Rebel Gold (2015–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Treasure Train - full transcript

In 1865, when a train carrying $20 million in Confederate treasure was stationed in Danville, VA, 39 kegs of silver coins vanished. 150 years later, a team of treasure hunters investigates possible hiding places: a local mansion and abandoned plantation.

SO THIS
IS WHERE THE TRAIN CAME...

LOADED UP THE GOLD,
HEADED ON OUT OF RICHMOND.

Narrator:
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, GROUND ZERO

FOR ONE OF THE BIGGEST MYSTERIES
IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

THERE IS NO BIGGER TREASURE
TO LOOK FOR OR FIND.

Narrator:
IN THIS FORMER REBEL CAPITAL,

AN ESTIMATED $20 MILLION WORTH
OF CONFEDERATE TREASURE

WAS LOADED
ONTO A SOUTHBOUND TRAIN

AS THE CIVIL WAR CAME
TO A DEADLY, TRAUMATIC END.

Arnold:
DURING THE END OF THE WAR,

LEE SENT WORD TO JEFF DAVIS



THAT HE COULD NOT
HOLD THE LINES NO MORE,

THAT HE NEEDED
TO LEAVE RICHMOND.

Scott: JEFFERSON DAVIS
TOOK ALL THIS GOLD, 1 1/2 TONS,

AND LOADED IT UP ON A TRAIN
AND TRIED TO GET OUT OF RICHMOND

BEFORE RICHMOND FELL.

Narrator: THE TREASURE CONSISTED
OF CONFEDERATE GOLD, SILVER,

JEWELS, NOTES, BONDS,
AND A KEG OF COPPER PENNIES.

Scott: THE ACTUAL VALUE
OF THIS TREASURE

COULD BE ANYWHERE BETWEEN
$20 MILLION AND $50 MILLION,

BUT HISTORICALLY,
THIS TREASURE IS PRICELESS.

**

Narrator: THE TRAIN
RACED THE UNION ARMY SOUTH.

JEFF DAVIS KNEW HE HAD TO GET
THE HELL OUT OF THERE AND FAST.

Narrator:
BUT WHEN THE TRAIN FINALLY
PULLED INTO WASHINGTON, GEORGIA,



THE SOUTH HAD FALLEN.

BY THE TIME JEFFERSON DAVIS
WAS CAPTURED,

THE TREASURE HAD VANISHED
INTO THIN AIR.

THERE'S A LOT OF THEORIES
AS TO WHAT HAPPENED TO IT,

WHERE IT WENT.

Narrator:
FOR MORE THAN 150 YEARS,

FORTUNE HUNTERS
HAVE SEARCHED HIGH AND LOW

ALONG A 500-MILE TRAIL
OF TRAIN TRACKS,

DIRT ROADS, AND WATERWAYS FOR
THE LONG-LOST CONFEDERATE GOLD.

ALL HAVE FAILED,

BUT NOW AN ALL-STAR TEAM
OF TREASURE HUNTERS

HAS UNCOVERED CLUES THAT

COULD FINALLY SOLVE THE MYSTERY
OF THE LOST REBEL GOLD.

WHOO! WE IN BUSINESS!

HOLY [BLEEP]

CAN YOU IMAGINE TAKING
A BIG SCOOP OF SILVER COINS?

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

WE GOT SOME TREASURE, BUDDY!

THIS IS THE BIG MOMENT.
THIS IS WHAT WE DO THIS FOR.

STAY WITH ME. I'LL LEAD YOU
TO THE PROMISED LAND.

HOLD UP. HOLD UP.
HOLD UP. HOLD UP.

THAT IS IT.

CAPTIONS PAID FOR BY
DISCOVERY COMMUNICATIONS

Narrator:
THE HUNT FOR $20 MILLION

IN LOST CONFEDERATE TREASURE
BEGINS IN DANVILLE, VIRGINIA,

CAPITAL OF A VAST TOBACCO EMPIRE
DURING THE CIVIL WAR.

THIS PLACE WAS A LOT DIFFERENT
NOW THAN IT WAS 150 YEARS AGO.

WELL, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
DIG HARD ON THIS ONE, BUDDY.

YOU AIN'T KIDDING.

SOMEWHERE WITHIN 100 YARDS
OF WHERE WE'RE AT,

THERE WAS A HALF A MILLION
DOLLARS IN GOLD AND SILVER.

YEAH.

THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE
FIRST STOP OF JEFFERSON DAVIS

AND HIS CABINET WHEN THEY WERE
FLEEING RICHMOND, VIRGINIA.

THEY WERE HERE FROM APRIL 3rd
TO APRIL 10, 1865.

**

DAVIS MADE DANVILLE
THE CONFEDERATE CAPITAL

AFTER RICHMOND FELL,

AND FOR SEVEN DAYS, HE RULED
FROM THIS ONCE-PROSPEROUS CITY,

PLOTTING HIS FUTURE
AND THE FATE OF THE TREASURE.

WITH UNION TROOPS ADVANCING,

DAVIS NEEDED
TO GET WHAT REMAINED

OF THE CONFEDERATE TREASURE
AS FAR SOUTH AS POSSIBLE.

THIS MEANT TRANSFERRING
1 1/2 TONS OF GOLD AND SILVER

FROM THE DANVILLE TRAIN LINE
TO THE CHESTER LINE.

THIS IS WHERE THE FIRST PORTION
OF THE TREASURE VANISHED.

Cissna: THE THING ABOUT THIS
GOLD... IT'S NOT JUST ONE PLACE.

THERE'S A LOT OF TENTACLES
OR FINGERS WHERE IT WENT,

AND THEY'RE SPREAD OUT.

THIS IS JUST ONE OF MANY.

Narrator:
200,000 MEXICAN SILVER COINS,

TODAY WORTH OVER $2 MILLION,

DISAPPEARED IN DANVILLE

JUST 17 DAYS BEFORE
THE UNION ARMY TOOK THE CITY.

**

THE SILVER WAS NEVER FOUND.

WE KNOW FOR A FACT

THAT THEY LEFT 39 KEGS
OF MEXICAN SILVER DOLLARS HERE.

WE REALLY WANT TO FIND OUT
WHERE THAT'S AT.

FOR OVER 150 YEARS,

FORTUNE HUNTERS HAVE CHASED
THE MISSING DANVILLE SILVER.

SOME SAY
IT WAS TAKEN OFF THE TRAIN

AND SUNK DEEP IN THE ICY WATERS
OF THE DAN RIVER.

**

OTHERS SAY IT WAS BURIED
WITH THE BODIES

OF THE UNION PRISONERS WHO DIED
IN DANVILLE'S MANY GULAGS.

BUT DESPITE COUNTLESS SEARCHES
IN AND AROUND DANVILLE,

THE $2 MILLION IN SILVER
HAS NEVER BEEN FOUND,

BUT LARRY CISSNA IS CONFIDENT
THAT HE HAS NEW INFORMATION

THAT WILL LEAD
TO THE LOST TREASURE.

IT'S LIKE A GAME OF CLUE.

YOU WANT TO SEE
WHO CAN SOLVE THE MYSTERY FIRST,

AND THERE'S A LOT
OF INVESTIGATORS OUT
HERE IN THE WORLD.

YOU JUST WANT TO BE THE BEST,
AND YOU WANT TO BE THE GUY.

TO UNRAVEL
THIS 150-YEAR-OLD MYSTERY,

LARRY CISSNA
HAS ASSEMBLED A TEAM OF TALENTED

AND DEDICATED RELIC HUNTERS,

MEN WHO ALL SHARE
THE SAME OBSESSION...

FINDING THE LOST REBEL GOLD.

WE'RE GOING TO MEET UP

WITH SOME OF THE BEST
TREASURE HUNTERS IN THE WORLD

TO FOLLOW UP
ON SOME OF THE POSSIBLE LEADS

OF WHERE THIS TREASURE
CAN BE BURIED.

WHAT'S UP? WHAT'S UP?

WELL, HEY.

GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL.
WHAT'S UP, LARRY?

BROTHER, MY BROTHER.
HOW YOU DOING, BUDDY?

WHAT'S UP, DUDE? PETEY.

HOW WAS THE RIDE DOWN? LONG.

