A Haunted Pirate Cave in Massachusetts? | The Curiosity Desk

We go into the literal underworld to explore Dungeon Rock - an underground cave in Lynn, Massachusetts dug in the 1800s by two occultists in search of a pirate and his buried treasure.
Legend has it that in 1658, this outcropping of rocks was the makeshift home of Thomas Veal (also spelled Veale), a pirate who was hiding from colonial authorities. That year, a great earthquake struck - collapsing the cave and burying Veal alive with his treasure.
Two centuries later, in the mid 1800s, a Massachusetts spiritualist named Hiram Marble purchased the land in Lynn Woods. He believed that Thomas Veal was contacting him from beyond the grave and leading him here. Marble and his son Edwin would spend 30 years digging a 174 foot tunnel in search of Veal’s remains, and his buried treasure. Both died while digging. Edwin is buried in an unmarked grave just steps from the cave’s entrance.
Some believe that the cave still hides Veal’s treasure. Others say that it is haunted by the spirit of one or both of the Marbles.
Joining us in our quest to uncover the history and mysteries of Dungeon Rock are Doneeca Thurston, Executive Director of Lynn Museum/LynnArts and Lynn Woods Reservation Park Ranger Dan Small.
Something you are curious about? Let Edgar know: wgbh.org/curio...

[@del5.0]

I just love stories like this, please keep them coming.

[@edgarbherwickiii5509]

Thanks, Mark! We love making them. If you have an idea for a good one, let us know. Cheers!

[@stephaniemasten9744]

@@edgarbherwickiii5509 are you a Massachusetts based “hunter”?

[@edgarbherwickiii5509]

@@stephaniemasten9744 I am!

[@stephaniemasten9744]

Also I was wondering have you heard about the Beverly Woods?

[@mattnobrega6621]

I live in beverly and I don't know anything about the beverly woods. I would like to find and explore that as I am now curious 🤔

[@mattnobrega6621]

I have always wanted yo explore that place. I went for a walk in the lynn woods a few times. Never found the cave. Yhe last time i went for a walk, i was on a trail with some friends. At some point i had to leave as i got some sort of panic attack out of nowhere. Not sure if it was related to the area or if it was pure anxiety as i was smoking a cigarette while walking. I did see a video on it that was a probably from the late 90's to early-mid 2000's on the inside of the cave where it had a railing and some sketchy stone stairs. At the bottom it was flooded with water ao the explorers couldn't go any further. Before they entered, there was a locked metal gate at the entrance and no one could enter excepr by permission of the park services which was rarely granted from what i heard. The only thing found in the cold murky waters of that cave was some old fabric(possibly from the pirate veal himself) otherwise to murky with zero visibility for the dive team to do a search. The lake is what keeps the cave flooded. Thats all i know 🤷‍♂️

[@stephaniemasten9744]

Edwin Marble. A large boulder that is out in front of dungeon rock that looks like an off pink color that’s supposedly his actual burial ground. My fiancé and I went hunting out there too… but we came up with nothing as well unfortunately. However we will be going back to that site. I think this area needs more exploring.

[@aquaroselife]

Awesome! We are going next week!

[@Icarus-81]

I grew up in Lynn. As kids we used to play all over and in dungeon rock and the lemon squeeze. Nothing scary there. The stories are just that.

[@petercole8798]

Lemonister woods had a recent Bigfoot sightings in South Lemonister mass. Can anyone from Massachusetts into this take a look. I don't have a car.

[@kevinholmes2013]

My neighbor recently confirmed this.

[@petercole8798]

@@kevinholmes2013 really in Leominster forest how. There's not much woods for him.

[@brandenscartreviews6773]

What about the underground cave system full of water

[@BryanMaxDobberstein]

"There's an easy way to tell if your house is haunted; it isn't." --Jimmy Carr

[@ryann6067]

Whats wild is Hiram blasted the cave downward through solid bedrock. There is no treasure buried in solid rock. Its like and older version of the Oak Island money pit hoax.

[@NathanLarin]

Interesting story.🤨 But...how...ask yourself...can one person...escape,on foot,up hill,with all that treasure? Fill 2 duffle bags with like 80lbs each and go hiking.Up hill.While trying to evade a whole squad trying to capture you.Try it.Go mythbusters.😐🍿

[@dunno6796]

😂

[@Jonosom_acevilante]

I'm from Massachusetts, the door has a lock on it, how did you get in

[@ShaneSaw2593]

They open it every once in a while or you can call and have them open it. It’s usually kept closed when they can’t have a park ranger there to supervise.

[@Jonosom_acevilante]

@@ShaneSaw2593 I appreciate you!