The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-02-17
NO. S2S

authority shall not be trifed with
He was siezed, and by main strength
was dragged towards his ship, struggling
and roaring like mad bull when by a
sudden exertion he freed his arms,
plunged dagger to the heart of one of
those who were endeavo-ing to secure
him, and before Laftte, who was giving
some orders about clearing the vessels,
was aware of his approach, he received
blow upon his head, which dropped
him stunned and senseless to the deck.
Lafitte's sabre flew from his hand and
fell at my feet, and ere Laborde could
reach me | was ready to receive him, as
he rushed upon his devoted prey with
the fury of tiger
Now, cursed wretch, thou shalt die
Lafitte himself cannot save thee :" cried
Laborde, his eyes flashing fire, his fea.
lures distorted with rage, and yelling
like maniac. His ungovernable rage
threw him off his guard, and as he made
desperate plunge at my breast, | par
ried the blow; his heart received the
point Of my weapon, and he fell lifeless
upon the blood covered deck. What
would have been my fate from the rest
of these wretches, had not Lafitte at
that moment recovered his feet and
stilled the commotion which was rising,
is unknown. "Brave fellows" said he,
Gin Laborde you behold the fate of him
who dares to disobey my orders-shun
his example. Let these vessels be taken
to Barataria, and in them we shall find
treasure equal to our utmost expecta-
tions, and which shall be equally shared
by all. A shout of appreciation, and
''long live Laftte ?" rent the air.-The
decks were cleared of the dead, who, as
well as the badly wounded, were COM
mitted to the waves and when the set
ting sun threw his last rays on the top
masts of the Cleopatra, we were in full
sail for the Island of Barataria, which
| found was the rendezvous of the pi.
rates who frequented the Gulf, and of
whom Lafitte was the acknowledged
chief.
The Island of Barataria, at which we
arrived on the day after the capture of
the Cleopatra, is one of those low sun
ken island, or rather clusters of sand.
bars, which are so numerous in the
Gulf of Mexico hardly elevated above
the reach of the equinoctial Tornado,
and owing to drought and heat scarcely
habitablc for a considerable difficulty
from intricacies of navigation, or un-
skilfulness Of the pilot, we found our
selves at anchor, and Laftte, accompan-
led by myself Immediately went on
shore. A few groves of orange trees,
scattering peach trees, and luxurant
vines, were to be seen, which contrasted
strongly with the few miserable huts
which formed the establishment of these
outlaws of civilization this congrega-
ted mass of refuse from every nation
under heaven. Plunder, assassination and
murder, were here legallzed Power
formed the only law and every species
Of iniquity was here carried to an ex-
tent OF which no person who had not
witnessed similar den of pollution
could form the most distant idea. In
this place, which as one of the pirates
themselves observed, was a hell on
E earth, aud well stocked with devils of
> all ranks and degrees" were to be seen
few women, who We'd with the men
and trampling on all decency and de-
, corum, and whose language, and man
ners were a compound of all the vile
ness and profanity, which could be col
lected from the wretches with whom
they associated Ii my first impress on
were unfavorable, subsequent obscrva
tions did nothing to remove them. The
crews of the piratical vessel were landed
and when a division had been made
Of the plumber, commenced scene Of
intoxication, gambling quarre ling and
= murder, which still chils my blood to
remember and which the sabre of Laftte
9 was required sometimes to subdue. He
alone seemed to possess any command
: over his passions, and his voice was
never heard among them in vain when
he shared the danger equally with the
3 meanest sailor, whatever plunder was
t acquired was divided among them with
|, the most scrupulous exactions; and his
influence over them was great, and their
= confidence in him unbounded.
: Nearly three weeks passed away, and
r although suffered at no time any con-
f tumely or insults from the pirates and
r Lafitte always treated me in the most
= respectable manner, frequently request
ing me to give myself no uneasiness as
: for whatever loss in property [ might
y have sustained on board the Cleopatra,
S | should receive ample compensation
| sill felt my situation irksome in the
= extreme My anxiety was observed by
!, Lafittc.
To be Continued.