Narrator: JOINING LARRY
IS LONG-TIME FRIEND

AND COLLEAGUE TRACY SHORT

AND A NEWCOMER TO
THE SEARCH TEAM, BRANT ARNOLD.

HEY, Y'ALL, THIS IS BRANT.

HEY, BRANT.
PETE FROM SOUTH CAROLINA.

BRANT, WEST TENNESSEE.

Cissna: I'M LARRY FROM TEXAS.

NICE TO MEET YOU, BROTHER.
I'M BRANT.

NOW, THIS IS
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

NOW, THESE ARE THE EIGHT REALES,
MEXICAN DOLLARS.

THEY'RE REALLY BIG CHUNK
OF SILVER.

THEY'RE OLD,

AND IT GETS YOU FIRED UP
TO GO LOOK FOR SOME MORE.

YA'LL CAN HOLD 'EM IF YOU
WANT TO. I GOT PLENTY FOR
EVERYBODY TO HOLD HERE.

YEAH, BOY.

I HAD ACTUALLY FOUND THESE

AT SOME PREVIOUS SITES I HUNTED
BACK IN TEXAS.

I ONLY BROUGHT THREE.

WE'RE LOOKING
FOR 9,000 POUNDS OF IT.

THAT'S A BIG COIN, FELLA.

MM-HMM.

SO, IS THIS A STARTING PRESENT?

Eles: NO, IT IS NOT.

YOU GOT TO EARN THAT.

[ LAUGHTER ]

**

Narrator:
THE TEAM IS ROUNDED OUT

WITH THREE
VETERAN TREASURE HUNTERS,

EACH AN EXPERT IN THEIR FIELD.

**

HEY, BRANT.
EARL MESIMER, CENTRAL VIRGINIA.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

HE'S BEEN RELIC HUNTING
FOR 30-PLUS YEARS.

THIS IS DAN YARRUSSO.

NICE TO MEET YOU, DAN.
NICE TO MEET YOU.

FROM YONKERS, NEW YORK.

HE'S OUR WATER SPECIALIST,
AND MIKE SCOTT.

GOOD TO MEET YOU, MAN.
NICE TO MEET YOU, BRO.

HE'S FROM WISCONSIN.
HE'S OUR EQUIPMENT SPECIALIST.

WHATEVER WE NEED, HE CAN
HOOK US UP WITH IT, ALL RIGHT?

SOUNDS GOOD.

THE BEST WAY TO FIND THIS GOLD

AND BEAT
ALL THE OTHER TREASURE HUNTERS

IS FOR US ALL TO TEAM UP,
POOL OUR RESOURCES,

AND GIVE IT A GOOD SHOT.

HEY, THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD.

Mesimer: REALLY, I DON'T EXPECT
US TO AGREE ON EVERYTHING.

WE'RE FROM DIFFERENT STATES
AND DIFFERENT AREAS

AND, YOU KNOW,
DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS.

WE MAY BUTT HEADS,

BUT I DON'T THINK
IT'S GOING TO TEAR US APART.

AT THE END OF THE DAY,

WE ALL HAVE THE EXACT SAME
GOAL... TO FIND A TREASURE.

Narrator: TREASURE HUNTING
IS NOT A TEAM SPORT.

RIVALRIES
ARE ALL PART OF THE GAME,

BUT TO FINALLY UNLOCK
THIS AGE-OLD MYSTERY,

LARRY'S TEAM
HAS AGREED TO WORK TOGETHER

WITH ONE COMMON GOAL IN MIND.

YOU KNOW, USUALLY
WHEN WE'RE OUT DOING THIS,

YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU FIND,
YOU GET TO KEEP.

IT'S YOURS. YOU KNOW,
YOU GO OUT THERE, YOU FOUND IT.

THIS IS MORE OF A...
THIS IS A DIFFERENT SITUATION.

YOU KNOW, WE'VE GOT SEVEN GUYS.

IT'S A TEAM OF US THAT'S
LOOKING FOR THIS BIGGER THING.

WELL, I KNOW WHAT I WANT TO DO.

I WANT TO TAKE DAN AND PETE,
IF THAT'S COOL.

WE'RE GOING TO GO
TO THE SUTHERLIN MANSION.

ALL RIGHT.

I WANT TO GO CHECK THE WALLS,
CHECK THE GROUNDS.

YOU GOT THE PRESIDENT OF
THE CONFEDERACY STAYING THERE.

THIS IS THE TREASURY
OF THIS CONFEDERACY.

COME ON. THEY COULD'VE
PUT SOMETHING IN THE WALLS.

YOU GOT TO CHECK IT OUT.

I WANT TO GO
TO THE DAN RIVER PLANTATION

BECAUSE I'VE GOT A LEAD
FROM HERE IN TOWN.

THERE WAS TWO MEXICAN SILVER
COINS FOUND OUT THERE ON IT,

SO I WANT TO TAKE TRACY AND
HEAD OUT THERE AND CHECK IT OUT.

THAT SOUND GOOD.

IF THERE WAS SILVER,
I'LL GO WITH YOU GUYS.

GOOD LUCK, YOU ALL.

OKAY, FELLAS. ALL RIGHT.

YEAH. GOOD LUCK, GUYS.

**

Narrator:
THE TEAM SPLITS INTO TWO GROUPS

TO COVER MORE GROUND.

BOTH WILL STRAY FROM THE PATHS
OF PAST TREASURE HUNTERS.

THEY'LL EXPLORE
UNCHARTED TERRITORY,

TWO VIRGIN SITES MILES FROM
THE DANVILLE TRAIN STATION,

THE DAN RIVER PLANTATION
TO THE WEST...

WHERE TWO SILVER COINS

WERE RECENTLY FOUND
BY SOME LOCAL BOYS...

AND SUTHERLIN MANSION,
THE FORMER ESTATE

OF TOBACCO BARON
WILLIAM THOMAS SUTHERLIN,

A CLOSE FRIEND
OF THE CONFEDERACY.

Eles: I KNOW FOR A FACT
JEFFERSON DAVIS

STAYED IN THE SUTHERLIN MANSION.

WE KNOW THAT GEORGE TRENHOLM,
SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY,

STAYED THERE.

SO IF YOU GOT THE GUY
THAT HAS CONTROL OF THE CASH

AND YOU GOT THE GUY TELL HIM
HOW TO SPEND IT, RIGHT?

MM-HMM. YEP.

WHAT A BETTER PLACE TO LOOK?

RIGHT. THERE IT IS.

YEP. I THINK WE'RE HERE.

SO WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING AT

IS THE TRUE LAST CAPITOL
OF THE CONFEDERACY,

APRIL 3, APRIL 10, 1865.

[ CAR DOORS OPEN ]

A WHOLE WEEK, RIGHT?

THIS WOULD BE THEIR LAST MEETING

OF THE ACTUAL CABINET
OF THE CONFEDERACY,

BEFORE THEY HEADED SOUTH

AND THEY STARTED FALLING
TO THE WAYSIDE.

**

Narrator: TREASURE HUNTER
AND HISTORIAN LARRY CISSNA

IS ON A QUEST TO DISCOVER
THE SECRET OF $20 MILLION

OF LOST CONFEDERATE TREASURE.

IT'S BEEN A LIFELONG OBSESSION

FOR THE TEXAS-BORN
TREASURE HUNTER.

Cissna: I'VE BEEN DOING THIS
FOR 32 YEARS.

THE REASON I DO IT,
I LOVE HISTORY.

IT'S THE DISCOVERY OF SOMETHING
NOBODY ELSE HAS EVER FOUND.

THAT'S THE LOVE OF HISTORY.

THERE'S A LOT OF TREASURE
OUT THERE TO BE FOUND,

AND A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE

LOOKING FOR THE SAME THING
WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

IF WE FIND THE GOLD,
WE'RE PART OF HISTORY.

**

Narrator: LARRY BELIEVES THAT
JEFFERSON DAVIS AND HIS CABINET

MAY HAVE HIDDEN THE $2 MILLION
IN MEXICAN COINS

IN THE LAST PLACE THEY MET
BEFORE FLEEING SOUTH.

HE'S BANKING
ON THE SILVER BEING UNTOUCHED

FOR THE LAST 150 YEARS.

IT WAS A COMMON PRACTICE TO HIDE
THINGS IN THE WALL BACK THEN.

IT WAS EASY.

