Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1872-01-26
~ From the Charleston Ill.) Plaindealer.
PIRATES AND PIRATE TREASURE
HUNTING. 81
BY AN Ex.CHARLEsToNIAN.

Whether Twas personally concerned
in the following described adventure, or
whether am relating a story told me
by another is wholly immaterial to the
story itself Iuse the first person in the
narration because it suits me better so
to describe the incidents connected
Herewith; neither it is material wheth-
er the events occurred during my first
orl last residence in Memphis. Indeed, |
intend that nothing herein related shall
identify persons, time or places, as |
have special reasons for divulging moth
ing which can in any way or manner
fix the transaction or any part of it
upon any one who shared in the fun or
the hardship, the hopes or the fears of
the expedition. 1t will consequently
be readily understood that the names of
the actors are fictitious and assumed.
1t is well known that for many years
during the eighteenth century the West
India Islands swarmed with buccaneers
and pirates of the worst and most fero-
cious type. These outlaws were of every
nation almost; but mostly Spanish,
French, OF English, with sprinkling OF
negroes, Portuguese, and Germans, or as
they were then more generally called
"Dutch." By the combined and per-
sistent efforts, however, of the different
nations these villains were gradually
decimated, until at the commencement
of the present century there were COM
paratively few organized bands remain
ing, and these were SO continually
hunted down that they either aban-
doned their nefarious pursuits or else
fell victims to the strong arm of the law.
Among the most noted of these free
hooters who fourished about the close
of the last and the commencement of
the present century was Frenchman
named Lafitte. He was descended from
a good family in France, received a good
education, became an officer in the
French navy, and on several occasions
distinguished himself by goodness, skill,
and intrepidity. He was not only an
educated and perienced naval officer,
but also most urbane and accomplished
gentleman. A series of events, however,
which | need not detail, made of him
first free trader and finally West
India freebooter and pirate. His gang
was thoroughly organized and equipped,
possessed several large and small armed
vessels, and had their shore haunts and
retreats to which they retired when
sated with carnage and plunder, or too
hotly pursued on the seas. In these
places they buried their i'll gotten gains
and spent the time in revelry and, dissi-
patton, only to soon issue out again to
cruise under the black flag with
its grinning skull and cross of death
the whole a fitting emblem Of their
hellish work, which was blood, fire and
death, the motto Of these buccaneers
being "Dead men. tell no tales"
When ship was taken the survivors
were thrust into the hold, the matches
battened down, and after she was thor
oughly plundered then the illfated
craft was either scuttled and sunk, or
consumed by fire with its living freight
before the eyes and under the mocking
jeers of the inful lated demons.
Although .Laftte was the acknowl-
edged leader Whose slightest word was
law) of this gang, yet he despised them
one and all. Being both by nature and
early education far above them, he
secretly abhorred their brutal and blood
| thirsty natures healways leaned, as far
as his bloody calling would allow, to the
| side of humanity, and never permitted
destruction of life after resistance ceased.
Indeed, SO far as his own personal acts
and immediate orders went, he was only
about half pirate, always cruising under
letters of marque and reprisal, which is
itself half piracy. But Laftte was not
always particular whether his prey was
Justly such under his letters or not.
He made many sad. blunders in this
way. and it was not easy for the suffer:
ers to obtain any subsequent redress OF
satisfaction, for Lahtte was
1.-THE mildest hammered man 81 y
That ever scuttled ship or cut throat
i 3 With such true breeding of q gentleman
You never could discern his real thought"
and his diplomacy, influence, .ano
money were generally sufficient to en-
liable him to pursue, his vocation with
impunity. tl&s1
| PITY he loved an adventurous life, variety 1-
! ne was so great loss to good society,", .45. =
About the time, however, of the
breaking out trofv the, last war with Eng
land Uaftte had made rather free with
some American shipping and Uncle
Sam took the gentleman of free and
easy habits to task aboutit. The result
was that pardon was granted to Lafitte
and such of his followers as chose tc
accept the conditions, which were to