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

was fitting out to drive the pirates from their
stronghold and he asked that it be delayed
Claiborne laid the letters before his council,
but they would not believe them genuine, and
the expedition was ordered to sail Sorely
disappointed, La6tte returned, but before he
reached his quarters, his forts had been at
tackled, his fleet sunk or captured, and his
men scattered. The spoil that fell into the
hands of the Americans amounted to five hun
dred thousand dollars.
1t was now too late to accept the fattering
overtures from the English, even if he was so
inclined, and his only salvation was in an
American alliance. He accordingly again
wrote to Claiborne, saying that he and his
command were "willing to enroll themselves
against the enemy" Gen. jackson was con-
suited, and was strongly in favor of the
scheme. Accordingly, Gov. Claiborne issued
a proclamation, concluding as follows:
II therefore do hereby invite them (the
Baratarians) to join the standard of the Uni
ted States, and am authorized to say that
should their conduct in the field merit the ap-
probation of the major.general, that that offi'
Ger will unite with the Governor in request
to the President of the United States to ex-
tend to each and every individual so march
ing and so acting free and full pardon"
Lafitte and hundred or so Of his followers
embraced these conditions and more than
half that number came out Of prison to enroll
themselves in Jackson's army, and their SER
vices and conduct received the highest praise.
An official account of the battle says {:
"Thus early on the morning of January g.,
1915, a rocket, sent up by the British forces
announced that the action was about to be-
gin. The Americans had made breastwork
of cotton bales, which extended from the levee
to the woods back of Rodriguez plantation,
and about eight o'clock in the morning the
cannon of the British forces were brought to
bear upon it, but without effect. Gen. Car
roll, with his Aat.boat drilled Tennesseeans
went to work like men accustomed to such
scenes. Gen. Coffee had had position with
the troops under him near the woods, and was
very successful in repelling the attacks OF the
enemy, and the volunteers of Louisiana
under Major Pluche covered themselves with
glory. La6tte and his followers had COM
mand of two guns near the edge of the river,
and the precision and GOODNESS of his every
movement won for him the appreciation of ALL
Thirty days after the battle the President
issued his proclamation Of amnesty, in which
he said:
"Among the evils produced by the wars
which, with little intermission, have afflicted
Europe and extended their ravages into other
parts of the globe, for a period exceeding
twenty years, the dispersion of a considerable
portion of the inhabitants of different coun-
tries, in sorrow and want, has not been the
least injurious to human happiness nor the
least severe in the trials of human virtue. 1t
had been long ascertained that many foreign
ers flying from the dangers of their own
homes, and that some Of our own citizens, for
getful of their duty, have cooperated in form
ing an establishment on the Island Of Barata-
ria, near the mouth of the Mississippi, for the
purpose of clandestine and lawless trade"
The President then goes on to recite the
heroic conduct of the outlaws at New Orleans,
and closes with grant Of full amnesty for all
past offences.
Soon after, the pirate chief visited Wash
ington and was received with much distlnc-
ton by the President and other officials For.
a time he seemed to enjoy the batteries OF
government officials, but eventually grew
restless, went to Baltimore, purchased YES
sci, called for a volunteer crew, and with
commission obtained from one of the agents OF
the South American Republic, sailed tor the
gulf. Of his operations there the following
from a report of the Governor Of Louisiana
will give key. The writer says:
"The breaking up of these freebooters is of
the utmost Importance to the United States,
for it is ascertained that vessels clearing from
New Orleans with passengers have been cap
tured, every soul on board murdered, and the
identical cargoes brought to New Orleans and
sold by the pirates agents"
A rendezvous being indispensable, and not
daring to return to Barataria, LATTE fixed
upon the present site of Galveston, and hoisted
his flag there in 1917.
Very soon after the collector of customs at
New Orleans wrote to the authorities of Wash
ington, as follows.
II deem it my duty to state that the most
shameful violations of our revenue laws con-
tinue to be committed with impunity, by a
motley mixture of freebooters and smugglers
at Galveston, it being little less than the rees.
tablishment of La6tte's Barbarian band
somewhat more out of the reach of justice"
But strange to say the government took no
action, and the rover who had but lately been
the Presidents guest still secured the sea for
booty. His force increased, until his navy
consisted of thirteen armed vessels, manned
by one thousand men, The largest of his
ships mounted fourteen heavy guns.
In 1919 the collector of New Orleans again
wrote to his government, urging the breaking
up of the band, and said:
"On the part of these pirates we have to
contend with, we behold an extended and or.
ganized system of enterprise, of ingenuity, of
indefatigability, and of audacity favored by
variety of local advantages, and supported al
ways by force of arms"
In 1921 decisive action was taken, and
Lieutenant Kearney, with the Enterprise, ap-
peared before Galveston, and demanded It's
immediate evacuation. There was no alter
native, and in two months the last OF the pl'
rates had fled, and organized American piracy
became thing of the past.
Laftte died in Yucatan four years after,
and is buried in the little Indian village OF
Silau, about fifteen miles from Merida, the
capital.
JUDGE MACKEY "INTERyIEWED."
We happened on Monday to meet on the
train Judge r. J. Mackey, who was just re-
turning from visit to Washington. Recog-
nizing in this circumstance material for an
item, we straightway interviewed him as to
the attitude of the administration on South
Carolina affairs. Judge Mackey was quite
obliging and furnished US with the following
facts:
Judge Mackey, in company with Senator