Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-01-25
PIRATES AND PIRATE TREASURE
HIJNTING.
BY AN Ex-cHARLEsToNIAN.

BY AN EX-cHARLESToNIAN.
Whether 1 was personally concerned
in the following described adventure, or
whether am relating a story told me
by another is wholly immaterial to the
story itself. I use 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, l
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 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.
It 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-
bLStOnG OuOfLs, however, VI buO OInCIOA1
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 hourished about the close
of the last and the commencement of
the present century was a Frenchman
named Laftte. He was descended from
a good family in France, received 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 experienced naval officer,
but also most urbane and accomplished
gentleman. A series of events, however,
whichI 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 fitting emblem of their
hellish work, which was blood, fire and
death, the motto of these buccaneers
being Dead men tell no tales"
When a ship was taken the survivors
were thrust into the hold, the matches
battened down, and after she was thor
oughly plundered then the ill-fated
craft was either scuttled and sunk, or
consumed by fire with its living freight
before the eyes and under the mocking
.jeers of the infatuated demons. .s.-.l
Although Laftte was the acknowl-
edged leader (whose slightest word was
law) of this gang, yet heLdespised them
one and all. Being both by nature and
early education far above them, he
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 a pirate, always cruising under
letters of marque and reprisal, which Is
itself half piracy. But Lafitte 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 or
satisfaction, for Laftte was
:" The mildest hammered man
That ever scuttled ship or cut throat;
With such true breeding of q gentleman
You never could discern his real thought"
and his diplomacy, influence, and
money were generally sufficient to en-
able him to pursue his vocation with
impunity.
".Pity he loved an adventurous life, variety,
SHe'was SO great loss to good society" - s-y
About the time, however, of the
breaking out of the last war with Eng
land Lafitte had made rather Tree 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 Lafitte
and such of his followers as chose to
accept the, conditions, which were to