Cursed Pirate Treasure
Melissa Wong
Anyone visiting Tapper's Cove in Torbay to find the lost pirate treasure be warned. The hidden treasure is guarded by the ghost of a headless prisoner and the ghost of a beast with hellfire in its eyes. Disclaimer: the image is a screenshot from Google Earth.
Tourists are drawn to the haunted pirate grounds at Tapper's Cove, Torbay where a pirate captain’s lost treasure is guarded by the ghosts of a boy and a Newfoundland dog.
Lara Maynard published "Confronting the Ghost: A Study of Treasure Guardians in Newfoundland Legends" in Transmission where she reveals how these ghosts, guarding the treasure, were first seen by two of Torbay's fishermen. Twelve-year-old Eric Tapper told the Transmission back in 1995 he had heard the tale "from his grandfather".
Beware the Cursed Prisoner and his Beast
Two fishermen stopped at a cove, which was called Treasure Cove at the time, because of a storm. There they saw a Newfoundland dog come down from the woods. After the dog had appeared, they heard a rattle of chains and saw a boy, holding his head and wrapped in chains, coming towards them (Confronting the Ghost: A Study of Treasure Guardians in Newfoundland Legends, 1995). The ghostly Newfoundland dog with "eyes glowing with hellish red fire" has been seen by many people (Ghost Stories of Newfoundland and Labrador, 2010). Many people in Torbay said it was an omen because anyone who saw the dog "didn't live very long after" (Confronting the Ghost: A Study of Treasure Guardians in Newfoundland Legends, 1995).
When the fishermen returned to Torbay, there was an old man who believed their story. This old man had heard a similar story from his grandfather, who explained the legend behind those ghosts (Buried Treasures of Newfoundland and Labrador, 1989).
Photograph of MUN library books used to write this essay created by Melissa Wong.
The Tapper's Pirate Tale
Most sources agree an unnamed pirate captain kidnapped a boy from a conquered ship, he put chains on the boy and forced him to be his cabin boy. The boy was able to be friends with the captain's pet Newfoundland dog. Sometime later, when the pirate captain had stolen Spanish gold, he decided to hide it in Torbay. He asked for volunteers to help hide the gold, but his crew would not volunteer because they knew that he would kill whoever helped him bury the treasure. The young prisoner was unaware of this information and volunteered in hope the pirate might remove his chains. As their longboat was being lowered, the Newfoundland dog jumped in and went with them to Torbay. When they were finished burying the treasure, the pirate cut off the boy's head. The dog attacked the pirate captain to avenge the boy and the dog was killed too. Both the boy and dog were buried with the treasure.
Why Plot to Kill the Child?
The reason the pirate captain murdered the child was to protect his treasure. According to Haunted Waters: More True Ghost Stories of Newfoundland and Labrador, a recurring theme of "ghost stories that pop up time and time again is that of a ghost or spirit who guards some sort of treasure. Most often in Newfoundland, this is a pirate ghost, but not all phantom guardians are necessarily pirates" (2012). This makes sense because according to Robert Nesmith's essay on "The Art of Digging Money", pirates believed that if a human was buried with a treasure than the "blood of these victims formed a potent charm and transferred the treasure to Satan, who held it against any mortal hand" (1788). Therefore, pirates usually killed a captive, slave, crew member or pet to ensure Satan would protect their stolen loot until they could return.
Pirates and Lost Treasure
According to Ghost Stories of Newfoundland and Labrador, Newfoundland was a good spot for pirates to hide and repair their ships because of its many coves. It was also a good spot for pirate captains to recruit or kidnap fishermen for their crew (2012). The book, Buried Treasure of Newfoundland and Labrador affirms that Torbay was one such community to bury treasure and repair ships because it was one of the oldest communities with plenty of coves and fishermen (1989).
The allure of hidden treasure brings many tourists to Torbay, despite its ghostly guardians. This widespread belief of the two ghosts prevents many people from trying to find the treasure, but the dream of finding lost wealth keeps this Newfoundland story popular.
References
Butts, E. (2010). Ghost Stories of Newfoundland and Labrador. Toronto; Tonawanda, NY: Dundurn Press.
Fitzgerald, J. (1991). Ghosts, Heroes and Oddities. St. John's, Nfld.: Jesperson.
Galgay, F., & McCarthy, M. (1989). Buried Treasures of Newfoundland and Labrador. St. John's, Nfld.: H. Cuff.
Jarvis, D. (2010). Haunted Waters: More True Ghost Stories of Newfoundland and Labrador. St. John's, N.L.: Flanker Press.
For Further Information Visit:
https://www.quotev.com/story/4093347/The-Treasure-of-Torbay/1
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Journalist.wong@gmail.com
Journalist.wong@gmail.com
@MilsongWong
©Melissa Wong
Interesting, though I think you’re a bit off in your grasp of your folklore-based source material in a few spots in this post. And draw some shaky conclusions. For example: “The mysterious old man was probably an elderly Eric Tapper, and it is possible he is the reason why the cove's name was changed from Treasure Cove to Tapper's Cove.” Eric is still not an old man, and Tapper’s Cove was so named long before he was born.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the feedback. You are right so I edited the piece.
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