Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1872-02-03
From the Charleston Qll.) Plaindealer.
PIRATES AND PIRATE TREASURE
HUNTING.
BY AN Ex-CHARLEsToNIAN.


Whether l was personally concerned
in the following described adventure, or
whether l am relating 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
or last residence in Memphis. Indeed,
intend that nothing herein related shall
identify persons, time or places, as L
have special reasons for divulging moth
ing which can in any way or manner
fix the transaction or any part OF 1t
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 a 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 netarious pursuits or else
fell victims to the strong arm of the law.
Among the most noted of these free
hooters who fiourished 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 good
French navy, and on several occasions
distinguished himself by GOODNESS, skill,
and intrepidity. He was not only an
educated and experienced 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 a 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 o 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 ill l.fated
craft was either scuttled and sunk, or
consumed by fire with its living frei ght
before the eyes and under the mocking
jeers of the infmi lated demons.
Although Lafitte 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; he always 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
hbout half pirate, always cruising under
letters of marque and reprisal, which is
Itself half piracy. But Lafitte was not
,lways particular whether his prey was
hstly such under his letters or not.
lie made many sad blunders in this
ray. and it was not easy for the suffer
yrs to obtain any subsequent redress or
atisfaction, for Lafitte was
"The mdest hammered man
That ever scuttled ship or cut a throat;
With such true breeding of gentleman
You never could discern his real thought"
md his diplomacy, influence, and
money were generally sufficient to en-
ble him to pursue his vocation with
impunity.
PITY he loved an adventurous life. variety.
lie was so great loss TO good society"
About the time, however, of the
breaking out of the last war with Eng
land Latitte had made rather free with
some American shipping and Uncle
Sam took the gentleman of free and
easy habits to task about it. The result
was that pardon was granted TO Latitte
and such of his followers as chose to
accept the conditions, which were to