WE'RE NOT TALKING ABOUT
JUST REGULAR MONEY HERE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT FUNDS
OF THE CONFEDERACY,

FUNDS THAT WOULD HAVE KEPT
THE CONFEDERACY ALIVE

AND GOING WELL LATER.

THAT THEY WOULDN'T HAVE PUT
IN A BANK.

Narrator:
FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER,

LARRY AND HIS TEAM
ARE GRANTED UNRESTRICTED ACCESS

TO ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST SOUGHT
AFTER HISTORICAL LANDMARKS.

SO THIS WAS JEFFERSON DAVIS'
ROOM WHEN HE STAYED HERE.

WHEN THE UNIONS
CAME TO DANVILLE,

THERE'S NO RECORD OF THEM
COMING IN

AND REALLY SEARCHING THE PLACE.

THEY GAVE A LOT OF RESPECT
TO MAJOR SUTHERLIN.

Cissna: THE WALLS
THAT I WANT TO CHECK...

I WANT TO DO HERE,
HERE, AND HERE, ALL RIGHT?

SO WHEN WE LOOK
AT THE OTHER ROOM,

IT MIGHT BE THE SAME WAY
AND WE GET RIGHT TO IT.

**

DOESN'T APPEAR THAT THERE'S BEEN
MUCH RENOVATION,

IF ANY AT ALL, TO THE WALL,
SO THAT'S A GOOD THING.

AND ALSO, IT DOESN'T APPEAR,
BY RECORD,

THAT THE PLACE WAS RANSACKED.

LET'S JUST HOPE SOMEBODY
PUT WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR

BEHIND ONE OF THESE WALLS.

IT'S THERE, OUR NAMES GO DOWN
IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.

IF IT AIN'T,
WE JUST KEEP LOOKING

UNTIL WE DO PUT THEM
IN THE HISTORY BOOKS.

[ CHUCKLES ]

**

Narrator: COMING UP...

THAT'S A GOOD HIT.

...LARRY AND HIS TEAM
IMMEDIATELY HIT IT BIG

INSIDE THE WALLS
OF JEFFERSON DAVIS' BEDROOM.

Cissna: STOP RIGHT THERE.

IT'S LIKE A LITTLE BOX.

COULD $2 MILLION IN SILVER

BE HIDDEN BEHIND
THESE HISTORIC WALLS?

SILVER COINS STUCK BACK THERE.

Narrator: MEANWHILE, OVER
AT THE DAN RIVER PLANTATION...

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

...AN EXCITING FIND
DEEP IN THE GROUND

CAUSES TEMPERS TO FLARE...

COME ON, BRANT. WE ONLY GOT
A LITTLE BIT OF DAYLIGHT LEFT.

NO. I'M NOT GOING NOWHERE.

GET OUT OF THERE.

YOU GIVE ME FIVE [BLEEP]
MINUTES HERE

WITH NOBODY BOTHERING,
AND I FIND [BLEEP]

Narrator: ...AND DEEP-SEATED
ANGER TO RESURFACE.

THE LAST DAMN THING I NEED
IS SOME YANKEE

STANDING ON TOP OF THE HILL

TELLING ME HOW TO DO A JOB
THAT I ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO.

**

Narrator: IN 1865,

AS UNION TROOPS
WERE SEIZING RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,

JEFFERSON DAVIS BOARDED A TRAIN

WITH $20 MILLION OF CONFEDERATE
TREASURE AND HEADED SOUTH.

THE FIRST STOP WAS HERE,
DANVILLE, VIRGINIA,

WHERE THE TREASURE
WAS TRANSFERRED

FROM ONE RAILROAD TRACK
TO ANOTHER.

DURING THAT THREE-DAY SPAN,

A PORTION OF THE TREASURE
WENT MISSING...

39 KEGS OF MEXICAN SILVER COINS,

A BOUNTY THAT TODAY WOULD BE
WORTH AS MUCH AS $2 MILLION.

WHILE LARRY CISSNA AND HIS TEAM
SEARCH THE WALLS

OF SUTHERLIN MANSION
ON ONE SIDE OF DANVILLE,

CIVIL WAR TREASURE HUNTERS
BRANT ARNOLD AND TRACY SHORT

ARE TRACING ANOTHER LEAD
ON THE SILVER COINS

NINE MILES OUT OF TOWN.

WELL,
WE KNOW DAVIS COME THROUGH HERE,

AND WE KNOW
THAT HE UNLOADED THE COINS HERE.

THIS COULD BE THE ONE.

I HOPE IT'S THE ONE.

BRANT IS BANKING ON A COUPLE
OF MEXICAN SILVER COINS

RECENTLY FOUND
NEAR THE PLANTATION

AS BEING THE TIP OF THE ICEBERG.

HE'S SURE THIS PROMINENT SITE

WOULD HAVE BEEN
AN IDEAL LOCATION

FOR JEFFERSON DAVIS
TO HIDE HIS 39 KEGS OF SILVER.

THIS PLACE HAS NEVER BEEN HUNTED
SINCE THE CIVIL WAR.

TWO KIDS ON FOOT,
NOT METAL DETECTORS...

[ CHUCKLES ]
...PICKED UP SILVER COINS.

THEREFORE, IF THEY CAN SEE IT
BY EYEBALLS AND PICK IT UP,

WHAT'S UNDER THE GROUND THAT
THE MACHINES IS GOING TO PICK UP

THAT YOU CAN'T SEE?

YOU KNOW WHAT WE AIN'T EVEN
THOUGHT ABOUT?

I BET THIS JEEP WON'T HAUL
39 KEGS OF SILVER.

AS A SOUTHERNER,

THE TREASURE AND ITS HISTORY
HOLD A SPECIAL ALLURE TO BRANT.

**

FINDING THE GOLD WOULD BE
SORT OF LIKE CLIMBING EVEREST

AND BEING THE FIRST MAN
ON TOP OF IT.

IT WOULD BE SOMETHING TO GO DOWN
IN THE HISTORY BOOKS,

AND MY NAME BEING IN
THE MUSEUM OF THE CONFEDERACY,

I'D BE THERE FOREVER.

**

Narrator: BRANT IS CURRENTLY

ONE OF THE TOP CIVIL WAR
RELIC HUNTERS IN THE WORLD.

HAVING GROWN UP A STONE'S THROW
FROM THE BATTLE OF SHILOH,

HE HAS BEEN STEEPED IN THE LORE
OF THE CIVIL WAR

SINCE HE WAS A CHILD.

Arnold: THIS RIGHT HERE
IS THE ONLY PAIR IN EXISTENCE

OF CONFEDERATE CAVALRY BOOTS

THAT WAS DUG OUT OF THE GROUND
TOGETHER

THAT STILL HAS
THE CONFEDERATE SPURS ON THEM.

THIS IS ALL POKER CHIPS.

THEY WAS BORED
SITTING AROUND CAMP.

THEY'D TAKE BULLETS
AND BEAT THEM INTO POKER CHIPS

AND USE THEM TO GAMBLE.

**

OH, I'VE DONE EVERYTHING

FROM BULL RIDING
TO DRIVING MONSTER TRUCKS.

THERE'S NO BETTER FEELING

THAN FINDING A UNIQUE FIND
OUT OF THE GROUND.

THERE'S NOTHING LIKE IT.
NOTHING ELSE LIKE IT.

Short: MAN,
I HOPE IT'S A GOOD PLACE.

OH [BLEEP]

[ CHUCKLES ] OH, NO, MAN.

LOOK AT THIS.

WHEN HE SAID "PLANTATION,"

I THOUGHT HE MEANT
PLANTATION THEY'RE LIVING IN.

I DIDN'T MEAN
HE MEANT THE RUINS.

Narrator:
WHILE MOST OF THE OUT BUILDINGS

OF THIS LEGENDARY
TOBACCO PLANTATION

FELL INTO RUIN
AFTER THE CIVIL WAR...

THE MAIN HOUSE
WAS OCCUPIED UNTIL 1988,

WHEN A FIRE DESTROYED IT.

TODAY, THE PROPERTY IS
STILL OWNED BY THE HAIRSTONS,

AN EIGHTH-GENERATION
DANVILLE FAMILY.

DEAN HAIRSTON, WHO CURRENTLY
MANAGES THE PROPERTY,

MEETS TRACY AND BRANT

TO GIVE THEM THE LAY
OF HIS ANCESTRAL LAND.

