Treasure of Lucaya (1965)

yes thank you I can tell you Bill at first I was pretty shocked after all Mark had been with me what was it 6 years and I tell you I was pretty dependent upon him well it beats me jack what on Earth made him go to pieces like that oh no no no no no Mark did not go to Pieces Mark was a very stable fellow no it was my fault really Bill do you remember when those fellas found all that that Spanish treasure just off the beach at lukaya on Grand baham Island yes I remember that Jack about a year ago wasn't it that's right well I thought it would make a good story for our monthly addition human interest everybody's dream you know the sort of thing well I sent mark on that assignment not only because he's a good reporter and can spot a publicity stunt from the real thing but he'd been working hard lately and an assignment on what I then thought was a sleepy sunny island would do him good I must say he seemed to appreciate it even though he didn't really believe the treasure story Mark was from Missouri as they say in America [Music] [Music] have you heard about the on they have found so much of [Music] where to the beach hotel please your plane came in early today must have had a big tail win did you hear about the big treasure they found here man those boys must be pretty happy [Music] [Music] nice to have you with us Mr [Music] Stevens front [Music] is that's quite a thing sir that treasure it's right over [Applause] there h what about that to be or not to be very rich right out there huh I'm not properly dressed for this what I need is the Casual look [Music] away now have you heard about the Treasure of laa [Music] have you heard about the treasure on they have found so did you hear about the Fig treasure they found here man those Bo must be pretty happy it's right over there right over there to be or not to be very rich very rich very rich coming out the 11 a winner 19k coming out seven our winner seven now gentlemen make a b now they coming out the point made way to now says [Music] the coming out shoot the dice shoot the dice the winner four Made Easy four now gentlemen the same Sho coming out seven a winner seven coming out [Music] [Music] fingers there's one thing about Mark he's not a dreamer feet on the ground you know he contacted the local paper straight away and talked to the editor there who offered him all the assistance he needed even loaned him a champ from the staff to arrange for him to interview the fellows who found the treasure this fell knew them all so the following morning he met one of them to get the story it's really pretty simple we found an old wreck and was loaded with silver well I understand that but there must be more to it than just that well four of us came to the island to start a new business a water skiing and skin diving school we were out diving one day and Gary ran across a very heavy object [Music] when he finally got it up to our surprise it turned out to be solid Silvera [Applause] [Music] back in our apartment we realized what we had found treasure and a big one thousands of coins dating back to the early 17th century and the reign of Philip [Music] II of course we can still teach water skiing when we want to then the fell from the newspaper joined them he'd been on the island for some time I understand lived with his family and all that then this fellow offered to open up the picture files at the paper of course Mark was lucky to have him to help a lot of digging to get a story like this interviews [Music] pictures lcy do you have a husband no silly but I do have a brother and we have to pick him up from school on the way back to the office [Music] just a few miles away from the USA with the waters around so bright and CLE and lots of warm nice atmosphere there's a city with lots of things I know as I stay in my dreams and watch it gr and the sun been down from up above on the [Music] Lely oh for the sun comes up at the break of dawn and shines [Music] Al look the land where I belong with beautiful and Island SS from the trees you can hear the whispering wi with a soft Melody and a sweet begin and to sit by the seaside every day and gaze as the sunset passed away and pray to the heavens of above for that lovely l [Music] the sun comes up at the break of dawn and Shines on L that l [Music] now you know sometimes the local press can be a gold mine of pictures especially if they're interested in your story and the editor there was most helpful of course the chap who showed Mark around Mark never did tell me his name had been on the island for some years and knew everything about the place that helps you know I was here when the town looked like this not so long ago really well how long ago oh that was in uh 62 yes here it is I thought it would be about right what's this that let's see yes that's our first hotel being built the line Beach opened in January of 64 you mean everything else has been built since then yes it's quite fantastic isn't it sometimes even I can't keep up with it who's the old duck he'd not like you very much actually he isn't as old as he's shrewd he's been here from the beginning I guess we'd call him one of the real Pioneers I snapped this one day when I asked him if he would tell me something about the island tell him something about this island H if the ponds and the beaches could talk you should ask them they were here when these Waters were safe for the Jolly Roger Fleet but nobody else wouldn't surprise me at all if a lot of treasure were hidden here on the wreaths and in the secret caves yet to be found this island was sparely