New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-21
The Pirates of the (sulf.

The Pirates Of tho Gulf.
There were three men, who formert
lived in st. Louis, who were said to hav
belonged to Latitte's gang. The writer O
this knew them all personally and vel
They are now all dead. One Of thes
men. Michel Marble, when he was a littl
under the influence of liquor, was particu
larry fond OF retiting the perils, thrillin,
| adventures and desperate encounters of thu
| great pirate in the Gulf of Mexico.
Michel Marble was a small, energetic. &C
tive Frenchman, with rather broad fore
! head. He always took an active part il
elections and espoused and advocated tn,
| cause IF his friends with great animation
warmth and energy. He was noted anc
| we'll known character, who died in st. Loui.
| about the year 1915 or 40
Old Marble, as he was Familiarity called
used to say that at the time the Governor
| of Louisiana offered a reward of $500 for
the head of Lattte, the next day after the
proclamation OF the Governor had come
out, Latitte came out in an advertisement
in all the newspapers printed in New Or.
leans, in the French and English iangua ges.
offering reward of $4,000 for the head Of
the Governor, and that his excellency be-
came awfu1ly alarmed lest some of Latitte q
men should capture him and carry him off
to the headquarters of the desperate buc-
cancer. And on this account the guberna-
torial dignity was for q while very cautious
abont venturing out or being seen upon the
streets.
Among other stories which Michel Marble
used TO relate of Laittes feats and exploits
in the Gulf is the following: There was a
British merchant vessel in the harbor of
Vera Cruz, which was about to sail for Liv-
erpOol with an immense amount of specie
and gold and silver and bullion on board,
which had been brought from the City of
Mexico. LATTE became appraised of the
fact, aud skirmished to capture the vessel
with this valuable treasure. He fitted a
vessel with full crew of his most reliable
men. She was well armed and provided
with all the appliances requisite for the ex-
petition.
Latitte, thus prepared, sailed forth into
the gulf, having arrived just outside of
land. waiting for his prey. IL was not long
before the merchant vessel hove in sight,
and which Lafitte soon captured, without
resistance, 18th all her valuable and rich
amount of treasure. Among the passeng gers
# the captured vessel was lady, to whom
Lafitte would not suffer or permit any in
dignity whatever. He intended to have
her taken to Barrataria and from thence
transferred to New Orleans, SO that she
could from there reach her friends. There
as dlhO VI UOdIu tDb CdpIuTtu vessel
Catholic priest, and the men, turning to
Lafitte, inquired what should be done with
him. Overheard with him." shouted La
titte. The Ill IN of the black gown was
accordingly, in obedience to the orders of
the commander, thrown over into the sea-
He made the sign of the cross, muttering a
short PRAYER. and sunk beneath the waves
The great piratical commander had hardly
made su1e of his great prize, when British
made her appearance. The in
trepid commander Immediately ordered all
sails spread. to make their escape. The
man-ot-war Game pressing down upon the |
pIratlcal craft. coming nearer and nearer, |
still gaining on her. 1t soon became evil |
lent To all on board that they would coon |
be overtaken and captured by the war YES. |
vel. The hero of the Cult of Mexico or |
Tered tho vessel to be put in fighting order,
md for every man to flight till he dies
He told his men that they all knew what
would be their fate in case they were cap.
ured, and there was no other alternative |
,ut to sell their lives as dearly as possible
commander had on his vessel
ome of the finest guns and most expert
nced gnnners ever found on board a ship
men Of daring and of uDquestiened bravery
The British vessel, when she was ap-
preaching the fleeing vessel. fred shot at
he pirate, Latitte turned his vessel and
the fire of the man-of.war. The
wo vessels very soon became engaged in
he most desperate conflict. The captain Of
he piratical crew was cool. collected, and
Tot at all excited-giving his orders with
lie liberation. The fire from both vessels
vas rapid and constant.
At last shot from 4 he pirate vessel struck
he captain of the mau-of war below his |
,nees and took off both his feet The |
british captain fell on the deck of bis ship
With both feet gone. He called to his men
o bring barrel of -four on deck, which
ras done, enc head of the barrel Knocked
ut, and about one half of the barrel of
,ur emptied out. Then the brave captain
rdered his men to take him up and stick
is stumps of legs down into the barrel If
IL Of which was done, and his sword given
, him. And then and there the heroi:
british commander. without feet, with the
Jumps OF his legs, still bleeding, pressed
own into the barrel of -four, waved his
word over his head. encouraging and
lontlng to his men and giving his com
ands.
The contest was still doubtful. In the
idst of the life and death struggle be-
geen the combatsnts, one of Latitre's men
me to him and told him the shot was all
1t and they had no more to load the guns
hat ready-witted commander Immediately
dered the cannon to be loaded up with
'uboons and silver dollars, which WAS
omptly done. and the British sailors son
und themselves fired into. not with iron
Ills. CANISTER and grape shot, but with
ssiles of gold and silver. The men of
9 man -of-war became thereby panic .
ricken, and the heroic piraticsI captain
ptured hcr accordingly. The truth of this
nFc IAI f,r l
sts entirely upon the statement of Michel G
arlie, with tales of like character, with =
,ich he used to recite and boast his SER !.
Sea and adventures with La6tteCSk
mis- Globe. (e