Tonight on The Curse of Oak Island...
MARTY:
It's time to re-do
the dye test.
We're gonna get everybody lined
out here real quick.
see if that red dye
comes out and where
-We're ready to begin.
-Let's do this.
MARTY:
Here comes the water.
Whoa!
TERRY:
Cut! Cut!
k*ll it! k*ll the pump!
RICK: There's no treasure
in the world
-worth anyone getting hurt.
-JACK: There's some
weird anomaly in the water.
-TONY: We're on our way.
-JACK: What is that?
-MARTY: If we've got red dye
in Smith's Cove,
I might become a believer.
-GARY: Here it is! Look!
-Oh, I think I see it.
GARY:
That's the red, guys.
NARRATOR:
There is an island
in the North Atlantic
where people have been looking
for an incredible treasure
for more than 200 years.
So far, they have found
a stone slab
with strange symbols carved
into it,
mysterious fragments
of human bone,
and a lead cross whose origin
may stretch back
to the days
of the Knights Templar.
To date, six men have died
trying to solve the mystery.
And, according to legend,
one more will have to die
before the treasure
can be found.
NARRATOR: It is a morning of
grave concern on Oak Island...
-Morning.
-Morning.
...as Rick Lagina
and Craig Tester
investigate the extent
of the damage caused
by a large sinkhole
that developed
in the Money Pit drill site
two days ago.
-How's it lookin'?
-Vanessa is in there with Irving
discussing exactly how
we're gonna move forward.
-Okay.
-So...
-Is there...
another problem that
has reared its head, or...?
No, she just told me not to...
not to do anything just yet
until they get some stuff
worked out with the engineer
and all that other stuff.
-Yeah, it don't look any worser.
-Okay.
DANNY:
Oh, hell no.
See how the ground's gone?
It's caving.
The sinkhole occurred
while the team
was excavating the borehole
known as H-8,
which many suspect
could be the location
of the original
Oak Island Money Pit.
So we can definitely
continue to dig
-with the hammer-grab, but..
-Oh, really?
...we want to go forward
with caution.
Although at first it wasn't
considered serious enough
to thr*aten the operation...
-Oh, baby.
-CHARLES: Be careful.
...within 24 hours,
the ground surrounding
the 50-inch-wide caisson
-collapsed much further.
-RICK: What the hell is...?
-(rumbling)
-Oh, no, no!
-Whoa, whoa!
...to the point
where it may no longer
-be safe to continue.
-MARTY: One of these days,
we're all
gonna be standing here
and just disappear.
RICK:
We'll see what
their concerns are.
-CRAIG:
Yep.
-Obviously, there may be a...
a new issue or two.
-Hello.
-Hi, Craig.
-Morning.
MARK:
Have a seat, guys.
Have you guys had a chance to
discuss our problem out there?
Yeah. Didn't like
coming to that this morning.
Yeah.
RICK:
It was a...
-serious concern, right?
-VANESSA:
Yeah.
We don't know what's happening.
You know, uh...
huge safety concerns.
But we're hoping
that we can mitigate
the problem and-and address it
and move on, but...
obviously, we're gonna defer
to both of you.
-Sure.
-So having said that,
what have you come up with?
Really, now,
we're gonna be monitoring
the whole area
of the ground, right?
Because this area has been
so heavily excavated
and compromised and, um,
I kind of use the analogy
it's been Swiss-cheesed,
you know?
So we're really not sure
what's going on in there.
Um, and that makes us concerned.
NARRATOR:
For more than two centuries,
hundreds of Oak Island
treasure hunters
have dug dozens
of shafts and holes
in an attempt
to reach the bottom
of the so-called Money Pit.
Because of this--
and the fact that the area
has been further compromised
by water
from underground
flood tunnels--
the ground
beneath the Money Pit
is susceptible to cave-ins.
I guess as a starting point,
um, you know,
there is quite a...
quite a hole there.
Um, we need to fill that back
in, but we want to do it right.
One of the suggestions
that came up
was to put the vibro hammer
on the H-8,
-Mm-hmm.
-um...
shake it up a little bit,
and, uh, and see what happens
-from there.
-Okay.
A vibro hammer is
a massive hydraulic tool
which will literally shake
the giant,
50-inch-wide steel caisson.
Although this will cause
more earth to cave in,
the hope is that it will
eventually cause the ground
around the H-8 shaft to settle
and become stabilized.
However, there is also a chance
that this process
could cause the sinkhole
to become much larger
and possibly trigger
a catastrophic cave-in.
(rumbling)
The one thing that
is helping me not...
completely telling you guys,
"Hey, we're outta here,"
(laughs): is that
this seems to be a very
isolated collapse.