populated then possibly only by the descendants of the early Pirates of course the closeness to the shores of Florida was ideal for running blockades during the American Civil War and later during the Cuban conflict and when America went dry in the 20s Grand Bahama became the ideal storage ground for the trans shipment of liquor to Rum Runners up and down the eastern coast all its life it seems Grand Bahama's Beauty was wasted on transient people who couldn't afford the time to look about [Music] them it wasn't until 1955 that Wallace Groves an American financier with vision conceived the idea which was become Freeport and Lucaya the building of a tax-free community and a balanced economy other men of vision watched with silent interest until they were satisfied that the job was done men who would create community services so essential to growth and Men of Finance so essential to economic stability and Men of Industry such as United States Steel the synex corporation and holiday ins International yes grand Bahama's Duty has been joined by the man-made wonders of design imagination convenience and comfort what am I doing here it seems odd when I look back on it I came to the island years ago to sort of semi-retire do you know I'm busier now than I ever was before one of the real Pioneers well what do you suppose I could meet this Pioneer well he sells a lot of course but I understand he's quite a gold for too you could try there ah here we are these are some of the shops we used a few weeks ago can you use some of these we couldn't use any of the pictures of course because they were not in color and you can't really see a tropical island in black and white then he must have gone off by himself to write somewhere because I couldn't find him I tried reaching him by phone but [Music] [Music] come I love those dear hearts and gentle people who live in love in Free Port come and visit free Port live right here in Freeport [Music] [Music] a [Music] n [Music] wow good Lord I must it [Music] I'm going to find that damn Lord [Music] [Music] [Music] Mr Mark Stevens telephone call Mr Mark Stevens [Music] hello this is Mr Stevens Mark where on earth have you been I've been trying to reach you yes uh Chief well you see this chap from the paper here he took me to the other end of the island it's almost 60 M away all right all right but Mark I want you back here just as soon as possible you're not on holiday you know what about the story but it's a big one Chief it's a real big one that's what's taking so long well move along with it Move Along I'll see you in a couple of days and Mark don't let any sand get in your shoes did you hear me Mark I said oh yeah I heard you Chief I heard you uh well you know me better than that Chief it's a big story and it takes time that's all yes you said that before I've got another call waiting for me now but I'll see you in a couple of days goodbye Mark oh goodbye Mark was always a real Digger never content with just skimming a story he must have talked with every important person in town from the man who started it all to the other top Executives in the Port Authority they explained how Freeport Lucaya was born and how in only a few years theyve brought in Industry on a wide scale as well as all the other niceties of a well planned community and do you know something there are no taxes there none at all really well anyway I suspect Mark stayed over another day to relax could have found a girl for all I know although knowing Mark I doubt it have you [Music] heard hello M nice to see you back have a seat how'd it go no you like it Chief it's a good story even if I say so myself could have find human interest oh there's some tapes in here too of interviews I did maybe we can use them to fine Mark that's wonderful but I hope you're rested because I've got another assignment for you next week well I'd like to talk to you about that Chief it's kind of difficult after all you were the one who sent me down to Freeport to write the story about Spanish gallions and pirate gold well I went there not believing a word of it but it happenss to be true the treasure is there the people who found the treasure are there in fact the whole story is in that en but there's a lot more to it than that you see this treasure may be worth millions but nobody knows but the bigger treasure is Grand Bahama itself this is a creation of visionary people there's a wealth of opportunity to death for everybody and IA one can't ignore it that's why I'm going back this time as an individual and that as a newspaper reporter cuz I think my future lies there well well that was it as I said before it was a bit of a shock at first but I'm feeling differently about it now the world's getting smaller all the time Bill as the advertisements say you jet there in no time and after all I lost a good man here but I gained a good man there and I'm not complaining may I have your attention please boac announced the departure of flight ba 500 super vc10 service for New York and Freeport Grand Bahama passengers are requested to board the aircraft through gate number 23 bill that's my plane I must go thanks also for coming along to lunch and don't forget if you do get down there let me buy you one of those frozen dieres certainly can cherry by byebye Jack the where IA STS from the trees you can hear the whisper with a soft Melody and a sweet begin and to sit by the seaside every day and gaze as the sunset passed away and pray to the heavens up above for that lovely l [Music] the sun comes up as the break of dawn and Shines on look that Lely [Music]