**

Short: SO THAT'S A PHENOMENAL
PIECE OF HISTORY RIGHT THERE.

THIS PROPERTY'S BEEN HERE
ABOUT 200 YEARS.

WOW.

ABOUT 1823, I BELIEVE,
WAS WHEN THE HOUSE WAS BUILT.

IT WAS SEVERAL THOUSAND ACRES.

THOSE PEOPLE HAD SOME MONEY.

IT DID. SAM HAIRSTON,
WHO WAS THE PROPERTY OWNER,

HAD AN ESTIMATED WORTH
OF ABOUT $5.2 MILLION IN 1850,

SO THAT TRANSLATED TODAY'S TERM
AT ABOUT $2.2 BILLION.

WHOA, MAN. [ LAUGHS ]

YEAH, 45 PLANTATIONS
OVER FOUR STATES.

AT THE HEIGHT OF THE EMPIRE,
THEY HAD OVER 10,000 SLAVES.

MY DESCENDANTS OF MY FAMILY

STAYED ON THE PROPERTY FOR
A PERIOD OF TIME, AND THEN LEFT.

I RECENTLY DID DNA
ON MY MOTHER AND FATHER'S SIDE,

AND I AM DIRECTLY LINKED BACK

TO THE HAIRSTONS
THAT OWNED THE PROPERTY.

SO YOU'VE GOT A LOT OF TIES
TO THIS PLACE.

YES, I HAVE A LOT OF TIES,
DIRECT.

OVER HERE, YOU HAVE,
SLAVE CABINS.

IT WAS FOUR UNITS.

THESE UNITS WERE FOR SLAVES
THAT KEPT THE HOUSE.

MAN, THIS PLACE, UM, THIS...
I'M IN AWE.

ALL THE BRICK THAT YOU SEE HERE
WAS FIRED ON THE PROPERTY,

AND THEY SAY
THAT IF YOU LOOK VERY CLOSELY,

YOU CAN STILL SEE
THE SLAVES' FINGERPRINTS

IN SOME OF THE BRICK.

RIGHT THERE.

THERE YOU GO.
THAT'S ONE RIGHT THERE.

THERE'S A PERFECT THUMBPRINT.

THAT'S A RELIC IN ITSELF.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WE DIG STUFF
OUT OF THE GROUND,

WE TALK ABOUT
WE WERE THE FIRST PEOPLE

THAT'S TOUCHED IT IN 150 YEARS.

WELL, YOU KNOW, THAT'S
LOOKING AT SOMETHING RIGHT HERE

THAT WAS TOUCHED 150 YEARS AGO,

AND YOU CAN SEE EXACTLY
WHERE THE HANDS TOUCHED IT AT.

TAKES ME BACK TO THE SUFFERING

THAT THOSE POOR SLAVES
WENT THROUGH

AND THE MONEY
THAT THESE PEOPLE MADE

OFF OF 10,000 PEOPLE'S
SUFFERING.

IT'S OVERWHELMING IS WHAT IT IS.

Narrator:
AT THE END OF THE CIVIL WAR,

UNION TROOPS
SWEPT THROUGH THE SOUTH,

LOOTING AND BURNING
THE OLD PLANTATION HOMES.

THE DAN RIVER PLANTATION
WAS SPARED...

TODAY, A CRUMBLING MEMORIAL
OF A BYGONE ERA,

BUT ALL THAT CHANGED
WHEN TWO BOYS

DISCOVERED
MEXICAN SILVER DOLLARS

ON THE PROPERTY BETWEEN THE
SLAVE HOUSE AND THE MAIN HOUSE.

IT IS THE FIRST PROMISING LEAD

TO THE MISSING $2 MILLION
IN SILVER IN OVER 150 YEARS,

AND DEAN HAS ENTRUSTED IT
TO BRANT

AND THIS ALL-STAR TEAM
OF TREASURE HUNTERS.

Short: GO GET MIKE AND EARL.

GET OUR EQUIPMENT,

GET BACK UP HERE
AND SEE WHAT WE CAN WORK WITH?

YEAH.
SOUNDS LIKE A WINNER TO ME.

LET'S GO GET 'EM. OKAY.

**

NINE MILES EAST, IN THE HEART
OF DANVILLE'S MILLIONAIRE'S ROW,

JUST ONE MILE
FROM THE TRAIN STATION

WHERE $20 MILLION
IN REBEL GOLD ONCE SAT,

PETE AND DAN PREP TO SEARCH

DEEP IN THE WALLS
OF THE SUTHERLIN MANSION.

THIS IS THE FIRST PLACE
THEY CAME

AFTER, YOU KNOW, RICHMOND FELL.

Narrator:
JEFFERSON DAVIS STAYED HERE

WITH HIS TREASURY SECRETARY,
GEORGE TRENHOLM,

FROM APRIL 3rd
UNTIL APRIL 10, 1865.

LARRY SUSPECTS
THAT DURING THAT TIME,

$2 MILLION IN CONFEDERATE SILVER
MAY HAVE BEEN HIDDEN

FROM UNION TROOPS
IN THE MANSION WALLS.

**

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
ANY TREASURE HUNTER

HAS BEEN ALLOWED TO SEARCH THE
HISTORIC BUILDING IN 150 YEARS.

THEY TUNE THEIR METAL DETECTORS
TO A FREQUENCY

THAT WILL PASS OVER ANYTHING
BUT TREASURE.

**

AH, IT'S QUIET.
THAT ELIMINATES THIS ROOM.

**

Cissna:
YOU KNOW, PETE, HIS SPECIALTY...

WE ALWAYS CALL HIM "THE BEAGLE."

YOU TURN HIM LOOSE, MAN,

IF THERE'S SOMETHING HERE,
HE'LL FIND THE SPOT.

[ METAL DETECTOR BUZZING ]

WHOA, WHOA, WHOA.

WOW. IT'S A PRETTY GOOD SIGNAL.

THAT'S A GOOD HIT.
WHAT'S THE READING?

IT'S GETTING REAL HIGH.

WE GOT A GRATE RIGHT HERE.

YEAH.

WE COULD TAKE THAT PROBE
AND STICK IT UP THROUGH THERE,

WORK OUR WAY UP, AND WE CAN TAKE
A LOOK AND SEE WHAT THAT IS.

LET'S GO FIND LARRY.

COULD BE SOMETHING GOOD.

Narrator: COMING UP, TECHNOLOGY
TAKES LARRY, PETE, AND DAN

BEHIND THE WALLS
OF THE SUTHERLIN MANSION...

BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.

STOP RIGHT THERE.
DON'T MOVE, DAN.

...WHERE THEY MAKE
A SHOCKING DISCOVERY.

SILVER COIN STUCK BACK THERE.

...WHILE AT
THE DAN RIVER PLANTATION...

BRANT, MIKE, COME ON OVER HERE.

...BRANT AND HIS TEAM
MAKE A HUGE FIND...

THAT IS IT!

THAT'S WHAT WE LOOKING FOR.

Narrator: ...THAT MAY LEAD THEM
TO THE 39 KEGS OF SILVER

IF THEY CAN REACH IT.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

**

[ METAL DETECTOR BUZZING ]

WOW. IT'S A PRETTY GOOD SIGNAL.

THAT'S A GOOD HIT.

Narrator: 130 MILES
FROM RICHMOND, VIRGINIA,

WHERE THE CONFEDERATE
MONEY TRAIN

BEGAN ITS MAD DASH SOUTH,

A 150-YEAR-OLD MYSTERY
IS UNRAVELING

AT THE TRAIN'S FIRST STOP,
DANVILLE.

$2 MILLION
WORTH OF MEXICAN SILVER

VANISHED INTO THIN AIR
IN THIS FORMER TOBACCO CAPITAL.

TREASURE HUNTERS LARRY CISSNA,
DAN YARRUSSO, AND PETE ELES

BELIEVE JEFFERSON DAVIS
AND HIS CABINET

HID 39 KEGS OF MEXICAN SILVER

IN THE WALLS
OF THE LAST CONFEDERATE CAPITAL

BEFORE THE SOUTH FELL...

...THE FORMER HOME
OF WILLIAM T. SUTHERLIN.

