The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1874-01-30
The Pirates of tine Gulf.

There we're three men, who formerly
lived III st. Louis, who were said to
nave belonged to Latitte's gang. The
writer OF this knew them all personally
ana we'll. They are now all dead. One
OF these men, Michel Marble, when he
was little under the influence of IL
quOr' was particularly fond Uf reciting
the penls, thrilling adventures and des-
perate encounters of the great pirate
in the Gulf of Mexico.
Michel Marble was a small energetic.
active Frenchman, with rather broad
forehead. He always took an active
part i'll the elections, and espoused and
advocated the cause of his friends with
great animation, warmth and energy.
lie was noted and well known charac-
ter, who died in st. Louis about the
year 1945 or 46.
Old Marble, as he was familiarly
called, used to say that at the time the
governor OF Louisiana offered reward
OF $500 for the head Of Lafitte, the next
DAY after the proclamation of the Gov
ernOr had come out, Iafitte came out in
an advertisement in all the newspapers
printed In New Orleans, in the French
and English languages, offering a re-
ward OF $4,000 for the head OF the Gov
ernor, and that his excellency became
awfully alarmed lest some of Lafitte's
men should carry him off to the head
quarters of the desperate buccaneer.
And on this account the gubernatoral
dignity was for a while very cautious
about venturlng out or being seen upon
the streets.
Among other stories which Michel
Marie used to relate Of Lafitte's feats
and exploits in the Gulf is the follow
ing: There was a British merchant
vessel i'll the harbor of Vera Cruz, which
was about to sail for Liverpool with an
immense amount of specie and gold and
silver and bullion on board, which had
been brought from the City of Mexico.
Lafitte became apprised of the fact, and
skirmished to capture the vessel with
this valuable treasure. He fitted
vessel with full crew of his most re-
liable men. She was well armed and
provided with all the appliances reuuis-
ite for the expedition.
Latitte, thus prepared, sailed forth in
to the gulf, having arrived just outside
of land, waiting for his prey. It was
not long before the merchant vessel
hove Ia sight, and which Lafitte soon
captured, without resistance, with all
her val liable and rich amount of treas
IRE. Among the passengers of the cap
tured vessel was a lady, to whom Laftte
would not suffer or permit any indignity
whatever. He intended to have her
taken to Barrataria, aud from thence
transferred to New Oaleans, so that
she could from there reach her friends.
There was also on board the captured
vessel Catholic priest, and the men,
turning to Latitte, inquired what should
be done with him. "Overboard with
him." shouted Lafitte. The man 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 Immediately.
The great piratieal commander had
hardly made sure of his great prize,
when a British man-Of-war made her
The intrepid commander
Immediately ordered all sails spread, to
make their escape. The man-of-War
came pressing down upon the pira tical |
craft, coming nearer and nearer, still |
gaining on her. It soon became evident |
TO all on board that they would soon be
0yertaken and captured by the war YES
gel. The hero of the Gulf of Mexico or
lered the vessel to be putin fighting or
1er, and for every man to fight till he |
lies" He told his men that they all |
knOw what would be their fate in case |
hey were captured, and there was no
)ther alternative but to sell their lives
IS dearly as possible. The desperate |
commander had on his vessel Sol me of |
he finest guns and most experienced
yunners ever found on board a ship
Qen Of'daring and of unquestioned bra
very. ....s ...-.
The British vessel, when she was ap-
preaching the fleeing vessel, fired a
hot at the pirate, Laftte turned his |
Tessel and returned the fire of the man
't-WaP. The two vessels very soon be-
anne engaged in the most desperate
conflict. The captain of the piratical
'xcited-giying his orders with dehb-
vas rapid and constant.
At last shot from the pirate vessel |
truck the captain of the man -of-war
below his knees and took off both his
eet. The British captain fell on the |
leck of his ship with both feet gone.
lie called to his men to bring a barrel
It flour on deck, which was done, one
read of the barrel knocked out, and
bout one half of the barrel of -four
;mptied out. Then the brave captain
'rdered his men to take him up and
tick his stumps OF legs down into the
,arrel of -four to keep him from bleed
ng to death all of which was done, and
lis sword given to him. And then and
here the heroic British commander,
without feet, with the stumps of his
egs, still bleeding, pressed down into
he barrel of -four, waved his sword
lEeP. his head, encouraging and shout
ngt0 hismen and giving his commands.
The contest was still doubtful. In the
midst of the life and death struggle be-
ween the combatants, one of Lafitte's
men came to him aud told him the shot
vas all out and they had no more to
Dad the guns. That ready-witted COM
nander Immediately ordered the can
IONS to be loaded up with doubloons
md silver dollars; which was promptly
lone, and the British sailors soon found
themselves fred into, not with iron
'alls, canister and grapest1ot, but with
missiles of gold and silver. The men
# the man-of-war became thereby
'anic stricken, and the heroic piratical
aptain captured her accordingly. The |
ruth of this story is, of course, not
,ouched for, as it rests entirely upon
he statement of Michel Marie, with
aleg of ikeecharacten with which he |
Ised TO Eecite and boast his services and
dVentures with Laftte,-[St, Louis
flobe,