Discovery of Pirate Treasure Halts Hatteras Dredging Efforts

As the chief sluice operator for the hopper dredge Currituck, Dwight Fettig had seen a number of surprising things pulled up from the bottom of the ocean.

“The trailing drag head pulls about 19,000 cubic pounds of sand a minute,” Fettig said. “We suck up the stuff you’d expect to find like sea shells and cement shoes, but I ain’t never seen anything like this.”

Trapped in the wire mesh drag filter was a 17th century cutlass with a gold and jewel encrusted pommel. When workers opened the trap to retrieve the sword, a dozen gold doubloons spilled onto the deck along with rotten planks from a chest.

The crew of the Currituck had stumbled upon one of the greatest underwater finds of the 21st century: Blackbeard’s Treasure.

Knowing he had to act quickly to preserve his claim to the treasure, the Currituck’s captain, Joel Benson lept into the chilly waters of the Albemarle Sound, a bowline clenched firmly between his teeth. After three tries he was able to locate the hulk of the Sith’s Revenge, Blackbeard’s second favorite sloop, jutting from the sediment on the bottom of the Sound. Tying off the rope to the rotting bowsprit, Cpt. Benson triggered Article 4 of the Law of the Sea and the Sith’s treasure belonged to him and his crew.

Unfortunately for Benson, greedier elements of the crew were not inclined to settle for their seaman’s share of the loot. Mutinous crew members overwhelmed the captain, loyal followers and this reporter. We were put in a lifeboat with two days food and water and cast adrift. A few hours later we washed ashore on Opracoke Island and we are currently awaiting a ferry back to the mainland.

The Currituck was last seen steaming south in the direction of St. Lucia, the crew bellowing classic sea chanteys, as the Jolly Roger flew from the mast. Ships in the area are warned to steer clear.