[ CLEARS THROAT ] WHERE'S IT AT?

HITTING RIGHT IN HERE.

Eles: WHOLE PLACE IS CLEAN,
EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE SPOT,

AND WE'RE GOING TO BE THE FIRST
PEOPLE TO LOOK IN THERE.

THERE'S NO TELLING
WHAT WE MIGHT FIND IN THERE.

HOPEFULLY
WE'LL GET US SOMETHING,

AT LEAST A GOLD COIN
OR SOMETHING OUT OF THERE.

**

Yarrusso:
AND WE GOT THIS BORESCOPE.

WE CAN GO IN AND SCOPE THAT WALL

AND TAKE A LOOK
ON THE INSIDE OF IT

AND HOPEFULLY SEE
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

IF THERE'S GOLD OR SILVER IN
THERE, WE'RE GOING TO FIND IT.

Narrator: THE BORESCOPE
USES A MINIATURE VIDEO CAMERA

AT THE END OF A FLEXIBLE TUBE

TO GET A LOOK INSIDE TIGHT
SPACES OTHERWISE INACCESSIBLE.

Cissna: WE GOT TO GO
STEADY HERE, OKAY?

**

THERE YOU GO. THERE YOU GO.

THERE YOU GO. KEEP COMING.

**

STOP RIGHT THERE. STOP.

BACK UP A LITTLE BIT.

RIGHT THERE.

DON'T MOVE, DAN.

**

YOU SEE THAT? Eles: UH-HUH.

YEAH, I SEE IT.

WHAT IS THAT? I DON'T KNOW.

WHAT IS THAT?

Yarrusso:
SILVER COIN STUCK BACK THERE.

OH, MAN. JUST NEVER KNOW.

**

Narrator: THROUGHOUT HISTORY,

HOMEOWNERS HAVE HIDDEN VALUABLES
IN WALLS,

ONLY TO HAVE THEM FOUND DECADES
LATER DURING RENOVATIONS.

IN 2007,
$200,000 WORTH OF RARE COINS

WERE FOUND IN THE WALLS OF AN
ABANDONED HOME IN PENNSYLVANIA.

IN 2006,
A CONTRACTOR IN CLEVELAND, OHIO,

UNCOVERED NEARLY HALF A MILLION
DOLLARS IN A BATHROOM WALL.

LIKE A LITTLE BOX.

LOOK AT THAT.

THAT SHOOTING STRAIGHT UP THAT
WALL RIGHT THERE, YOU SEE IT?

**

THAT'S A PIPE.
IS THAT WHAT THAT IS?

IT'S KIND OF LIKE A...

A LEAD JOINT ON IT.

IT IS A LEAD JOINT.

DADGUMMIT.

PLASTER IS FALLING OFF
THE INSIDE OF THE WALL.

THAT'S WHAT YOU ALL
WERE DETECTING.

PULL THAT OUT.

THAT'S NOT
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

**

THAT'S DISAPPOINTING.

WELL,
IT WAS A LEAD WE HAD TO CHECK.

IT NEEDED TO BE CHECKED.

AH, SO CLOSE, BUT YET SO FAR.

MAN. THERE'S NOTHING HERE, MAN.

WE EXHAUSTED EVERYTHING IN HERE.

YOU GOT EVERYTHING?

YEP. ALL RIGHT.

**

Narrator: NINE MILES AWAY,
AT THE DAN RIVER PLANTATION,

BRANT AND HIS TEAM HAVE BEEN
GIVEN EXCLUSIVE PERMISSION

TO SEARCH THE PROPERTY FOR THE
$2 MILLION IN MISSING SILVER.

**

THIS SITE WAS HOME TO ONE OF THE
RICHEST FAMILIES IN THE SOUTH.

THROUGHOUT THE WAR, THEY HOSTED
THE CONFEDERATE ELITE

ON THIS
ONCE-BUSTLING PLANTATION.

TODAY, IT IS STILL OWNED
BY THE HAIRSTON FAMILY,

WHO HAVE BEEN ITS CARETAKERS
SINCE 1823.

HEY, I WANT YOU ALL
TO MEET MY COUSIN WILL.

OKAY. NICE TO MEET YOU.

WILL HAIRSTON.

BRANT ARNOLD. BRANT, OKAY.

NICE TO MEET YOU.

Narrator: BOTH DEAN AND WILL

HAVE DEEP TIES
TO THIS PLANTATION.

WILL'S ANCESTORS OWNED THE LAND.

DEAN'S ANCESTORS WERE THE SLAVES
THAT WORKED IT.

THE HAIRSTON NAME
IS SHARED BETWEEN THEM,

AND TOGETHER,
EACH SIDE HAS UNITED

TO FORM A VERY UNIQUE FAMILY.

WE CALL OURSELVES COUSINS

BECAUSE THE DESCENDANTS
FROM THE SLAVE OWNERS

AND THE SLAVES NOW
WE CELEBRATE AS ONE FAMILY.

THAT'S NEAT. THAT'S VERY NEAT.

Arnold: YOU ALL DEFINITELY GOT
A LOT OF FAMILY HISTORY.

YEAH. A LOT OF HISTORY GOES BACK
ON THIS PROPERTY AND THE PEOPLE.

WHAT DO YOU GOT THERE?

Will: WELL, MY FAMILY'S HISTORY
GOES BACK TO THE CONFEDERACY.

OH!

OH, MAN!

Narrator:
THESE CONFEDERATE WAR BONDS

WERE USED BETWEEN 1861 AND 1865.

PURCHASED FOR $1,000,
THEY HELPED FUND THE WAR EFFORT.

ONCE THE CONFEDERACY COLLAPSED,
THE BONDS WERE WORTHLESS.

TODAY, THEY CAN FETCH
AS MUCH AS $4,000.

ALL THE WEALTH
THAT THE WHITE HAIRSTONS HAD

IS DUE TO THE LABOR
OF THE BLACK HAIRSTONS,

SO WE HAVE A HUGE DEBT TO THEM.

AND I'D LIKE
TO ACTUALLY ASK DEAN

TO BE THE CARETAKER OF THIS.

ALL RIGHT. [ CHATTER ]

THANKS, WILL.

THAT'S A HECK OF A GIFT.

ONE OF THE BEST COUSINS EVER.

[ LAUGHTER ]

WELL, I MEAN, WITH IT BEING FROM
THE FAMILY, IT'S LIKE WE SAID.

THAT'S A PRICELESS PIECE.

Will: IT REALLY IS.

Short: YOU READY TO DO IT,
BRANT?

I'VE BEEN READY.

I COULDN'T SLEEP LAST NIGHT,
I WAS SO READY.

MAN, LOOK AT THIS.

HOLLER AT ME IF YOU
FIND SOMETHING, BROTHER.

ALL RIGHT, BUD. GOOD LUCK.
YOU, TOO.

**

Narrator: THE PLANTATION
ONCE OCCUPIED OVER 2,000 ACRES.

IT'S NOW DOWN TO JUST 289.

MOST OF THE BUILDINGS
HAVE BEEN DEVASTATED BY TIME,

BUT THE SKELETON OF THE MAIN
HOUSE IS STILL STANDING.

FEW DETAILS ARE KNOWN

ABOUT WHERE THE SILVER COINS
WERE ACTUALLY FOUND...

ONLY THAT IT WAS AROUND
THIS NEARLY 200-YEAR-OLD RUIN.

BRANT, TRACY, EARL, AND MIKE
FAN OUT AROUND THE PERIMETER

TO COVER MORE GROUND,

INCREASING THEIR ODDS
OF FINDING THIS TREASURE.

TO FIND THIS GOLD, YOU NEED A
LOT OF DIFFERENT PERSONALITIES,

WAYS OF THINKING, AND JUST
GOOD, OLD-FASHIONED SKILL.

**

Narrator: SEVERAL YARDS
TO THE SOUTH OF THE HOUSE,

EARL HAS STUMBLED UPON
A DEPRESSION IN THE GROUND

THAT COULD EASILY BE PASSED OVER
BY THE UNTRAINED EYE.

THERE'S A LOT OF TARGETS
IN HERE.

Narrator: BUT EARL COMES FROM
A TREASURE-HUNTING DYNASTY.

HIS FAMILY HAS BEEN HUNTING
FOR THE CONFEDERATE GOLD

FOR THREE GENERATIONS.

