The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-07-10

An Interesting Chapter Am American
Mtssery-The Fate of she Pirate

From the days OF Morgan, the King OF
the Buccaneers. Ia their final destruction
BY the navy of the United States, hardly
fifty Years ago. the Caribbean Sea and the
surrounding waters was the principal thea
ter upon which the pirates pursued their
vocation. AT one time IL fairly swarmed
with rakish crafts. manned by desperate
outlaws, and flying the somber tiag. borne
only for booty and blood. These vessels
secured the bays, the inlets. and the open
sea, and very nearly swept all Legitimate
commerce from that quarter of the ocean.
For time they had almost undisputed
possession of these watery highways; but
In the latter part OF the eighteenth century
they sensibly declined. and With the execu-
ton OF Gibbs al New York. some forty
years ago. and the dispersion OF laiitte's
band, American piracy became practically
extinct.
Jean I.afitte, the Pirate of the Cult"
rs he was usually called. was a French
man BY birth. early enlisted ia 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 liber-
ated when brought by confinement and
torture TO the very borders of the grave.
He thus acquired hatred Of the English.
which he took occasion 70 crafty on the
I tNA1A~iOA VI liit tittlVi @ANth@n VA WV
Orleans.
OF his eariv life more than the above Is
not known. That he was wild. restless,
and daring; cold. INSCRIPTIONS, and cruel.
may well be imagined. The first positive
glimpse We get OF his mature life i at the
I island of Grand Terre or Barataria. an I'M
dulating piece of land five or six miles
long. some sixty miles west of the delta
of the Mississippi. Here. in good har-
Dor. i'm a strong natural position. made
stronger BY forts and batteries well armed
and manned. Jean LATTE, with COO or 500
! men and eight or ten vessels. cs-
established his headquarters about the year
1907. From this stronghold his cruisers
went forth. sometimes under one flag and
sometimes under another. plundering the
rich merchantmen which were traverslng
\ the Gulf on their way 10 profitable mar
ket. BUT LATTE repealed the appellation
of pirate. He claimed TO be only a "pri-
vateer." Spain had become involved in
war with her south American colonies.
and the latter were sending out priyateers
\ TO prey upon Spanish commerce. From
l the Government of Cartagena LATTE OBJ
\ tanned a commission. and entered upon
career of plumber little caring what flag
/ his victims bore 20 they covered a rich
cargo. Spanish. French. English. ana
American We're all the same 10 him. and
I he soon became a terror 10 all hone 1 navi-
gators. Ii l. estimated that 400 richly
laden ships were captured by him and mis-
/ lieutenanls. their cargOes being marketed
| in New Orleans. into which port they
were Struggled.
Finally. IN 1913. the authorities OF
Louisiana. weary OF sucn iawles-ness ear
ried on 80 near their borders. issued
proclamation through Governor Clai-
borne. dated New Orleans. March IL. 1913.
reciting the numerous acts of piracy and
smuggling with which the occupants OF
/ Barataria were charged. and ordered them
TO disperse. The proclamation was disre-
garded. and soon after the Governor offer
ed a reward OF 5000 for Lafitte's head.
This wvs shortly followed by counter
proclamation from the pirate. prOmisinga
reward OF $1,000 10 any one who would
deliver Governor Claiborne into his
hands.
Matters were in this condition when.
late in 1914. the English resolved to attack
New Orleans. But the difficulties in as
cending the Mississippi were numerous.
and they finally resolved TO seek passage
through Barataria and its bayous: and con-
sidering our relation between the authori-
ties of New Orleans and the piratical crew
at that point. they were confident of at
taching Lafitie 10 their interest. Thus. on
the 3Dth Of August. 1914. Captain Lock
yer. Of the British ship Sophie, sailed on
that mission. The Barbarian chief then
had LOO men under his command and
thirteen armed vessels.
Captain Lockyer was permitted To land.
and had a private interview with the
pirate. at which he promised him. a re-
ward for his cooperation. $4,000 in coin.
a commission in His Majesty's navy and
free pardon for himself and followers.
LATTE requested ten DAYS for cOnsidera-
ton. pretending desire To consult some
Of his associates who were then absent.
As before intimated. I.afiite hated the
English on account of their cruelty to him
in early life. His interest. too. was with
the Americans. New Orleans was his best
market for stolen goods. and il was imp0r-
tant that he should conciliate the Amcri-
can Government. Therefore he instantly
departed for New Orleans. presented him
self before Governor Claiborne in disguise.
laid before him the dispatches from Cap
tain Lockyer, and Others from Lafitte.
promising to aid the American cause il
par,ioned.
At the time of his arrival an expedition
was fitting out to drive the pirates from
their stronghold. and he asked that IL be
delayed. Claiborne laid the letters before
his council. but they would not believe
them genuine. and the expedition was or
dered to sail. Sorely disappointed. Latitte
returned. but before he reached his quar-
tiers his forts had been attacked. his fleet
sunk or captured. and his men scattered. 4
The spoil that fell into the hands OF the /
Americans amounted to 100000.
II Was now too late to accept the flattcr- .
ing overtures from the English, even If he 4
was 30 inclined: and his only salvation 4
was I'm the American alliance. He again 4
wrote 10 Claiborne. saying that he and his 4
command were 'wiliing TO enroll them 4
selves against the enemy" General Jack 4