-Okay.
-We're not seeing crowning.
We're not seeing spiders.
We're not seeing indication that
there's something bigger
going out underneath.
It doesn't mean something bigger
is not brewing.
-Okay.
-So we're really gonna have
to monitor this
and take lots
of safety precautions.
-Sounds good to me.
-Yep.
All right.
So the next step is vibrate.
-Yep. And we're ready.
-Okay.
-Thank you very much.
-Thanks, guys.
-Thank you.
RICK: They have
some serious concerns,
because they do not understand
what's happening underground.
I've gone on record as saying
there's no treasure
in the world worth, uh,
anyone getting hurt.
"Can we continue?"
is the greater question,
and that,
I still have hope for H-8.
Are we good to go?
-Tickle it.
-Okay.
(switch clicks)
RICK:
Look at that thing.
-CHARLES: Wow.
-CRAIG: There's a lot
of loose material
-coming out of there.
-CHARLES: Yeah.
VANESSA:
We could open it up some more.
He's got it wide open.
RICK:
There she goes.
Oh!
NARRATION: As the team
from Irving Equipment Limited
begins their efforts
at the Money Pit site,
Marty Lagina, Dave Blankenship,
Jack Begley and metal detection
expert Gary Drayton
meet with heavy equipment
operator Billy Gerhardt
to plan the team's next steps
in their massive search
operation at Smith's Cove.
What is the agenda today, Billy?
-Because...
-Well...
...I would like
to cut trenches over there,
'cause that's probably my focus,
is switching to look for,
you know,
-the box drain if it's there.
-BILLY: If we cut
some deep trenches,
we may intersect
something that's outside.
You just leave enough room,
just leave enough room
-to cut trenches there.
-On... Yeah.
NARRATOR:
Since the Oak Island team
began excavating Smith's Cove
just two months ago,
they have unearthed
a number of incredible
and potentially important
man-made structures.
In addition to finding
both wooden and concrete walls,
they have uncovered the massive
U- and L-shaped structures
first discovered
by Dan Blankenship
in the 1970s.
They have also unearthed
a wooden slipway
which may have been constructed
more than two centuries ago
in order to allow sailing ships
to be hauled onto the island
from the shore.
But perhaps the team's
most exciting discovery so far
has been the finding
of what could be
one of the five
stone box drains
which were built to feed
seawater into the Money Pit
as part of an elaborate
booby trap flooding system.
MARTY: Every structure
out there in Smith's Cove,
you surmise it has
something to do
with the supposed flood tunnel
and the... finger drains,
or box drains.
It's pretty clear
from what we're finding
that massive efforts went on
to build something.
So, what's the plan?
To get rid of this.
We want to clear
from the wall all the way back.
We're looking for the so-called
convergence point.
Okay. Well,
I'm gonna be your eyes.
-I'll stay out of the way
-Oh, all right, okay.
-but be looking
from another direction.
-Okay.
Sounds good.
NARRATOR:
When the box drains
were first discovered in 1850,
members of the Truro Company
reported that
the five finger-like drains
appeared to converge
at the beach
into a single tunnel.
It is Marty's hope that,
by digging a trench
west of the possible
box drain location,
they will be able to find
the convergence point
and then follow the shaft
to the location
of the original Money Pit.
TERRY: Just looking for
an opening beneath these rocks.
That's what we're,
uh, we're hoping for.
Just to see
if we can see any opening
into the, uh, the drains,
the box drains.
-Mm-hmm.
-That's what I'm thinking.
JACK: We're just
scratching the surface.
JACK:
So, Marty,
any box drains yet?
Nope. What I'm
probably gonna do
-is position there
and dig the rest of this up.
-Okay.
NARRATOR:
At Smith's Cove, Marty Lagina,
along with members
of the Oak Island team,
are searching for the remains
of what were reported to be
five stone box drains
that were first discovered
by members
of the Truro Company in 1850.
Marty, I don't think
we ever did fully expose
the bottom of the trench
that was right in front
of Billy's wall,
so we should be sure
to get that deep, at least.
It's right here.
Marty believes that
if they can find more of them,
they might find
a convergence point,
which could lead them directly
to the original Money Pit,
and hopefully, a vast
underground treasure vault.
You got me some gold to find?
-Oh. Hopefully.
-For you, Gary.
-Gary, you want to detect that?
-Yeah.
Going down.
-(rapid beeping)
-Hey!
-GARY: Yeah, that's a good...
that's a good hit, just here.
Fingers crossed.
Is that ferrous, Gary?
Yeah, there's
a big metal target here.
So far, it's registering
as nonferrous, as well.
-That's a good sign.
-That'd be cool.