MY FATHER DONE IT.
MY GRANDFATHER DONE IT.

IT WAS SOMETHING I GREW UP WITH,

AND THE REASON
WHY I'M PASSING RELIC HUNTING

IS TO TRY TO PRESERVE HISTORY,

TO THINK OF ALL THE MEN THAT
GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR A CAUSE.

WHETHER IT WAS A GOOD CAUSE
OR BAD CAUSE.

BRANT, MIKE.

SAY WHAT?

COME ON OVER HERE.

WE GOT AN ICE HOUSE
WITH A LOT OF BIG TARGETS IN IT.

Narrator:
BEFORE REFRIGERATION BECAME
WIDELY AVAILABLE IN THE 1920s,

ICE HOUSES WERE THE ONLY WAY TO
KEEP GOODS COOL ALL YEAR ROUND.

DEEP PITS WERE LINED
WITH WOOD OR STRAW

AND PACKED WITH ICE
FROM LOCAL PONDS OR RIVERS.

UNDERGROUND,
THE ICE COULD THEN LAST

THROUGH THE WARMER MONTHS
UNTIL WINTER HIT AGAIN.

Scott: EARL,
I KNOW YOU DUG SOMETHING GOOD.

WE GOT AN ICE HOUSE HERE.

WHOLE LOT OF TRASH IN IT.

Narrator: THE OLD ICE HOUSE
WOULD HAVE BEEN AN IDEAL SPOT

FOR THE CONFEDERATES
TO BURY 39 KEGS OF SILVER.

Scott:
PUT THE TREASURE IN THE BOTTOM,

THROW A BUNCH OF TRASH
ON TOP OF IT.

WHO'S GOING TO LOOK THERE?

Narrator:
BUT THERE'S NO TELLING HOW DEEP

THIS 150-YEAR-OLD PIT COULD BE.

AVERAGE ICE HOUSE
WAS 18 FEET DEEP.

AND SHOVELS ARE NOT GOING TO
GET THE JOB DONE HERE.

AS GOOD A PLACE AS ANY
TO BRING IN THE BACKHOE.

WE GET THE BACKHOE IN HERE,

LET HIM START TAKING US DOWN
THROUGH THE YEARS.

IF THEY CAN SOMEHOW GET
TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS PIT,

THEY JUST MIGHT FIND
THE LOST CONFEDERATE TREASURE.

WE GOT IT. LET'S DO IT.

COMING UP, AS BRANT'S TEAM
GETS CLOSER TO THE SILVER,

EGOS THREATEN TO TEAR
THE TREASURE HUNTERS APART.

WE MIGHT GET
TO BREAKING SOMETHING.

NO,
BUT IF WE WIDEN OUT THE SIDES,

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO
DO THAT ANYHOW.

LAST DAMN THING I NEED
IS SOME YANKEES

TELLING ME HOW TO DO A JOB
THAT I ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO.

AH.

Narrator:
LARRY AND HIS TEAM RELOCATE

TO THE SAME SITE
THAT BRANT STAKED OUT

AND IMMEDIATELY STRIKE IT BIG.

OH, MY GOD.

**

WE GOT SOME TREASURE, BUDDY!

**

Scott: I'M GLAD
WE AIN'T LARRY RIGHT NOW.

SHEW, CHECKING WALLS
OF A MANSION.

YEAH.

YEAH, THAT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE
MUCH FUN.

I WONDER IF HE CHECKED
BEHIND THE COMMODES THERE.

[ LAUGHS ]

YEAH, THEY MIGHT BE OUT THERE
CHECKING THE YARD, THOUGH.

YOU CAN'T NEVER TELL.

THEY COULD BE DIGGING GOLD BARS
OUT OF THE YARD.

WE GOT TO GIVE HIM HELL, THOUGH.

I'D RATHER BE HERE,
BUT, YOU KNOW,

WE GOT TO LOOK EVERYWHERE,
SO IT'S A CHANCE IT'S THERE.

I MET MY FIRST WIFE
ON A TRAIL JUST LIKE THIS.

WELL, YOU AIN'T BEEN MARRIED.

I DIDN'T SAY WHO'S WIFE SHE WAS.

[ LAUGHS ]

**

Narrator: IN THE SEARCH
FOR LOST CONFEDERATE SILVER,

PAST TREASURE HUNTERS
HAVE UNSUCCESSFULLY

CONCENTRATED THEIR EFFORTS
ON THE DAN RIVER

AND THE NEARBY CEMETERY.

NOW JUST NINE MILES WEST
OF WHERE THE SILVER VANISHED,

NEW CLUES HAVE LEAD A TEAM
OF TREASURE HUNTERS

TO THE DAN RIVER PLANTATION,

WHERE THEY HAVE MADE
A STARTLING DISCOVERY.

Mesimer: I WAS HUNTING A WHILE
AGO, COME ACROSS THIS HOLE.

IT COULD BE A TRASH DUMP.

IT COULD BE AN ICE HOUSE.

**

IT'S PROBABLY 18 FEET DEEP,

SO WE'RE NOT GOING TO DIG IT
BY HAND.

WE'D BE HERE A WEEK.

**

Narrator: WITH DEPTHS
REACHING OVER 25 FEET,

AN ICE WELL
WOULD HAVE BEEN THE QUICKEST

AND EASIEST WAY
TO HIDE THE KEGS OF SILVER

THAT WENT MISSING IN DANVILLE.

HUNDREDS OF POUNDS OF SILVER

COULD BE LYING
AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PIT,

USED FOR DECADES AS A DUMP, A
TREASURE WORTH OVER $2 MILLION.

WELL, MAYBE WE'LL DIG THIS UP
AND HOPEFULLY GET A HONEY HOLE.

IF WE START SEEING GLASS,
WE'LL KNOW RIGHT AWAY.

Narrator:
IF THE RELICS IN THIS ICE WELL

CAN BE DATED TO THE PERIOD
WHEN THE SILVER VANISHED,

THEY MAY HAVE SOLVED
THIS 150-YEAR-OLD MYSTERY.

GO DOWN A COUPLE MORE FEET.

THEORY WE GOT WAS THAT
THEY COULD'VE TOOK ICE

AND BLOCKED IT IN AND PUT
THE SILVER IN THE CENTER OF IT

AND SET ICE
ACROSS THE TOP OF IT,

AND THE UNION ARMY NEVER WOULD
HAVE THOUGHT TO LOOK THERE.

HOLD ON. HOLD ON FOR A SECOND.

WHAT YOU GETTING DOWN THERE,
BOYS?

GLASS.

Scott: WHAT IS THIS, 1920s?

YEAH, IT AIN'T TIME YET, BOYS.
WE NEED TO GO DOWN DEEPER.

Short: IT'S BEEN FILLED IN
WITH TRASH OVER THE YEARS.

THERE'S A LOT OF MODERN STUFF
ON TOP,

BUT I'M REALLY HOPING
WE GET DOWN IN THERE

AND POSSIBLY FIND
39 KEGS OF SILVER.

COME ON, BABY.

COME ON, BABY.

IF IT GETS OLDER,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FUN.

[ LAUGHS ]

OH, YEAH!

STARTING TO SEE MORE GLASS, MAN.

OH, BOTTLES!

EARL, CHECK ON ALL THOSE BOTTLES
UP ON IN THERE.

GETTING OLDER AS WE GO.

**

Narrator: AFTER STRIKING OUT
AT THE SUTHERLIN MANSION,

LARRY, PETE, AND DAN
TRAVEL NINE MILES

TO THE DAN RIVER PLANTATION.

Eles: SUPPOSEDLY MEXICAN
SILVER COINS FOUND HERE.

WE'RE GOING TO DO
SOME SNOOPING AROUND

AND SEE WHAT WE COME UP WITH.

WHILE BRANT'S TEAM CONTINUES
TO DIG OUT THE ICE PIT,

LARRY WANTS
TO EXPLORE ANOTHER THEORY

OF WHERE THE $2 MILLION
OF SILVER COULD BE HIDDEN.

PLANTATION OWNERS
WILL HIDE THEY MONEY

UNDER THE SLAVE QUARTERS
FOR A LOT OF REASONS.

SLAVES WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO
HAVE MONEY.

IF A SLAVE CAUGHT WITH MONEY,
THEY'D KILL THEM.

