The Sumter banner. [volume] (Sumterville, S.C.) 1846-1855, 1849-10-10

'That he was not sailor any more
than pirate?'
lie was neither
At this, we broke out into laugh,
and complimented our venerable friend
upon his skill in running a circular up,
on landlubbcrs. The elderly gentle
man rather dignifcdly remarked that
he didn't joke serious matters; and as
Lafitte was All old friend and acquaint.
ance of his, he should take no such lib-
critics with his history.
cold friend of Lafttc's?' we said to-
ourselves. "IIerc's pretty muss we
have got into" Out in q little she'll of
vessel, ten or twelve miles from shore,
with particular friend of one who, VIC
arc assured by the vcracious Inggaham
and.a dozen others, was the bloodest
villain that ever skinned the seas. We
involuntarily raised our umbrella, the
only convenient weapon at hand, to
rercl any effort Lafittc's friend might
make to punch our impcrtinent inquiries
into the mysterious life ofthc pirate.
At last, the mild countenancc of our
companion dispelling all apprchcnsions
of violence, we fcchly, and with per-
ceptiblc softcniny of our voice and man
ncr, rcmarkcd
Then, my venerable friend, if La
fittc was not pirate, a. fteebnn,er,
skinner OF! the seas, what III the name
of Heaven was hc?'
"a blacksmith he promptly repli-
cd.
A blacksmith. Oh, son Of Jupiter
Oh, husband of the lovely Venus! Oh,
Professor lngraham! Oh, George Lip
pard!
"a blacksmith, sir; it is Incredible
impossible. How could he sail vcsse
if he was blacksmith
lie never did sail vessel, and
couldn't do it any more than you We
had hccn within an inch, a few moments
before, of capsizing our vessel in n We
RI short administration Of the helm of
State.
"Lafttc,' our companion continued
gravcly and deliberately, "was born in
Bordeaux, and served his time at the
blacksmith's trade. He came to this
country when quite young man, aud
kept a ittlc shop for some time on the
Lcvcc. Here he remained for several
years, making an honest living at his
trade, when, one day, he was pcrsuad-
cd by some Sraniards on the lcvcc,
some Of whom are now living in your
city, in wealth and rcspcctability.--to 90
into the smuggling trade. lie wcntin-
to partnership with the owner OF yes
sci trading between New Orleans and
the West Indian Islands. He remain.
cd i'll the city to dispose Of the goods
smugylcd, whilst his partner managed
the ship. Meeting 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 United States, he
located himself at Barataria, baV op-
cniug into the Gulf Of Mexico, where
his vessels unlou,icd. and their cargoes
were sci: ~ in small heats and riro.u-
&, throue' The 'aynus and canals, to
the Missls,. 'i, a!.l were taken across
the river i'll boats, disguised as those Of
planters. The articles thus smngglcd, i,
we're disposed Of by numerous agents,
and handsome profits were made npon
them. After while, the attention OF
the Government being attracted to his
operations, n naval force. under the
command Of Captain Patterson. was
sent down to break them up. Lalittc
and his men made out to escape, hut all
their property was conliscatcd, their
houses burned to the ground and not a
vcstigc now remains Of the establish
mcnt. THUS driven out to sea, Laiit.
tc's men took to their vessels, and we're
dodging about the islands in the Gulf,
when the English invading force arrived
ut the mouth Of the Mississipri.--Pro.
pos;lls were then submitted to Lafitte,
! to allow him handsome annuity and
an honorable position i'll the English
navy, if he would pilot the British force
up to the city, or inform them Of the
most practicable route for reaching the
city. Lafittc immediately wrote to Go
vernon Claiborne of the proposal and
begged TO be permitted to fight under
the flag of the United States. The Go.
vernon submitted his petition to Gcncr-
al Jackson, who freely granted Their
pardon, and gave them an honorable
position in the lines on Sth January,
when, in charge of the 1S.poundcrs
they did effective service.
This is briefly the history of Lafittc.
He has been much villiied and traduccd.
The criminality Of his smuggling now
consisted in its being more open than