Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-07-16
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THE PIRATE OF THE GULF.

The following narrative contains much tina
will be new and of interest to most of oul
readers
Jean La6tte, the "Pirate of the Gulf" al
he was usually called, was a Frenchman by
birth, early enlisted in the French navy, and
soon fell into the hands Of the English, by
whom he was cruelty treated, kept long
time in prison, and only liberated when
brought by confinement and torture to the
very borders of the grave. He thus acquired
a hatred of the English, which he took occa
sion to crafty on the occasion of the memora
BILE attack on New Orleans.
Of his early life more than the above is moi
known. That he was wild, restless and dar.
ing; cold, unscrupulous and cruel, may well
be imagined. The first positive glimpse we
get of his mature life is at the Island OF
Grand Terre or Barataria, an undulating
piece of land, FIVE or six miles long, some
sixty miles west of the delta Of the Mississip'
pi Here, in good harbor, in strong, nat
ural position, made stronger by forts and bat,
teries we'll armed and manned, Jean Laftte,
with 600 or 800 men and eight or ten vessels,
established his headquarters about the year
1907.
From this stronghold his cruisers went forth
sometimes under one flag and sometimes un'
der another, plundering the rich merchant
men which were traversing the Gulf on their
way to a profitable market. But Laftte re;
PEELED the appellation of pirate. He claimed
to be only a ''privateer." Spain had become
involved in war with her South American
| colonies, and the latter were sending out prl'
vateers to prey upon Spanish commerce.
From the government of Cartagena Latitte
obtained commission, and entered upon a
career of plunder, little caring what flag his
victims bore so they covered rich cargo.
Spanish, French, English and American
were all the same to him, and he soon became
terror to all honest navigators. The rava'
ges of the Alabama and other Confederate
cruisers were small compared with the havoc
made by Laftte's piratical fleet. 1t is esti'
mated that four hundred richly-laden ships
were captured by him and his lieutenants
their cargoes being marketed in New Orleans
into which port they we're smugged
Finally, in 1913, the authorities of Loulsl'
ana, weary Of the lawlessness carried Oh SC
near their borders, issued a proclamation
through Governor Claiborne, dated New Or.
leans, March Is, 1918, reciting the numerous
acts of piracy and smuggling with which
the occupants Of Barataria were charged and
ordered them to disperse. The proclamation
was disregarded, and soon after the Governor
offered reward of $4,000 for Laftte's head
This was shortly followed by counter-proc.
lamation from the pirate, promising reward
of s50,000to any one who would deliver Gov
ernor Claiborne into his hands.
Matters we're in this condition when, late in
1914, the English resolved to attack New Or
leans. But the difficulties in ascending the
Mississippi were numerous, and they finally
resolved to seek passage through Baratara
and its bayous; and, considering our relation
between the authorities of New Orleans and
the piratical crew at that point, they were con
fdent of attaching La6tte to their interest
! Thus on the Both of August, 1914, Captain
Lockyer, of the British ship Sophie, sailed on
that mission. The Barbarian chief then had
! LOO men under his command, and thirteen
armed vessels.
Capt. Lockyer was permitted to land, and
had a private interview with the pirate, al
which he promised him, as reward for his
cooperation, $4,000 in coin, a commission in
his Majesty's navy, and a free pardon fol-
himself and followers Lafitte requested ten
days for consideration, pretending desire tc
consult some of his associates who were then
absent.
AS before intimated, Laftte hated the Eng
lish on account of their cruelty to him in early
life. His interest, too, was with the Ameri
cans. New Orleans was his best market fol
stolen goods, and it was important that he
should conciliate the American Government
Therefore, he instantly departed for New Or
leans, presented himself before Gov. Clai
borne in disguise, laid before him the dis
patches from Capt. Lockyer, and others from
Laftte, promising to aid the American cause