FRANCISCO DE MOLAS - THE PIRATE OF ISLA HOLBOX
DO YOU DARE TO SEARCH FOR THE LOST TREASURE OF FRANCISCO DE MOLAS?
The Legend of White Beard
He was a wildman in battle, tall and ferocious with burning fuses tucked beneath his hat. Francisco de Molas, the notorious Whitebeard of Isla Holbox, was perhaps the most feared pirate in history, and he ravaged the coast of Mexico and the Caribbean from 1716-1748. At the helm of the Dragon’s Revenge, a refitted merchant ship, he led a fleet that grew with each conquest. In truth he likely did not harm his captives, excepting those he killed battle of course, and he treated his own crew fairly in most cases. But his fearsome reputation made him well known in the new world.
Whitebeard’s most infamous deed was probably his blockade of Cancun, Mexico. For several days in May of 1718 de Molas and his fleet of pirates overtook any ship that attempted to enter or leave the harbor. When he captured a group of wealthy English citizens he held them for ransom until the government agreed to furnish his crew with medical supplies. It is said that one of the English possessed a silver ring with a round purple jewel. This was no ordinary ring, and gave the wearer near-invincibility in hand-to-hand combat. De Molas took the ring from his captive and is believed to have worn it for the rest of his life – it was found on the left hand of his skeleton after he died.
Soon after his exploits outside of Cancun, de Molas ran the Dragon’s Revenge aground off the coast of Mexico. Some confusion exists as to how this exactly happened. In one account de Molas was attempting to careen the ship for repairs when he accidently ran her aground and destroyed her. In another, de Molas intentionally ran the Dragon’s Revenge aground in an attempt to reduce the number of hands in the fleet.
Whatever the true circumstances, the Revenge was lost and de Molas went on his way in a small sloop with a much-reduced crew. The rest of the men he marooned on a nearby island. Without his ship, de Molas and his smaller crew looted the small villages and harbors along the Mexican coast in search for more magic items as de Molas had become obsessed with these after obtaining the silver ring. His thirst for power and magic was legendary and some say that de Molas was believed to be a master sorcerer in the last few decades of his life. De Molas accumulated several magic items, each requiring a test of his intellect and fighting skills. One of the objects was a green, dragon head necklace that de Molas discovered in a dark cave protected by a giant bear. This necklace made the wearer as ferocious as a dragon, even rumored to be able to shoot fire from their mouth and possibly even fly. De Molas also obtained a small set of silver goblets encrusted with blue jewels. These goblets were used to kill de Molas’ enemies in a battle of wits. One of the goblets was safe to drink from, whereas the other secreted poison into the drink. Only de Molas knew which was which. Another item was discovered by de Molas after climbing to the top of a mountain and fighting a murder of evil crows from the air and an army of black frogs from the ground. These vicious creatures did not go down easily, but eventually de Molas defeated them. Exhausted, he is said to have crossed a creaky wooden rope bridge spanning a bottomless pit and leading to a crystal cave. Upon reaching the cave, nearly out of energy, de Molas was confronted by a 20-foot tall skeleton warrior with a magnificent sword that had four blades. De Molas slipped on his silver ring and donned his dragon necklace, and with his last ounce of strength over a three-hour epic battle de Molas defeated the skeleton. It is said that the skeleton’s sword then shrunk down to a miniature size that de Molas kept in his pocket and could bring out in battle when needed, where the sword would return to its true size.
With all of his power, magic, and ruthlessness, de Molas ruled Holbox and the coast of Mexico for nearly 40 years. Near his death he decided to bury his great treasure. Legend says that he and one of his slaves buried the treasure somewhere on the island, and, after finishing work Francisco de Molas ordered ordered the slave's head to be cut off to guard the secret location of the treasure. It is said that at night you can see the head of that unfortunate person just above the place where the treasure was hidden.
Later the pirate skeleton of de Molas was found, apparently he died from a poisonous snake bite. "White beard" as he was known, died without saying where he had hidden the treasure.
Find the magic silver goblets of death
Find the silver ring of invincibility
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HOLBOX TREASURE POEM
Welcome scoundrels, thieves, and thugs
To my island out of reach
You seek my mighty golden treasure
Hidden along a lonely beach
Magic rings and poison goblets
Are among the gifts I bear
Will they give you immortality
And power beyond compare?
Coins of gold and emeralds green
A sabre tooth and magic sword
Dragon necklaces and fist of pearls
I was a pirate, a sorceror, a lord
A clue to you I’ll surely give
To begin your treasure quest
You must brave the dangers and show your wits
To prove you are the best
I will take you to the edge and back
To waters of the bluest blues
You’ll need to explore my island dear
Solve puzzles and find clues
Riddles wrought to rack your brain
Per day just one to do
For if you are too hasty in this search
The end’s in store for you
So start your hunt along the beach
Near Palapas of the sun
A narrow tree, a hidden box
Your quest has begun
