, all distorted by time.
1980 Beach Blvd. Biloxi, MS 39531
|
|
|
|
| In the late 1700s, the Gulf of Mexico was alive with shipping from all the countries of Europe. And, of course, there were many buccaneers and scalawags who roamed these waters looking for easy riches. Many of these pirates became legends, Blackbeard, Captain Kidd and the little known, Jean Marcell. As the legend goes, in the Spring of 1784, Captain Marcell and his crew aboard their pirate ship, The Golden Hawk, intercepted a Spanish galleon sailing from New Orleans and ladened with gold. After a furious battle, Captain Marcell captured the Spanish ship and it's fabulous cargo. Flush with success and a fortune in gold and booty, Marcell sailed away to divide the loot and enjoy the spoils of victory. | |
|
As with most legends, the story of Treasure Bay seems to be a colorful mixture of truth, tall tales, and exaggeration, all distorted by time. |
| Marcell knew the Gulf like the back of his hand. Quickly he called out orders and pointed the Golden Hawk to a quiet, sheltered bay. Dropping anchor in the bay, Marcell directed his crew to unload the golden treasure. His plan was to bury the booty, put out to sea and evade the Spanish fleet, then return in a week or two and divide the loot. | |
| The job done, the Golden Hawk set sail once again. Marcell ever confident, set a course designed to lead the Spanish ship away from his prize, now buried in the sand of the quiet bay. Rounding the point off one of the barrier islands, however, Marcell came face-to-face with not just one Spanish fighting ship, but four. All were laying in wait to trap the daring pirate. As Marcell rigged for action, one of the Spanish ships opened fire. It only took minutes. The Golden Hawk was mortally wounded and began to take water and slowly sank beneath the waves. | |
| For weeks the Spanish crew searched to find the buried treasure, but the huge chests filled with gold, and Pieces of Eight were never found. Eventually they gave up, but before they left, they marked the spot on their maps. They called it... | |
| Treasure Bay. | |
| Now, as legend has it, the treasure will be found when Captain Marcell and the Golden Hawk return to claim it. Perhaps the legend is true, for we've heard tell, many people in this area have claimed to have sighted a pirate ship along the Mississippi Coast... anchored at Treasure Bay. | |
| Treasure
Bay Casino Resort 1980 Beach Blvd. Biloxi, MS 39531 |
|
