The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1874-06-25
JOHN L.rlrrE, TIE AMERICAN PIRATE.

the Buccaneers, TO their hnal destruction
Ly the navy Of the United States, hard
" fifty years ago, the Caribbean Sea
and the surrounding waters was the prin-
cipal thcatsr, upon which the pirates pur-
sued their Vocation. At one time i; fair
~ swarmed with rakish crafts, manned
by desperate outlaws, and flying the
sombcr flag, borne only for booty and
blood. These vessels secured the bays,
the iniets, and the open sea, and :ery
nearly swept all legitimate commerce
from that quarter OF the ocean. For Il
timc they held almost undisputcd pos
session of these watery highways; but
in the latter bart of the eighteenth CEN
tury they scnsiblv declined, and with
the execution of Gibbs ut New York,
some forty years ago, and the dispersion
of La.it,e's band, American piracy became
practically extinct.
Jean Lafitte, the "Piratc Of III, Gulf,
as he WAS usually called, was a French
man by birth, early enlisted in the
French navy, and soon fell into the
hards of the English, by whom he was
cruelty treated, kept a long time iii pris-
on, and only liberated when brought by
confinement and torture to the very bor-
ders of the grave. He thus acquired. n
hatred of the English, which he took
occasion to CRAFTY on the occasion OF
the memorable attack on New Orleans.
Of his caily life more than the above
is not kpOwn. That he was wild, rest
less and daring; cold inscriptions and
cruel, may well be imagined. The frs,
positive glimpse we get of his mature
Iif. is at the island OF Grand Terre or
Barataria, an unduiating piece of Ian I
five or six miles long, soEac sixty miles
west of the delta OF the Mississippi.
Here, in u good harbor, in strong NJ,
tural position, made stronger by forts
and batteries well armed and manned,
jean Lafiite, with Goo or SEQ men and
eli ,ht or ten vessels established his head,
quarters about the yem 1907. From
this stronghold his cruisers wcat forth
sometimes under ore flag aud sometimes
under another, r!gndcring the rich mcr-
c!iantmen which were travesing the q ii!
on their way to- profitable market. Bat
Latit.c r"pei!ci the arpel!al;on OF pirate
lie claimed only to be Il "privatcc:.'
Spain had become involved in war with
her South American colonies, and tic
later were sending out pr!yatecrs Ia
prey upon Span!sh commerce. From,
the government AT Carta.ena Latiltc ob
taircd Il commission, and entered upon
career Of plumber, little caring VIVA;
flag his victims bore, So they covered II
rich cargo. Spanish, French, Ea glisii
and American were all the same to him,
and he soon became a terror to all hon.
est ravigators. The ravages of the Ala
bama aud other Confederate cruisers
were small compared with the havo,
estimated that 400 richiy-ladcn ship.
were captured by him and his ieutcnan,s
their cargocs being marketed in New
Orleans, into which port they were
smuggied.
Finally, in 1913, the authorities o.
Louisiana, weary of.;hc lawlcssness car
RED on SO near their borders, issuet /:
proclamation through Governor Clai
borne, dated New Orleans, March Is
1913, rcciiing the numerous acts of pi
racy and smuggling with which the oc
cupants of Baratarla were charged, ano
ordered them to disp rise. The proc!a
nation was disregardei, and soon aitc.
the Governor offered reward Of S., OO(
for Laftte's head. This was shortly
followed by counter proclamation from
the pirate, promising q reward OF $40,
600 to any one who would deliver Gov.
cruor Claiborne into his hands.
Matters were in this condition when
late in 1914, the English resolved to at
tack New Orleans. Bat the difficulties
in ascending the Mississippi were numer
Gus and they finally resolved to seek /:
passage through Barataria and its bay
Gus; and considering orr relation be
tween the authorities of New Orlean.
and the piraticai crew at that point, they
were confident OF attaching Lafttc L
their interest. Thus or the 3Oth of Au
gust, 1914, Captain Lockyer, of tn,
British ship Sophie, sailed on that mis-
ion. The barbarian chief then had l, i0t
men under his command and thirteen
armed vessels.
Captain Lockyer was permitted t.
land, and had a private interview will
the pirate, at which he promised him, a
reward tor his cooperation, $50, 900 il
coin, commission in His Maicsty's ma
Wy, and apardon'for himself and follow
ers. LATTE reque sted ten days for'co~
sideratIon, pretending desire to consul
some vi his associates who were thel
absent.
As before intima:ed, Lafitte hated th,
English on account OF their cruelty Il
him in early life. His interest, too, WI:
with the Americans. New Orleans wa,
his best market for stolen goods, and i
was important that he shoald concili at
the American Government. Therefor
he instantly departed for New Orleans
presented himself before Governor Clai
borne in disguise, laid before him tn,
dispatches OF Captain Lockyer, and 9th
ers from Little, promising to aid tn
American cause, if pardoned.
AT the time OF his arrival an eXped
ton was fitted out TO drive the pirate
from their stronghold, and he ask ed tina
it DO delayed. Claiborne laid the letter
before his council, but they would no
believe them genuine, and the expedition
was ordered to sail. Sorely disappointed
Latiite returned, but before he reache
his quarters mis- forts had been alta cI,ed