Davy Crockett and The Treasure of Gasparilla

 

After the Battle of Pensacola, Davy and George begin to make their way back to Tennessee but are captured by Seminole Indians. The Seminole Indians are being threatened by a bloodthirsty pirate named Jose Garza. The reason why Garza is terrorizing the Seminole in this area is that he believes that the Seminole were given a substantial amount of gold from the British to fight the Americans, and he wants it for himself. The story goes that the Seminole in the Pensacola area were paid a substantial amount of gold by a Captain Nichols of the British Military to ally themselves with the British against the Americans during the 1812 War and the most recent Florida campaigns. However, shortly after receiving the gold, the Seminole were attacked by an American forces and had to throw the gold into the nearby swamps and make their escape. They did not have time to buy the gold. The gold’s exact location is unknown, however, Garza believes that the Seminole have it. He continues to attack their settlement near Pensacola and will not stop until he recovers the gold whom he believes the Seminole are hiding from him. However, the Seminole claim that The Seminole know that Davy Crockett is friend to all Natives and request that he and George help them put an end to this conflict with Garza.

At some point, Davy and George have to help repel and attack by Garza. And then they have to sail with the pirate Henry Caesar and attack Garza at his island near Tampa where he has his own treasure buried (the legendary Treasure of Gasparilla). Davy and George give their share of the treasure to the Seminole back in Pensacola.

Characters:

• David Crockett
• George Russell
• Jose Garza
• Henri Casear (Black Caesar)

 

Links for Research:

https://forum.gon.com/threads/seminole-indian-gold.416264/

Story Treatment

The movies begins in the year 1812. Hostilities have broken out between the United States and Great Britain resulting in the War of 1812. The scene cuts to a detachment of British military personnel holding a meeting with local Seminole Natives Americans near Pensacola Florida. The British give the Seminole chests of gold coins for them to attack any American military targets that they encounter. The Seminole, who have been in off and on conflict with the United States, most recently in the Patriot War, agree.

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Fast forward two years later to Tennessee, September 1814. Davy Crockett and his best friend, George Russel have reenlisted as Sergeants in the Tennessee Mounted Gunmen and are preparing to leave their homes in Franklin, Tennessee, and march south to Fayetteville, Tennessee where they will link up the forces of Captain John Conway under the command of Major William Russell. They will then march to Pensacola, Florida. Hostilities have broken out with the Creek Indians and a US military force has been dispatched to confront them.

Davy Crockett say goodbye to his wife, Polly, and young children. George says goodbye to them as well as he is an old family friend. Together, Davy and George begin their ride south to Fayetteville to rendezvous with the rest of the volunteer force.

A Davy Crockett song is played in the style of the Mellomen who sang the original Davy Crockett songs from the 1950’s era shows/movies. A graphic also shows Davy’s journey down to Florida and briefly summarizes the events of the 1955 movie where Davy defeats Chief Redstick in a tomahawk duel and spares his life, and peace between the Natives and the United States is made. For context, this 1814 battle between Davy Crockett and the Creek Indians is depicted in the 1955 film Davy Crockett King of the Wild Frontier. There will have to be a summary of this for the audience.

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The United States has defeated Chief Redstick and made peace with the Creek Indians as well as the other Natives who inhabit north Florida. Davy and George begin to make the long journey back to Tennessee. The Tennessee Mounted Gunmen force has already departed a few weeks prior, but Davy and George had stayed behind to hunt and trap furs to sell in Natchez, Mississippi on the way back home. As they begin their journey home, they are kidnapped by local Seminole Indians. They are bound and tied and led to the main Seminole camp near present day Tarkiln Bayou where they meet Chief Micanopy. Micanopy then unties Davy and George explains that they need Davy’s help. He tells them that a bloodthirsty pirate named Jose Garza has been terrorizing the local Native population looking for gold that he believes that the local Seminole have. The Seminole had long ago thrown the gold coins in a swamp years ago when they were retreating from the US military during the Patriot War. Garza looted the Seminole village during his previous visit to search for the gold coins and promises to return by the next full moon and burn the village to the Natives do not turn over the gold coins. The next full moon is in three days from tomorrow. Micanopy asks Davy to help the village prepare for the upcoming battle against Garza. Davy and George agree to help.

 

Davy and George help the Seminole prepare their defenses and befriend the local Indians. Some of the warriors are distrustful but then eventually come to accept them. The defenses include traps including one with a pit with a vicious panther in it. The night before the anticipated attack there is a Native war dance celebration as they all prepare for battle.

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The following night, the pirate Jose Garza and his men sail up through the bayou and attack the Seminole village. The Seminole Natives along with Davy and George beat back the attackers and inflict heavy losses on them. The battle is bloody for Garza and his men. The traps also work with deadly affect. Davy briefly duels Garza during the battle and nearly kills him but he retreats along with his surviving pirates and escapes. However, during his escape, Garza captures Micanopy’s daughter, Aiyana and sails away with her. Chief Micanopy persuades Davy and George to help go after Garza and rescue his daughter. Davy and George are initially reluctant but agree. They deduce that Garza is sailing back to Gasparilla Island, his homebase, which is around 500 miles away by land and will take a week to get to by horse. Preparations are made all night and the next day, a small force of Seminole Indians along with Davy and George set off.

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The group trudges along on their rescue expedition to Gasparilla Island. As the group passes through Destin Florida, they are waylaid by another band of pirates led by Henri (Black) Caesar. Davy and George are brought before the pirate captain. When Davy explains their situation to Caesar, he decides to assist them because he hates Garza and is bitter enemies with him. Caesar has been planning an assault on Gasparilla Island and with these additional reinforcements, including the famous frontiersman Davy Crockett, this a perfect opportunity. The group loads up on Caesar’s flagship and together they sail for Gasparilla Island with Caesar’s other smaller ships in tow.

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The group poses as merchants willing to trade their illegal goods with Garza but then quickly attack and engage him in a daring mid-day assault. Davy and Garza square off and duel before he is killed by Henri Caesar. Aiyana is also safely rescued. Most of the Garza’s pirates are killed and the survivors are captured by Henri. Henri also obtains the treasure map from Garza and together they all locate and dig up the treasure. Because Davy helped Garza, Henri awards him a small portion of the treasure and sends Davy and George on one of his smaller ships with a crew back to the Seminole tribe in Pensacola, along with Aiyana.

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Davy, George, and Aiyana arrive back the Seminole tribe three days later. The pirates drop them off. Davy and George give their share of the treasure to the Seminole Indians. They then pack up their bags and begin the journey back to Tennessee.