You want me
to try and pick it up
and dump it
where you can find it?
Yeah, I think
that's the best bet.
It's just too difficult
to recover in the water.
JACK:
You're good, you're good.
Oh, look.
He's on...
Oh. Hopefully he got it.
JACK:
What's this?
GARY:
That's it.
TERRY:
Whoa.
What is it?
-It's a bucket.
-MARTY: A bucket?
GARY:
Yeah, it looks like
a big metal bucket.
JACK:
What's that doing down there?
You want more
dug out of there, Terry?
Uh, yeah. We're not quite to
bottom, but we're getting close.
TERRY:
Yeah.
That's definitely the bottom.
We're on bottom!
NARRATOR:
Unfortunately,
although the team located
what they believe to be
one of the box drains
five weeks ago,
they have, so far,
been unsuccessful
in finding more of them.
-Should we keep digging this?
-No.
When you pulled away,
you couldn't see.
It was mostly sea horizon.
I think we're at the bottom.
Okay.
There might be something
in the spoils, you never know.
-Yeah.
-MARTY: Well, Rick said
there would be answers
in Smith's Cove-- instead,
there are more questions
in Smith's Cove.
TERRY:
Exactly.
MARTY:
Where's the answers?
NARRATOR:
The following morning...
and as efforts to repair
the cave-in surrounding
Borehole H-8 continue
at the Money Pit site...
-MARTY: Hey, Craig.
-Hey, guys.
-Hey, Craig.
-Craig.
NARRATOR:
...Rick and Marty Lagina
call a meeting
in the Oak Island w*r room.
What we want
to talk about today is,
you know, with Smith's Cove
all excavated,
we could think
about rerunning the dye test.
Because it's
actually possible that...
not only might we see
where it comes out,
we might see
where it doesn't come out.
You know, in other words,
what if we actually blocked off
the entrance
with that big cofferdam?
-Right.
-When we did it
several years ago,
we didn't see anything.
Nowhere.
That's why we want
to redo it, David.
Everybody's got to keep
their heads in the game today,
because we're only gonna have
one shot at this.
NARRATOR: Four years ago,
the Oak Island team
conducted a test
at Borehole 10-X,
one that was first conducted
by veteran treasure hunter
Dan Blankenship
back in the 1970s.
The test involves
putting a colored dye
down an exploratory borehole
and then pumping
air and water into it
to see if the dye
can be spotted
coming out in various places
around the island.
If so, then the test
could reveal the presence
of underground tunnels,
most likely man-made,
which, in turn, could lead back
to the original
Money Pit treasure vault.
RICK:
Here we go.
Unfortunately, the test
the team conducted earlier
used bright green dye.
Because it was hard to spot,
even from the air...
CHARLES: No, man, we don't see
a thing out here at all.
...no underground flood tunnels
were detected.
MARTY:
We all had a consensus back then
that we could have done it
different.
We could use
a different color dye.
And I happen
to have with me here today...
red dye...
(chuckles)
...which we should
be able to see.
-Fluorescent red.
-Yeah.
-Yeah.
-MARTY: We might see it seep out
right into Smith's Cove
somewhere
and then be able
to follow it back
-while we got excavators.
-Yeah.
I think it might be
well worth doing.
-Yeah.
-CHARLES: And Dan Blankenship
has always believed
that there was some type
of hydraulic connection
between Smith's Cove
and the Money Pit area.
So, maybe that will connect
to one of the flooding systems.
Yes.
The goal of the dye test
is to try and shed
a little light
on the constant question
that's in my mind
between artificial
or natural introduction
of seawater
into the Money Pit area.
See whether that flood tunnel
really exists.
And that's what
this endeavor's all about.
Look, if we find
the flood tunnel system,
it proves that
the old story's true.
And how are we
gonna look for the dye?
Out on boats,
or are we gonna just go
to some high points
around Smith's Cove?
That's another good question.
We got a drone,
so we can fly it
-up both sides and see.
-GARY: Yeah,
that makes sense, a drone.
-MARTY: Well, let's get a drone.
-Yeah, I would say so.
RICK: And we're gonna need
a boat, because if we see it
at two separate locations,
we may want to confirm that.
-MARTY: Yeah, I'm all for it.
Let's do it.
-Sounds good.
Okay, I think we've decided
what what we need to do.
Now we need to do it.
Thanks for punching in, Craig.
-Yep.
-We're gonna get after it.
-RICK: See you, Craig.
-CRAIG: Good luck, guys.
-RICK: Thanks, Craig.
-Yep.
NARRATOR:
Later that day...
-MARTY: Here we are.
-PETER: I think this is it.
