The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1871-04-14

duced to the crew, who were already
enlisted, as a brother of the captain
recently arrived from the north and
the name of La6tte, which l then
assumed, / have continued to bear. My
fortunes were desperate; life was bur
den; L had nothing to lose: the stua-
ton was one which well accorded with
my feelings, and | did not hesitate to
/ accept. Our commission was from the
republican government of Buenos Ayres.
For several years we were prosperous !;
| had amassed a considerable fortune,
and entertained serious thoughts of
returning to New York, when one eve
ming, as we were on cruise off st.
Domingo, looking for some merchantmen
which we knew were daily expected
from Spain, we fell in with British
vessel of Superior force, who ordered
us, under pain of being fired into, to
send our boat on board, and heave TOO
till morning capt. Laftte refused: a
short alteration ensued and an action
of the most desperate kind commenced.
The British vessel was carried by board
ing after great slaughter Captain Laftte
was killed early in the engagements
was severely wounded by sabre in the
head-and the third in command vim
dictive in disposition and exasperated
by opposition, ordered no quarters to be
given, and the conquered were extermi-
mated. BY this time the government
under whose orders we were acting, had
been put down by the royalists, who had
effected a counter-revolution. We were
declared to be acting without orders
from any government, and refusing to
surrender ourselves for trials were out
lawed and reward offered for our
heads. 1t became necessary to provide
for ourselves. On the death of Capt
Laftte, | succeeded to the command,
and we established ourselves on the
north west part of the gulf, and lived
on our enemies. When the South
Americans were again found in arms, |
cspoused their cause, but majority of
my men declined acting in concert with
their marines, or having our fate linked
with theirs. Our number had increased
so much, that [ added two vessels to
our establishment appointed Laborde
to be second in command, and took pos
session of this Isl nd, where we have
successfully maintained ourselves against
any attempt made against us. My cor
respondence with New Orleans is direct,
and receive information almost weekly
of the important event going on. -
When the present war broke out be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain, we declared ourselves on the
side of the former, and have acted &C
cordingly: and, though we fight with
the halter round our necks, being con-
sidered by the government as pirates,
still, unless We are driven to extremitles,
we shall be found f.i.hful friends to the
republic.
"Thus, Sir, | have given you a short
account of the manner in which be-
came the chief of this establishment;
and | can sincerely say, that if our pres
ent disabilities could be removed most
cheerfully would we perform any duty
which might be ssigned US in aid Of the
government
i" My most preserving exertions shall |
be used in your favor" replied, "and
[ have reason to believe with success. !
| am rot entrey unknown to some of
the officers of the government at Wash
iagton, and representation of your
wishes would undoubtedly meet with
Immediate attention from the executive"
"For your friendly proposal, thank
YOU" Lafitte replied, " it promises to
restore me to that world which was
once onlivened by the bewitching inAu-
ence of Mary
La6tte," sal !, 81 should have
thought that the perils you have passed
through, would have obliterated every
trace of that victim of love from your
memory
"When this tile ceases to ebb and
fow-when yondcr Mississippi rolls its
turbid waters to the frozen north
when the needle forgets to point to the
polc-when this heart palpitates for the
last time-then, AMI not till then, shall
| cease to remember Mary Forget
her ?-impossible !"
And he drew from his bosom a small
morocco case suspended by a ribbon,
from which, wrapped in paper, he took
a beautiful miniature portrait of Mary.
He kissed it with enthusiasm.
-" This" said Lafitte, "that lovely ,
girl gave me at our last sad parting, and
with such momento daily before me,
could l for get her Well, well do |
how the angelic Mary ap.
peared at that moment: her long hair,
with curling trcsses, twining around her
snowy neck, aud slightly yelling her
swelling bosom. Pale, all deadly pale
were those lips L bad so often kissed, in
the fervor of uualloyed innocence and
love-"
lie again kissed the portrait, aud was
replacing it, when | observed that the
nvelopc contained "A number of lines of
nootrv in the bnnd yyritinr M |, 46 To /