THE SLAVES WERE THE GUARDIANS
OF THE TREASURE.

COME ON,
LET'S GO FIND SOME SILVER.

I'D BE CAREFUL WITH THAT ONE.

UH, UH, UH, UH.

THAT THING'S GOT THAT THING...

BEAM HOLDING IT UP.

YEAH, I'D STAY ON THIS SIDE
OF THAT.

I WOULDN'T GO MESSING WITH THAT.

GUYS, I'M JUST FIGURING OUT
HOW SAFE IT IS.

Narrator: LARRY TAKES THE LEAD.

HIS GUIDANCE AND JUDGMENT
ARE CRUCIAL,

AS THEY'RE ABOUT TO ENTER
AN ALL BUT DESTROYED PROPERTY

WITH A NEARLY 200-YEAR-OLD ROOF

THAT COULD COLLAPSE
AT ANY MOMENT.

IT'S KIND OF DANGEROUS.

MM-HMM.

YOU SURE YOU WANT TO BE DIGGING
UNDER THAT?

ABSOLUTELY. LET'S GO.

Narrator: HE HAS EXCAVATED SLAVE
QUARTERS AT OTHER PLANTATIONS

AND HAS FOUND VALUABLE ARTIFACTS
HIDDEN UNDER THE FLOORS.

GOT DIRT FLOOR, IT LOOKS LIKE.

THIS IS EXACTLY
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FLOOR.

Cissna: THIS WAS
ORIGINAL FLOOR BEAM.

WHAT THEY DID, THEY LAID FLOOR,
THE FLATS, ACROSS IT,

AND YOU'D WALK ON WOODEN FLOOR.

YOU WOULD HAVE A GAP IN IT
ABOUT THIS BIG.

IF YOU WERE GOING TO HIDE
SILVER COINS,

THIS IS WHERE YOU WOULD HIDE IT,
UNDERNEATH THIS FLOOR.

THIS IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT
TYPE OF TREASURE HUNTING, OKAY?

WE'RE EXCAVATING.
WE'RE ARCHAEOLOGISTS.

I'VE DONE THIS BEFORE IN MY LIFE

THREE OR FOUR TIMES
ON A COMPLEX THAT SIZE.

THEREFORE, YOU KNOW,

I KIND OF ASSIGN THEM THINGS
TO DO AS A TEAM.

PETE'S WORKING
THE METAL DETECTOR.

DAN AND I ARE BOTH
DOING THE DIGGING.

WHEN YOU HAVE A TEAM LIKE THAT,

IT WORKS QUICK,
FAST, AND EFFICIENT.

ALL RIGHT, DAN. YEP.

COME AND GET DOWN HERE
AND LOOSEN THIS UP.

WE'RE GOING TO PULL IT BACK,
YEAH.

OUR MAIN THING IS TO GET DOWN

TO THE ORIGINAL FOUNDATION,
ALL RIGHT?

YOU ALL AIN'T OPPOSED
TO GETTING DIRTY, I HOPE.

[ LAUGHS ]

**

[ METAL DETECTOR BUZZING ]

**

Cissna: WHAT IS THAT?

HOLD ON, STOP, LOOK AT THIS.

NOW LOOK AT THIS
PIECE OF BEAUTY.

LOOK.

Yarrusso: WHAT IS THAT?
I SEE IT.

OH, MAMA.

**

OH, THAT'S GOT THE MAKER'S MARK.

THERE'S A MAKER'S MARK ON THAT.

SEE IT THERE?
OH, THAT'S GOOD STUFF, PETE.

GOOD LORD, HAVE MERCY.

YOU'RE LOOKING
AT THE MAKER'S MARK

OF CHINA
FROM ABOUT 1840s, 1850s.

YOU FIND THAT, YOU'RE IN IT.

Narrator: A FIND, LIKE THIS
PIECE OF EARLY-1800s POTTERY,

IS VALUABLE FOR A FEW REASONS.

IT TELLS THEM THERE ARE CIVIL
WAR-PERIOD RELICS IN THE AREA,

AND SOME OF THESE RELICS
COULD'VE BEEN CONTAINERS

FOR THE SILVER.

THAT RIGHT THERE
IS THE BEST CLUE

TO ANY TREASURE HUNTER
YOU COULD EVER COME ACROSS.

IT TELLS ME THAT, "A,"
WE'RE IN THE RIGHT LOCATION,

PRE-1865,
AND NOBODY'S DUG HERE BEFORE.

MAN, THAT'S AWESOME.

**

Narrator: BACK AT THE ICE HOUSE,
THE EXCAVATION CONTINUES,

AND WITH EACH SCOOP OF EARTH,

CLUES EMERGE THAT TAKE THE TEAM
FURTHER BACK INTO HISTORY.

WHAT'S THAT BOTTLE RIGHT THERE,
MEDICINE BOTTLE?

**

OLDER. WHAT'S THAT?

I SAID IT LOOKS LIKE
IT'S GETTING A LITTLE OLDER.

**

BLUE RIM.

THAT'S USUALLY A SIGN
YOU'RE GETTING CLOSE.

YEAH.

WE'RE STILL NOT OLD ENOUGH YET.

WE'RE GETTING CLOSE, THOUGH.

WE MIGHT,
AT THIS BLACK SOIL RIGHT HERE,

BE SCRATCHING THE TOP
OF THE 1800s.

COME ON, BABY.
IT'S GETTING TO IT.

BREAK INTO ANOTHER CENTURY.

COULD YOU IMAGINE TAKING
A BIG SCOOP OF SILVER COINS?

[ CHUCKLES ]

THIS COULD BE IT.
THIS COULD BE IT.

TODAY'S THE DAY.

TODAY IS THE DAY.

GET UP OUT OF THERE, NOW.
COME ON.

ALL RIGHT, WHAT'D THAT HIT?

WHAT DID THAT JUST HIT,
IS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

HOLD IT.

**

Narrator: ON THE RUINS

OF A ONCE-PROSPEROUS
TOBACCO PLANTATION,

BRANT AND HIS TEAM
OF TREASURE HUNTERS

ARE TUNNELING THROUGH
150 YEARS OF DIRT AND DEBRIS.

**

AS THEY GO DEEPER
INTO THE GROUND,

THEY UNCOVER
OLDER AND OLDER RELICS

THAT UNRAVEL
THE PLANTATION'S HISTORY,

BUT THEY'VE GOT THEIR EYES
ON THE PRIZE...

THE MISSING 39 KEGS OF SILVER
FROM THE CONFEDERATE TREASURE.

GET UP OUT OF THERE, NOW.
COME ON.

ALL RIGHT, WHAT'D THAT HIT?

WHAT DID THAT JUST HIT,
IS WHAT I WANT TO KNOW.

[ INDISTINCT SHOUTING ]

HOLD IT.

COULD THEY HAVE HIT THE JACKPOT?

AND IT IS PERIOD.

YES!

Arnold: IT IS PERIOD.

SURE ENOUGH IS. THAT IS IT.

THAT'S WHAT WE LOOKING FOR.

YEAH, WE GOT CIVIL WAR GLASS
RIGHT HERE.

YES, SIR.

THAT'S WHAT WE LOOKING FOR.

HERE, YOU HOLD ONTO IT.

THAT'S... THAT'S IT RIGHT THERE.

THAT GREEN GLASS, OLD BOTTLE.
LOOK AT THAT BOTTLE.

LOOK HOW IT'S BLOWN
IN THE SIDES.

NOW, THIS GETS ME REALLY EXCITED

BECAUSE THIS MEANS
WE'RE IN THE RIGHT LEVEL.

Narrator: THOUGH IT'S NOT
THE TREASURE ITSELF,

FINDING CIVIL WAR-PERIOD BOTTLES
TELLS THEM

THEY ARE LOOKING
IN THE RIGHT AREA.

THIS ICE HOUSE WAS DEFINITELY
USED DURING THE CIVIL WAR

AND MAY HOLD THE ANSWERS
TO ONE OF THE BIGGEST SECRETS

IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

SHOULD WE HAVE HIM
WIDEN THE WHOLE THING OUT

DOWN TO THAT LEVEL FIRST?

I'M AFRAID WE MIGHT GET
TO BREAKING SOMETHING.