NARRATOR:
...Marty and Alex Lagina,
along with Jack Begley
and Peter Fornetti,
travel some 60 miles east
of Oak Island
to the city
of Lawrencetown, Nova Scotia.
They are eager to meet
with members of the Centre
of Geographic Sciences,
also known as COGS,
to follow up on the results of
a comprehensive perimeter scan
they recently conducted of the
waters surrounding Oak Island.
JACK: I hope they have
good information for us.
In concert with
the team's upcoming dye test,
they are hoping the results
will help them pinpoint
the location
of a secondary flooding system
which is believed to originate
somewhere off
the island's southern shore.
-Hey, guys.
-Hey. How's it going?
-Hey, guys.
Hey, how are you doing?
MARTY:
We're very excited
about working with this group
to try and add some data
to our search.
We understand that
the offshore data,
the ocean data,
has now been processed,
and they've got
some things to show us.
Okay.
Well, let's see what you found.
So, we'll start off with the
lidar scans that we collected.
We were able to create
a larger point cloud.
If we look at it in 3D...
This is looking down
from the area you guys
are currently investigating.
These two yellow columns
coming up out of the sea floor,
based on coordinates
provided to me by MGO,
are possible vent locations.
NARRATOR:
Vents?
Located on the ocean floor
just off Oak Island's
southern shore?
Could these vents be the cause
of the so-called "ice holes"
which Dan Blankenship believed
were evidence
of a second flood tunnel system
leading to the Money Pit?
DOUG:
So, you picked up
-two possible vents?
-That's right.
To see that the data picked up
that there is something
just south of the swamp that's
producing these ice holes,
it's really cool.
They can't tell at this point
if it's man-made,
but it's worth investigating.
Anyway, keep going.
It's very interesting.
-So, what are all the triangles?
-ALISON: Those are...
-points of interest
we can go through, yeah.
-Points of interest. Okay.
So, this is really interesting.
It's contact ten.
It's located
along the left there.
So, there's
two features here that are...
pointed...
and they're not in the shape
of most of the rocks
that we're seeing.
So if you look
at that really bright fellow,
he's casting
a triangular shadow.
Whoa.
NARRATOR:
A "triangular shadow"?
Might this be an indication
of a connection
between the shadow...
and the triangle-shaped swamp,
as well as other
mysterious triangle-shaped
carvings and symbols
found throughout Oak Island?
ALISON: It's something that's
laying along the seafloor,
but is also shaped
kind of like this.
-Like this?
-Yeah.
-It's vertical,
more or less. Yeah.
-It is. Yeah.
Why is it so bright?
It's something
that's really hard.
-BRIAN P.:
Possibly man-made?
-Yeah.
What's it pointing at?
What's that compass direction?
It is a north-south line.
Yeah, well,
interestingly enough,
that would be pointing,
more or less, at the Money Pit.
The data the students created,
I believe,
is gonna be very valuable to us.
There were targets identified
as mysterious anomalies.
Always worth looking at
on Oak Island.
The data's great.
I want more. More data.
MARTY:
Excellent. Thank you
for all the hard work.
BRIAN P.:
Absolutely.
RICK:
Today, to me, is about
information confirmation,
i.e., you know, we're trying
to prove the old stories,
the legend,
if you will, correct.
NARRATOR:
As a new day dawns,
brothers Rick and Marty Lagina
prepare for the operation
that they hope
will lead them directly
to whatever it is
that's buried on Oak Island.
There's a possible
man-made connection
from the ocean to the Money Pit.
Look, I'm open-minded.
This test has never been run
with Smith's Cove
-both blocked from the sea...
-Right.
...and partially excavated.
-Right.
-So, if we see this dye come out
into Smith's Cove, then we
could maybe follow it back,
and then maybe I become
a believer in a flood tunnel.
The objective
of this whole search--
by "search,"
I mean injecting the red dye--
is to prove or disprove,
or at least shed light
on the existence
of a flood tunnel.
And also help, probably,
locate where it's going,
which means
where the Money Pit is.
NARRATOR:
Now that the drill site
around Borehole H-8
has been stabilized
and reinforced
with the help
of a massive vibro hammer tool,
the team can conduct
today's dye test
without fear
that the Money Pit site
will be further compromised.
Hey, powder man.
That's me, I think.
-This is it?
-That's all it.
-That's why you got to...
-The magic powder?
Magic. I'll tell you what.
One touch of that,
you will turn red as a beet.
All right. Well,
we'll be a little bit careful.
-Here's the thing, Terry.
-Yep.
I think you're a perfect guy
for this.
What you really want to do, too,
you want to put this in
ten minutes
-after the water starts.
-Ten minutes after. Got it.
MARTY:
Remember, this is
a different introduction point.
