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Interviews about Pirate House and Other Evidence « Russell Guerin http://www.russguerin.com/history/pirates/interviews-about-pirate-hou.
Russell Guerin
A Creole in Mississippi
2009-12-11 17:45:05
Interviews about Pirate House and Other Evidence
Interviewer: Russell B. Guerin, HCHS
Mr. Pete Necaise PO box 137, Waveland Date of Interview: 11-2-03
Mr. Necaise worked for Listers, owners of Pirate House before Camille, doing refrigeration, A/C and electrical, from 1950’s to Camille.
Says there was secret room in house, as safe (about which Lister had known nothing previously) was found after hurricane on ground where house had been. Most of debris had gone into pond, but safe being heavy, sat down. Took four men to move it. It was old, said to be cast iron. Important in that Lister had no knowledge of safe before storm, and therefore it was reasoned that it had been in a secret room. No combination, and so Necaise kept it for Lister for a few weeks at his home until Lister could get it moved to New Orleans to a locksmith and have it opened. When asked what was in it, Lister was reported to have said, said, “Oh, nothing.”
Necaise reports that he has been in the fabled tunnel, and at one point, ran electrical wires and lights into it.
It was entered as though going into a closet, just behind front brick wall and behind the steps. There was a doorway, and then the descent was gradual. He said one could “hardly tell” he was going down.
The ceiling, walls, and floor were all made of 12* 12’s butted together. The timbers were rough cut, and, he believed, of cypress. He guessed that they had been caulked, “like a boat,” as the floor was dry. The long beams were the sides, and there were crossbeams overhead, but in addition, there were upright supports spaced apart. Headroom was 6 feet or more, as Necaise is 6 feet and had no problem walking underneath. Width was 4 feet or more.
Very interesting observation was about spikes, similar to railroad spikes but without right angle end, instead each having hole at end with ring. They were driven into beams near top, and were spaced about every 2’ feet. The possibility is that they were to secure slaves, in a hideaway like a big dungeon.
Entrance was not visible from outside the house.
Necaise says that he went in about 100 feet, maybe 200, and never saw the end. It was dark, and besides, he believes legend that it extended to an island, maybe even to the Chandeliers. He says he went in as “far as the water,” running electric cable and installing lights.
Necaise reports that Lister felt that some timbers were rotten, and so Lister filled in and cemented mouth, leaving the rest to remain as a tunnel.
Lister raised Shetland ponies in fenced area and had big bam, but kept some of related things in tunnel, including saddles and other equipment. It was for that purpose that Nicaise was employed to run electric lights in the tunnel.
There was wishing well with 4-foot diameter on West side of house. One could look down 15 or 20 feet and see many coins. Well was covered or filled, coins remaining.
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