NO, BUT IF WE WIDEN OUT
THE SIDES, WE'RE GOING TO
HAVE TO DO THAT ANYHOW.

YEAH. BRANT.

HOLD ON, MAN.

LET'S GET UP OUT OF THERE.

WE ONLY GOT ABOUT AN HOUR
OF DAYLIGHT LEFT.

YEAH, BUT WHAT IF WE BREAK
A BUNCH OF STUFF?

Scott: I'D LIKE TO HAVE PEOPLE

RESPECT MY OPINION
A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I'VE BEEN ON SOME
PRETTY BIG TREASURE HUNTS
ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

I'M USED TO DEALING WITH PEOPLE
WHO ARE VERY PROFESSIONAL.

BRANT JUST PISSES ME OFF.

YOU'RE ALREADY DOWN FAR... FAR.

LET'S TAKE SOME MORE SCOOPS.
GET OUT OF THERE, WIDEN IT OUT.

I'M NOT GOING NOWHERE.

[BLEEP]

**

COME ON, BRANT. WE ONLY GOT
A LITTLE BIT OF DAYLIGHT LEFT.

GIVE ME FIVE [BLEEP] MINUTES
HERE WITH NOBODY BOTHERING ME,

AND I FIND [BLEEP]

[ SIGHS ]

WE'RE NEVER GOING TO FIND IT
LIKE THIS.

BRANT.

LET'S TAKE A COUPLE MORE SCOOPS.

I'M TRYING TO SEE HOW LOW
I CAN TELL HIM TO GO

WITHOUT BREAKING STUFF.

WELL, THERE'S ALWAYS A CHANCE
OF BREAKING STUFF.

WE'RE IN THE HOLE
WORKING OUR ASS OFF,

AND THE LAST DAMN THING I NEED
IS SOME YANKEE

STANDING ON TOP OF THE HILL

TELLING ME HOW TO DO A JOB
THAT I ALREADY KNOW HOW TO DO.

MIKE NEEDS TO CALM
THE [BLEEP] DOWN.

WHOA, GINGER BEER BOTTLE.

GINGER BEER... IS IT WHOLE?

IT'S THE NECK OF ONE.
THAT'S WHAT I'M SAYING.

THAT'S [BLEEP] WE'RE GOING TO
BREAK IF WE KEEP DIGGING.

YEAH, BUT WE GOT THE BACKHOE.

LET'S TAKE A COUPLE MORE SCOOPS.

BOTTLES ARE FUN,
BUT I WANT SILVER.

[ GROANS ]

**

ALL I HEAR FROM EVERYBODY IS,
"WE SHOULD DO IT THIS WAY.

WE SHOULD DO IT THAT WAY."

BICKER, BICKER, BICKER.
YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT,

I'M ABOUT SICK OF BEING
SECOND-GUESSED.

UNTIL YOU WALK IN
AND HAND ME A GOLD COIN,

I DON'T WANT TO HEAR
YOUR [BLEEP]

**

Narrator:
ACROSS THE PLANTATION GROUNDS,

AT THE SLAVE QUARTERS,

LARRY, DAN, AND PETE
HAVE UNEARTHED

CIVIL WAR-PERIOD CHINA...

SIGNS THAT THEY COULD BE
GETTING CLOSER TO THE TREASURE.

ALL THIS STUFF RIGHT HERE TELLS
US WE'RE IN THE RIGHT PERIOD,

AND NOBODY'S TOUCHED
THIS AREA AT ALL.

NO TELLING WHAT WE'RE GOING TO
GET OUT OF HERE NEXT,

AND GETTING REAL EXCITING HERE.

Yarrusso: I'M LIKE A KID IN
A CANDY STORE RIGHT NOW, FELLAS.

SEE, MY HAND'S SHAKING
ON THIS SHOVEL.

[ LAUGHTER ] I LOVE THIS, MAN.

GETTING ANOTHER LITTLE PIECE.

[ METAL DETECTOR BUZZING ]

OH, MY GOD. WHOA, WHOA.

HOLY CRAP, WE GOT A COIN.

OH, WE GOT A COIN.
WE GOT A COIN.

WE GOT A COIN. WE GOT A COIN.

NOW, I'M GOING TO TELL YOU
SOMETHING...

THAT COULD BE FROM PART OF
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR.

**

OH, THAT IS...
THAT IS JUST INCREDIBLE.

LOOK AT THE SIZE OF THIS COIN.

Narrator: EVEN THOUGH THE PENNY
IS A VALUABLE RELIC IN ITSELF,

PENNIES WERE NOT PART
OF THE CONFEDERATE TREASURE

BELIEVED TO BE HIDDEN
IN DANVILLE.

LET ME PICK ON IT A LITTLE BIT
AND SEE IF I CAN SEE SOMETHING.

Cissna: NO, HOLD ON.
PUT THAT DOWN. PETE, PETE.

I JUST WANT TO SEE IF I CAN TELL
WHAT IT IS.

PETE, WE GOT MORE TO LOOK FOR.
THAT IS A PENNY.

WE'RE LOOKING FOR THE BIG,
SILVER COINS.

COME ON, MAN.

WE'RE PROBABLY A JAR AWAY
FROM THE WHOLE THING.

I CAN SEE...
HEY, THIS IS LARGE CENT.

I CAN SEE THE STARS AROUND IT...

OKAY, THEN LET IT BE.
SO I KNOW IT'S A LARGE CENT.

LET IT BE.

Cissna: THESE GUYS...

IF THEY DON'T HAVE SOMEBODY HERE
TO REIN THEM IN,

THEY'LL SIT THERE,

AND THEY'LL RUB THAT PENNY
SO LONG, THEY'LL RUB IT SHINY.

I MEAN,
YOU GOT TO KEEP THEM FOCUSED.

I WANT FREAKING SILVER,
BIG SILVER.

Yarrusso: LET'S GO.

**

[ METAL DETECTOR BUZZING ]

**

THAT SIDE OVER THERE.

IT'S THAT BIG GROUP.

DO IT AGAIN.
OH, IT'S A SILVER COIN!

OH. SILVER COIN.

I SWEAR TO GOD.

I SWEAR. NO WAY.

IT IS A SILVER QUARTER.

OH, NO [BLEEP] WAY RIGHT THERE.
I'M LOOKING AT IT.

THIS ONE RIGHT HERE, YEAH.
RIGHT THERE.

AIN'T A QUARTER. PETE.

[BLEEP]
IT'S A PRETTY ONE, THOUGH.

DANG, I THOUGHT IT WAS QUARTER.

THROW IT UP HERE AND SEE WHAT
IT IS. PROBABLY ANOTHER BUTTON.

OH!

OH!

SILVER COIN, ISN'T IT? ISN'T IT?

YES, IT IS. IT AIN'T SILVER.

[BLEEP]

THAT'S A BUST DIME. NO WAY.

LOOK AT IT, 1823 DIME.

WHOO!

I THINK WE FOUND IT.

**

Narrator:
ON THE NEXT "REBEL GOLD,"

BOTH TEAMS INCH CLOSER
TO FINDING OUT

IF THE LOST TREASURE
LIES BENEATH THE GROUND

AT THE DAN RIVER PLANTATION.

THIS COULD BE IT.

WITH THE TREASURE
CLOSER THAN EVER,

TENSIONS RUN HIGH
BETWEEN TEAM MEMBERS...

YOU GAVE ME NO LOVE,

AND YOU HAVE BEEN HOLDING UP
THE BUILDING ALL DAY.

...AS THE PROSPECT
OF BEING THE FIRST

TO DISCOVER
THE MISSING CONFEDERATE TREASURE

BEGINS TO LOOK LIKE A REALITY...

Scott: WE'RE GOING TO FIND
THE BURIED TREASURE,

MAKE OUR PLACE IN HISTORY.

Narrator: ...WILL THEY PUT
THEIR DIFFERENCES ASIDE

TO WORK TOWARDS
THEIR COMMON GOAL...

[ LAUGHS ]

DUDE, THAT IS AWESOME!

...OR LET GREED PIT EVERY MAN
AGAINST THE OTHER?

WE'RE CALLING IT QUITS,

AND THEY'RE OVER THERE
DOING THE HAPPY DANCE.

HOLD UP, HOLD UP,
HOLD UP, HOLD UP.

THAT IS IT.

YEAH! WHOO!