-Mm-hmm.
-MARTY: If this is more tied
to the flood tunnel,
I would be excited
if it comes out
-in Smith's Cove only.
-TERRY: Absolutely.
Oh, I... Don't even let that
get in the wind, okay?
NARRATOR:
Unlike their previous dye test,
which was conducted
in Borehole 10-X
four years ago,
the Oak Island team has decided
to base today's operation
inside Borehole C-1.
This was the place
originally chosen
by Charles Barkhouse
and where he and Rick Lagina
found evidence of both
an enormous underground void...
...and also a glittering,
gold-colored object.
-What the hell is that?
-RICK: It's your gold color.
CHARLES:
Yeah, there it is, David.
We've chosen C-1 because
we know C-1 has salt water
in it, which is good.
Means it's connected
to the complex hydrology
that exists
at the Money Pit area.
So that's where
we're gonna put the dye in.
NARRATOR:
Using a six-inch pump,
the team will force
600 gallons of water per minute
down the C-1 shaft.
Once a consistent water flow
has been established,
the team will start adding
a nontoxic, red-colored dye
which, if the test is
successful, will make its way
through any existing
underground flood tunnels
and out into the ocean.
Gentlemen.
-JACK: Hey, Marty. Hey, Rick.
-Hey, guys.
-JACK: Good morning.
-Good morning.
Well, things are happening.
This is exciting.
I'm actually amazingly excited
about this.
Yeah, I'm excited.
I think it's gonna
actually work this time, though.
MARTY:
Good. Guys, look, we're gonna
get everybody lined out here
real quick.
The drone guys will be here
in a minute.
We got this.
We got this covered.
You're in the boat.
Charles, why don't you
-go with him?
-Okay.
Gary, why don't you be
Smith's Cove guy?
-Okay.
-See if that red dye comes out
and where.
Rick and I
will be on the monitors
-with you, Jack.
-Okay.
So, I think, everybody,
we're ready to begin.
NARRATOR:
Because Rick and Marty
don't know when
or where the dye might appear,
they have arranged an extensive
monitoring operation
across both the eastern
and the southern areas
of the island.
In addition
to having team members
stationed on land
at Smith's Cove
and in boats just off
the island's southern shore...
TONY:
May everything we see be red.
...there will also be
three drones
equipped with
high-definition video cameras
scouring the waters
from high above.
They have also set up
a remote viewing area
allowing them
to see the live feeds
from each drone camera.
Hey, Bill.
We're ready up top if you are.
Yeah.
You all right?
You're gonna leave
your drain open?
We're ready to...
ready to start.
RICK:
Start it up.
Okay.
Here comes the water.
Oh, (bleep). Look at that.
Whoa!
k*ll it! k*ll it!
-TERRY: Cut! Cut!
-MARTY: k*ll it!
k*ll it! k*ll the pump!
k*ll it!
MARTY:
k*ll the pump!
k*ll it! k*ll the pump!
-(walkie-talkie beeps)
-k*ll the pump. k*ll the pump.
NARRATOR:
It is a tense moment
on Oak Island.
Just as Rick,
Marty and the team
began pumping water
down Borehole C-1
to begin
a large-scale dye test,
the six-inch-wide hose
has suddenly become twisted.
If not covered,
it could explode with the force
of 1,500 pounds
per square inch.
What the hell?
We got 40 twists in it.
Wait, wait, wait,
wait, wait, wait, wait.
Let that dissipate a little.
Because that's gonna...
As soon as you take that off,
it's gonna twist.
Go down and break it down there
-so we can drain it off.
-Yeah, I know. I'll let that...
-I'll let
that little valve open.
-Okay.
Yeah, it won't take much
'cause we're at the very
high point here, but...
(chuckling):
...look at that.
All right,
an inauspicious beginning.
I hate to say
typical Oak Island,
but I'm gonna say
typical Oak Island.
RICK:
You should just break it
at the pump
and drain all the water out.
It's the emotional
roller coaster of Oak Island.
You just move forward.
I can't believe
that didn't blow.
RICK:
That looks good.
TERRY:
Ready to start.
(machine whirring)
There's the hot air.
NARRATOR: Now that the hose
has been straightened
and a steady flow of water
has been established in C-1,
the Oak Island team
will now begin to introduce
nontoxic red dye
into the shaft.
It is the team's hope
that they will soon see dye
seeping out
from one or more locations
along the island's shoreline.
If they can trace
the dye backwards,
it should theoretically
lead them to the place
that the flood tunnels
were designed to protect:
the Money Pit treasure vault.
MARTY:
Be a little heavy
on the first ones, and then go
with the plan. Thank you. Over.
