The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-05-21
. PRINTER IN SEARCH OF THE RURIED
TREAs.RES OF THE PIRATE EATsTTE.


Prom the New Orleans Times MSy 1851
Ono OF our contemporaries has "A romantic &1d
sensational story, founded upon the mysterious
death OF Mr.. Andrew }. Newell late a compositor In
fsod0ine office, whose body was recently found
the lake, near Fort Pike, with MARKS of fatal
runshot wound. On the corpse were found certain
papers indicating that Mr. Newell al the time cf his
deaIh, WAS engaged IN search Tor the treasure OF
Lah'te, which had long been cherished anu
xealoasly pursued object OF hts ambition and OF re
quent explorations. X would appear thar he had
boaeht small vessel calles the Reckless Babe ana
embarked IN her on one OF MS voyages Of discovery,
when ne met with MS death IN some my serious ahs
vfolenJ manner.
The facts stated In regard 10 the infatnauon or
MI Newell, which, after many narrow escapes, bas
leo AZ last 10 ms death, are wen known 10 ~, ~
was ola family tradition Inherited rom ms Ia
ther-who himself nad been vlctim thereto-that
lantte's men had buried somewhere on the isiailds
outside OF the Rigo,ets vast amount OF treasure,
and one OF the survivors OF liaJ very apochiypn1
pand had communicated 10 the eider Newell the
exact spot oI such deposit, WIN minute diectiohs
In writing how 10 trace II up BON iather anu son
and all the members oi the lauiay c1culleu lnls
story and frequent voyages were mace on the itifh
OF IL. Jhe results were always disastrous. bnt
Mr.. Andrew j. Newell never iost nope OF conhoehce
M his eventual success lie would 30 To work
AT his trade with great industry, 1--we very
closely ana lay by ms savings, 10 provide
the means for another expedition IN seaicn OF
the hidden treasure. II was MS al-absorb,ng
thought by day anu dream by night Though very
reserved and suspicious OF hs ielow
lest they might become possessed ot his secret
he would at times refer in q crcerful manner 10 his
large fortune III solid gold pieces which he would
draw from the safe place IN which II was de-
positea No religious enthusiast no alchcmist was
more earnest and intense MS devotion his
SINGLE idea than was Nj. Newell III his pursuit OF
tbis fabulous aurIferous cepos,t IL was vain TO
WIN Inn or 10 seek 10 dispel the delrsion by
reference 10 wen known anu anthenuc historical
facts. Nor was this Geiison peculiar o this un-
fortunate vcum. There have been many others
whose CreCulIty has led them engage In ike
ploraions for Lahttes treasure, and to inves, their
money on the laith OF stories concocted by some
yaJn-weaying Jack TAR some fabulous nago or
some vlsIon-seeing negro Hundreds and thousands
III dollars nave been squandered ana valuable lives
have been sacrificed, as IN the case or Mr. Newell in
iIs idle search ior the hidden treasures OF socalied
pirates. These enthusiasts have never paused 10
consider tne real lacss ol history, when would NJ
dispel their delusions ana confute their fables
The case now before us ought serve lesson OF
the folly ana faulty OF this habit of trusting Idle
traditions aud the Inventions OF Imaginative
and designing concoctors OF sensational STORIES
rather tBan TO The authentic facts OF his
Tory. IL the believers In the hidden treasure OF
Laitte had taken the trouble to consult these facts
which nave been established by judicial investiga-
uons and are attested by Old residents contemporary
OF the events and characters referred to- they would
have learned that neither Iaftte nor the men asso.
ciaied ia his enterprise were ever pirates, that
they ever accumulated any treasures which they
found it necessary bury. They will find by ex-
aminng the records OF the United States Court in
ths CITY that in 1872 after full and fair trial. Jean
Lantte and his associates were acquitted OF AN
piraica acts purposes. and that IL was shown
That they were engaged only IN the legitimate bust
ness OF capturing on the nign seas the vessels
OF spanish citizens, under commission and let
tiers OF marque from the republic OF COlom-
bia, then at war with SPAN. They were not pirates
ssalaring man, but an lliiierate blacksmith, who
kept his Jorge at the corner OF BOURBON and ST. Ann
acquired by the association Of which LATTE the
city agent, was seized by the United States ana con-
sumed during the military operations in the defence
OF this CITY IN 1914 and 1870 The men engaged with
LATTE were marched from the prison 10 Jackson's
lines 10 man the batteries. and these rem
dered most valuable services. When the war
Was over they were released, with The thanks
and commenlatlon OF General Jackson. or
course, being free they would have
repaired to the deposits OF their spoIis
and and recovered the same, i any such existed.
everything, engaged III little shipping business
the gulf ana drowned at sea IN the
wreck OF a small vessel OF which he was a super
cargo. Others OF his associates remained here
In humble POSITIONS. and were always
poor. They would hardly have continued so II
there had been any concealed treasure belonging
known 10 any or the association. 1t IA marvellous,
In view OF these notorious facts, that any one
should still yield 10 the deusion TO which II would
appear Mr. Newell Tell a victim, by squanderlng
their money and lmperilling their lives IN the
cropping along the Lake and Gulf shore aud digging
INTO the sand Of the ISLANDS pur suit OF the hidden
gold Oh the LATTE pirates