Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1849-09-19
nj is G Il L l. A N Y.
Lafitte, the Pirate Of the Gulf.

oIeau'h escapes ana marvellous exploits OF Lafltte
the famed pirate of The Gulf, who succeeded our
illuslrous friend Sancho Panza, Governor oi Bar
atara. lngraham, Lippard, and some half dozen
other spawners OF startling narrative, have tried
their hands at Laiite, and IN cue course Ut time
may expect that the eternal James will catch him
In his wide spread net cast for heroes and bloody
incidents.
It's very repulsive TO feelings to be COMPEL
ed, by sense OF duty stern historians, 10 dss-
pate much OF this romance. IL aillicis To the
soul 10 give up deluson, romance which has
nou:shed our youthful infancy, and solaced many
an hour OF idleness Ii is like waking from pleas
ant dream, or 8 ,ag of .he pleasing il tluehce of
! ciiloroiorn l. imposes upon duty repusiye
as that of The gTea, historian Of Rome Neibuhr who
SO rulhlessly attacked all the pleasing traditions
bout Romulus and Remus, the sucking wolf and the
rape of the Sablnes, and proved that they were
aiegories-nol like the stories of Sin5ad, the Sal
Tor, of Baron Munchausen, Of Captain Riley, and
Counselor 5, positive substantial facts.
But the truth of history must be vindcated, as
Col. Benton once remarked, in commencing speech
which his opponents said was an elaborate comp ,und
OF no-such things. And So we must, though il snap
the heart strings of our infancy, and throw into pi
our earliest traditions, avenge the truth of history
OF many foul wrongs it has received at the hands of
the novelist and false WRITER'S by testing some sober
and disconraging truths of LATTE, the bloody Pi-
rate of the Gulf.
We met an old French gentleman of this city,
the other day, who knew Lafitte well-knew all
about hm-and from this matter of fact source we
gathered the following particulars
''Lafitte," said the old gentleman gravely and
deliberately, "was born in Bordeaux, and served his
time at the blacksmiih's trade. He came to New
Orleans when quite Young man, and kept little
shop for some time the Levee. Here he re-
mained for several years, making an honest living
at his trade, when, one day, he vas persuaded by
l Snn a.
now living here in wealth and respcclablliry-to
go into the smuggling trade. He went into part
nershiP with the owner of a vessel trading between
New Orleans and the West India Islands. He
remained in the city to dispose of the goods SNUG
glcd, whilst his partner managed the ship. Meet
| ing with great success, he employed several other
vessels. and taking advantage of the confusion incl
dent To the situation OF Louisiana, in its transfer
from Spain TO France, and from France TO the Uni
ted States, he located himself at Baraara on bay
opening into the gulf of Mexico, where his vessels
| uniOaded, and their cargoes were sent up in small
boats and plrogues, through the bayous and canals
! To the Mississippi, and were taken the river
IN boats disguised as those Of planters. The ari-
Giles thus smuggled, were disposed of by numerous
agents, and handsome profits made upon them.
After while, the attention of the government be-
ing attracted 10 his operations, naval force under
| the command OF Captain Patterson, was sent down
| to break them up. Lafilte and his men made out
10 escape, bal all their property was coufscaed
their houses burned TO The ground, and not vest
ige now remains of the establishment. Thus driv-
ell ont to sea. Laiilte's took up their vessels
and were lodging about the islands in the Gulf,
when the Engfish invading force arrived at The
mouth of the Mississippi. Proposals Were then
submitted 10 laiitte, to allow him handsome an
nuity and an honorable position in the English ma
! Wy, if he would pilot the Blush force up 10 the
city, or inform them Of the practicable route Dr
reaching the city. LATTE Immediately wrote lo
| Governor CIabourne of The proposal aud bepe ed 10
be permitted To fight under the flag Of the United
States. The Governor submitted his petition ia
General Jackson, who freely granted their pardon
aud gave them an honorable position in the lines ON
9Th January, when, III charge ofhe eighteen pound
ers, they did effective service.
"1'hs is briefly the history Of Lafilte He has
been much yllltied and traduced. The criminality
of his smuggling consisted in being more open than
much of The smuggling carried on in this city D
Our companion then proceeded 10 relate many in
teresilng incidents in l.aile's life lie concluded
! his narrative by describing LaiitIe's personal an
| pearance ''He was tall, rather raw boned man
of lively black eye, pleasing face, salow complex
ion, and good address. 1hece was nothing of tho
| pirate or free booier about him. lis nature wa.
! kind benevolent, and his heart was in the RICH
place."-.N. O. Delta.
| In FAvoC OF Observation-Disclosures The ScuIpto
writing to friend on what people call the folly O
marrying without The means TO support p family
expresses frankly his own fears when he found him
sell In this very position bat he adds with clarac-
| terlSlc candur:
so tell the truth, however, emily end poycri,
have done more 10 support mo than have Ia sup
| port them. The have compelled me TO make Scr
lions ttat hardly thought myself capsule Of: anc
| often when on the eve OF despliring lhev have for
ced me- like coward in cOrucr ~ fipht like lac
70, not FIR myself, bat for my wife aud lllc ones
nave now as much work as | can execute. unles
can lind some Hofe assistance in The marble. am
have prospect Of further commissioner
The truth. as expressed above 6y The lifted ecnln
tor, is Ike similar remark wel.eafd not long since
by gentleman from Boston, who tried Inairimon
IN the way, and found afterwards ,;,at he Ions
change in his pocket, which ne had sqnandeicd i
foolish noiions'-yonng mems who's as lie Gale
tbem-Was enough to support pfuderi wife, VIII
ny Wei regulated economy, has proved fortune i
herself, and had saved sDus cum of ,rcney f. r ,o
once careless husband. "a wife IoGircct man
wards proper ambition. and 10 general economy. .
he said twas timely succur at sea to save him fro,
destruction on pcrllous voyage"
| DHrNFEcTEG ACCNT.---A scjca;Iiic pcntlcma
states, through the Boston Jovnnt, that G,r dsir
ieciing agent for general use where the surfac
whence nOsome eShalaiiOns arise can be reached
one pound Of common copperas. dissolved in ON
gallon OF water forms fluid which when sprinkle
on accompanying matter, or any changing surfaces
Immediately destroys puresccnt exhalaiipns.
extreme cases, two pounds of c0pperas, 10 one ga
Ion Of water, may be used and in s,ne situation
the addition OF 50 much ground plaster as will for!
a thin paste, VIII be required. The weekly sprinl
Ing OF cellar H,ors, paved yards drains aud all fl
Thy TecePiacles, with this fluid, will render the a
mosPhere above them perfectly sau5rous. In sic
rooms and confined spaces the cuorcd liquid shou