TERRY:
Roger that.
NARRATOR:
As geologist Terry Matheson
and veteran treasure hunter
Dan Henskee
continue to pour dye
down C-1...
TERRY:
Look at that.
Drones in the air, please.
Let's go.
We're gonna release this.
...Rick and Marty will monitor
the live video feeds
of three aerial drone cameras
that are hovering above
the eastern part of the island.
JACK:
How long do you think, Marty,
until we see
the first little bit of dye?
MARTY:
Uh, you know,
despite my healthy skepticism,
if there really is
a flood tunnel,
and if it's really packed
with rocks
and it's really
about the size they said,
it should show up over here
in about half an hour.
NARRATOR:
Meanwhile, in the waters
just off the island's
southern shore,
Charles Barkhouse
and diver Tony Sampson
are searching by boat.
If they see any dye
in the water,
they will pinpoint the source
with GPS coordinates.
It is quite remarkable
how technology has changed
in the sort of ten years
we've been at this.
Other times when we wanted
to look at the island
from the air,
we had to rent a helicopter.
Now we're gonna have three
or four eyes
in the air all the time.
It's gonna be
a very well-covered observation
to see where that dye comes out.
(over walkie-talkie):
The dye has been cast.
CHARLES:
Copy that.
We'll be expecting South Cove
to turn red at some point.
Hey, Rick.
Still going in?
TERRY:
Yeah. Very constant,
very steady.
We're loading
this charge point here.
There's...
We've got to have plug flow
all the way down this caisson
and then out into...
We know there's a tunnel
down there,
and it's got to come out
some way.
We just keep eyes on it.
Got to happen, Rick.
JACK:
Now, what is that?
There's something there.
(over walkie-talkie):
Hey, Tony. Are you there? Over.
Tony receive. Over.
JACK:
Can you go over
to, uh, where
the bald spot's at?
There's some weird anomaly
in the water
I'd like you to look at.
Copy that.
Uh, heading that way now.
Tony, this is Jack.
Do you have eyes on the drone?
TONY:
There's the drone
right off the bow, Charles.
Oh, I see it. Yeah.
You guys see anything?
CHARLES:
I don't see anything.
TONY (over walkie-talkie):
Affirmative, Jack.
We're right underneath it.
We don't see any discoloration
in the water. Over.
JACK:
Okay.
Thanks for checking, Tony.
NARRATOR:
As the team waits
with anticipation
for signs of the dye to appear,
they receive a surprise visit
from Rick,
Marty and Craig's partner,
Dan Blankenship.
Well, look who's here.
-Daniel.
-What do you say, Marty?
Been a while.
-(chuckles)
-How are you, partner?
-Can't stay away.
-Yeah, you can't stay away.
Back to your old
stomping grounds.
NARRATOR:
At the age of 95,
Dan Blankenship has spent
the last five decades
working to solve
the 223-year-old
Oak Island mystery.
It is from Dan
that Rick, Marty and Craig
have learned much
of what they know now
not only about the history
of the island,
but where searches
have been conducted
and what search methods
have proved successful.
In 1988, Dan and his son Dave
conducted a dye test
similar to the one
being attempted today.
Using Borehole 10-X,
the 235-foot-deep shaft
Dan dug by hand,
the veteran treasure hunter
noticed red dye seeping out
not only at Smith's Cove
but also in the waters
just off the island's
northern and southern shores.
Unfortunately, Dan lacked
the financial resources
that would have enabled him
to follow up on his findings.
Nice to see you, Dan.
How's everything going? Good?
-Oh, yeah. Yeah.
-Yeah. What do you think?
We made quite a mess,
didn't we?
(chuckles)
Your words.
(chuckles): Yeah.
They're my words.
-You're right.
-(laughs)
Well, we got-- we got dye
-going in again, you know.
-Yeah.
When you did it, where did it
come out? You remember?
Came out right here
to the left-hand side
of-of your... what-you-call-it,
and it came out
on the south shore.
How long did it take?
Do you rember that?
Depending upon how long
you were pumping.
On the average,
I would guess
about three-three, four days.
Three, four days?
Depending upon h-how many
gallons a minute you're pumping.
600.
-That's a lot.
-You know,
this is all sealed off,
so-- I don't know--
that might change the dynamic.
Maybe. You want to come
over here and see the monitors?
-Yeah, sure.
-Okay.
MARTY:
It's always a pleasure
when Dan comes out.
I mean,
he's still amazingly fit.
He's 95 years old, and-and
it's apparent
that that's significant.
We're all sort of getting
keenly aware of Father Time.
And, yeah, it's time.
It's time to-to solve this,
for him and for us.
We got three drones up, Dan.
They're live.
Marty to Tony.
Do you read me?
Tony, receive. Over.
Just checking in, Tony.
Have you guys spotted
anything yet?
Negative, Marty.
Nothing on the southern side.
Over.
MARTY: Okay, Tony, thanks.
Why don't you head back
over to, uh, the other side
off the swamp.
TONY:
Going over to the swamp area.
Copy, Marty. Over.
MARTY:
Thank you, Tony. Over.
JACK:
Still have eyes
on the south shore beach,
but we haven't seen
any dye yet. Over.
Oh, my God.
Look at that.
Holy schmoly.
Rick, uh, this is Gary.
Can you come down
into the basin?
I've got something interesting
to show you.
Say again?
GARY:
Why don't everybody come?
It's interesting.
If we're looking for red, guys,
I'd say
that's reddy-brown there.
-JACK: Oh, what?
-NARRATOR: While conducting
a dye test
at the Money Pit site in search
of the source
of the legendary flood tunnels,
treasure hunter Gary Drayton
has just found
where dye may be seeping out
at Smith's Cove.
GARY:
And this is all new.
It's-it's all started
flowing out since this morning.
-This was all dry before.
-JACK: Oh, this is what
-what we're looking for.
Great job, Gary.
-Yeah.
Yeah, okay, I don't want to be
the dog in the manger,
but I will.
I think
that's just rust-colored, Gary.
MARTY:
Honestly, I-I didn't think
the dye test would work.
And I have my doubts, but...
it's hard
not to get enthusiastic
in spite of all the setbacks
on this island.
So I'm hoping
the rust color means something.
GARY:
If a dye goes through
a certain matrix
and a certain material,
is it possible if it would go,
like, a reddy-brown?
Right. It kind of gets filtered
out to that color.
-It's certainly
pretty interesting.
-GARY: Yep.
Look at-- look at that.
There's the stuff
coming out from shoreward.
Is it shoreward or is it
running from that same...
-source, that same stream?
-It's coming--
-It's coming from yours.
-Oh, right.
-That's what I'm trying to say.
-GARY: Okay, yeah.
-That's what I'm trying to say.
That's coming
-from up-upland.
-Yeah.
NARRATOR:
Although a sudden flow of water
is evidence
of a possible connection
between Smith's Cove
and the Money Pit,
until the team can confirm
that dye is coming out here,
they cannot be sure.
We've been checking this area
out, Rick.
I've never seen it
-that vid orange before.
-RICK: No.
GARY: And I also noticed the
flow of the water's increased.
It seems to be getting faster.
So it's flowing faster, and it's
definitely getting more orange.
MARTY: Bleeding out
right by the crane pad.
LAIRD:
Yeah.
So, they'll want to test
a little bit of this.
I mean, it really, really is
a good deep color.
-Yes, that wouldn't hurt.
-Look at it.
Gary, I'm prepared to be wrong.
JACK:
Here. Here, I'll...
I'll recover a sample.
You want me to just go up
this thing?
GARY:
Yeah, there is some red there
on the left-hand side.
Now.
In order to confirm
the presence of dye,
the team is collecting
water samples
to test
for the nontoxic chemical.
GARY:
So we got two samples to test
and-and see if that is the dye
that's making that color.
-Yeah.
-Okay. Let's do it.
(thunder rumbling)
NARRATOR:
As a sudden rainstorm
threatens to wash away
all evidence
gained
by this morning's dye test...
-Hey, Jack.
-I brought the water samples
-from the dye test.
-Okay, perfect.
...Jack Begley joins
island historian Paul Troutman
at the Oak Island
Research Center to test
water samples that were
collected at Smith's Cove.
Did you just put
some of the dye we actually used
-into the vial?
-Yes, I put some
of the-the dye into the vial.
That's our primary sample.
I'll also need
to prepare a blank sample
with this electrically neutral
water.
So that we'll know
what it looks like with
high concentrations of dye
and then also without
-any dye in it.
-Mm-hmm. Correct.
Using a device known
as a fluorometer,
Jack and Paul will be able
to detect any traces
of the nontoxic red dye
in concentrations as small
as one part per trillion.
PAUL:
Now I'm just gonna get
a base reading
to see what the sample reads as.
We're getting 9.689.
PAUL:
That'll be our base reference
for fully saturated.
-All right.
-About 9.7.
Yeah,
anything that's one or above
would be a positive indicator
of the actual dye.
Okay, so now that we have
those two,
what we're gonna do is go ahead
and pour the first sample in.
This is Smith's Cove 1,
for the stream
that was leaching out
-by the crane pad.
-Okay. Gotcha.
Um...
PAUL:
That's good enough.
Okay, we're gonna read
the sample here right now.
Come on.
Let's see what we got.
: Okay, we're gonna read
the sample here right now.
Come on.
NARRATOR: After gathering
water samples at Smith's Cove,
Jack Begley and Oak Island
researcher Paul Troutman
are conducting
a fluorometer test
in hopes of finding traces
of red dye.
If they get a reading
above a one,
they will have proven
the possible existence
of a flood tunnel
directly linking
the Money Pit to Smith's Cove.
JACK:
Let's see what we got.
-Yeah!
-That's a good
positive indication.
JACK:
That's awesome.
Since we've been successful
so far, I'm gonna call Rick.
-He's gonna want to hear
the good news.
-Yeah, he will.
(line ringing)
-Hello?
-JACK: Hey, Rick.
Paul and I are testing
the water samples right now
that we collected
during the dye test,
and we got some results we think
that you should come see.
PAUL:
Okay.
See you, Rick. Bye.
The positive dye test results
means that there was
a really strong connection
between Smith's Cove
and the Money Pit.
It's just amazing information,
and it's
a huge breakthrough
for our team this year.
-Hey, Rick.
-Hey, Rick.
Okay, I see Jack smiling.
-I see Paul smiling.
-(chuckling)
Doug.
-It's interesting.
-It's interesting?
-PAUL: Yeah.
-JACK: From the samples
that we obtained,
so far, the Smith's Cove
dye tests that we got...
Mm-hmm.
...it tested positive.
-Smith's Cove?
-Yeah.
-PAUL: Smith's Cove.
Yeah, right underneath
the crane pad,
where the water was coming out.
-Oh, really? Right there?
-JACK: Mm-hmm.
-Yeah.
-Right at that spot.
-You know what, Gary said
-that water changed color.
-Mm-hmm.
So that's a positive indication
that he was actually right,
from what he saw.
Exactly. Exactly.
My brother said--
and I concur--
that, out in the ocean,
it's still interesting.
But in Smith's Cove,
that's
a totally different ball game.
RICK:
This could be part
of a flood tunnel connection
to the Money Pit.
There's so much we don't know
about the Money Pit
and the work
that the searchers did.
We don't even know
what the original peoples did,
the original depositional work
that was done.
We could retest this
while you're here so you can see
-for yourself.
-Go for it.
I think we're closer than ever
to unraveling
the Money Pit.
JACK:
Yeah!
-It's even higher!
-PAUL: Yeah. Yeah.
JACK:
That means, even though
-we can't see the dye in here,
it's definitely
-Yeah,
-in the water.
-there-there's some--
there's some concentration
that it's detecting.
-It's exciting.
-It's exciting, yes.
JACK:
'Cause if there wasn't
a flood tunnel,
I can't think
of any other way that
this dye would have made it
to Smith's Cove.
Exactly. Exactly.
You know, I fall back
on what Fred told me long ago:
duplication, duplication,
duplication.
Retest, remeasure, reaffirm
that the data is accurate.
And what it says is,
all the more reason to dig under
the crane pad
and try to follow this back.
We'd be foolish
not to follow up.
-PAUL: Yes.
-MARTY: There's a trail
to follow.
And if this leads us to it,
it would be
a big eye-opener for me.
It's significant.
It's very, very significant.
Great job.
The dye showing up
in Smith's Cove is-is...
I mean, I don't--
I don't know what to--
what to say,
other than it's great news.
-Okay.
-Mm-hmm.
RICK:
All right. Thanks, guys.
NARRATOR:
For the Laginas
and their partners,
a week that began with a major
setback in the Money Pit area
has ended with one of
their greatest breakthroughs.
They may have proven once
and for all
that the legends and stories
about a network of man-made
flood tunnels are true.
But if the team
has finally found a direct path
to the Money Pit
treasure vault,
what will they find there?
Something of incredible value?
Or will they learn that,
with each new discovery,
they are only getting closer
and closer to a deadly trap?
Next time
on The Curse of Oak Island...
28 feet of water, lads!
ALEX:
These are targets
that we've identified.
MARTY:
I don't think that's a rock.
What is this?
RICK:
There it is!
Finally, we've exposed
the entire slipway structure.
It's the biggest mystery,
isn't it?
They want to keep things secret.
Ooh! Look at that!
That looks like
it's off
a substantial treasure chest.
-MARTY: Hello!
-We're gonna find out
from a blacksmith
how old the hinge is.
That is early 1600s.
This could be pre-Money Pit.
06x15 - Dye Harder
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Follows brothers Marty and Rick as they search for the infamous treasure on Oak Island.
Follows brothers Marty and Rick as they search for the infamous treasure on Oak Island.