The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1878-06-05
The Best Authenticated Story of the
Bold Privateer and His Followers.
Daring Adventures i'm the Indian Ocean,
Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea-
lGalveston News,

-,
name of pirate and claimed to cruise the
Spanish main under the colors of the Car
thagenian republic. Their history, as relia-
ably as it is possible to procure it, is pre-
scented this morning, and we can assure the
reader that many quaint and curious
volume of forgotten lore" has been searched
through and Wrought for it. As an old PRINT
puts it,
1.-The Indian and his light canoe,
Like phantoms Iade from human view,
And busy steamers pillow the wave,
Bearing the beautiful and brave;
Where once the pirates dusky sail
Was all that woOed the rising gale,
Now stream the flags of many land
Britain the great and France the grand
America the land of Faust,
The mem'ry OF old quarrels lost,
Within our harbor, side by side,
Mingle and meet like brothers tried.
Where lawless men and fierce held sway,
r And crime and riot ruled the day,
Now spreads city, broad and fair,
And order, morals, laws are there,
And science and religion smile
Upon the pirates fairy isle.'"
JEAN LAFIrTE
was born in either Bordeaux, Marseilles or
ST. Malo, about 1850, there being some doubt
among old chroniclers, as well as some dis
pute as to the place which is to be credited
with his nativity. He began life as mate of
French East Indiaman, Of a class of vessels
which i'm those days carried an armament,
action. Guarding with one of the officers
of the vessel, Lafitte severed his connection
with her, and according to some chroniclerS,
entered upon career of daring and sue
cessful piracy in the Indian ocean, varied
with occasional ventures in the slave trade"
After several years spent in this manner
he returned to his native land only
to set sail for the West Indies, wnere
he took out a priyateers commission
from the newly-organized government OF
Carthagena, and began depredating upon
both Spanish and BRUSH commerce, having
particular animosity to the latter, owing To
his once having been captured by a British
man-Of. war and subjected TO many hard
ships and indignities. In his cruises about
the gulf OF Mexico LATTE found numerous
islands on which to form an establishment
for the reception of his prizes
and from whence he could dispose OF
his loot to the best advantage. Thus the
years 1S14-15 found him at the head of q
large number of men and several armed
vessels at the island of Grande Terre, in
Barataria bay, 80 or 40 miles west of the
delta of the Mississippi, whence he was dis.
lodged by the United States forces under
turned to his former rendezvous, and his
establishment st Grand Terre became as
flOurishing as it was prior TO Commodore
PattersOns visit Goods and stores cap
tured by his vessels were conveyed to New
Orleans through the numerous bayous in
terSecting the country and disposed OF.
When the British were preparing to attack
New Oheans the war brig Sophia was DIS
patched 10 Bsrdtaria with letter from Com
modore Percy, commanding the English
naval forces, off ring Lafitte a commission
in the vavy and $4,000, conditioned that he
should co operate in the movement then or
ganizing AGAINST New Orleans. Dlssen bling
with the commanding officer of the brig.
Lafitte askt d for time to consider toe offer,
and Immediately wrote to Governor C.ai-
borne, of Louisiana, inclosing the proposal
made by the officer, and Offering his services
and those of his men on condition of full
pardon for all offenses against the United
State with which they stood charged. The
offer was accepted, and LATTE, in command
OF party of his followers rendered efficient
service at the battle of New Orleans January
8. 1915, in consideration of which President
Madison confirmed the amnesty granted
them by Governor Claiborne, all of which is
detailed at some length in Martins History
of Louisiana" published at New Orleans in
1885.
After the battle LATTE returned to his old
pursuits, and being unable to remain at
Grand Terre, removed to Galveston (then
known as Campeachy) island in 1917. Here
he built a small town, having his quarters
-
he was visited in 1919 by COL w. ID. G. Hail
(who died here some years sInce) in the en-
deavor to secure his CO operation with Gen
eral Long in his expedition to Mexico, but
without success.
Lafitte's person is thus described: HE
was we'll formed, handsome man, about six
feet two inches IN height, strongly built,
with large hazel eyes and black hair, and
generally wore moustache. He dressed in
green uniform and Otter-skin cap. He
WAS man of polite and easy manners, of
retired habits generous disposition, and of
such a winning address that his influence
over his followers was almost absolute He
located his town on the ruin OF Aury's viii
lage, built house, which he painted red,
and threw up around il a fort"
While bafitte was located on the island he
had five or six armed Vessels and a large
number of followers. Ia 1919 the island was
visited by a severe storm, and several OF the
vessels were driven ashore on the mainland
Shortly after the occupation one of Lafitte's
men stole a squaw from the Caranchua tribe
of Indians, who often resortsd to the west
endof the island, aud kept possession of her
This so enFaged the Indians that they at
tackled hunting party of the buccaneers and
killed two of them. In return the Indians
were attacked by LATTE with 200 men and
two cannon, and a skirmisn ensued lasting
two days, when the Indians were forced to
flee TO the mainland, alter having 30 warriors
slain.
While at Grand Terre Lafitte had dealt
largely in negroes taken from the Spanish
slavers and continued the business during
his stay here, aud it is not a great many
wears since there were living witnesses that
the price OF an able bodied negro was at that
period only $40. In 1919 desperate named
Brown pluudered an American vessel, and
was pursued to Galveston by the United
States revenue cutter Lynx, Captain
Madison Brown arrived before the cutter
and Lafitts getting wind of the affair had
him hung on little island near the present
harbor improvement works, then known as
Little Campeaeoy," and separated from
the larger island by channel seven or
eight feet in depth. He also hung another
of his men named Francois for engaging in
a plot 10 rob and murder u Mr.. Kuykendall.
who. it is quite probable, visited the island
for the purpose of purchasing few of Cap
tain Lafitte's likely Africans.
The United States becoming tired of La
fitte's establishment, owing to the numer-
Gus complaints OF depredations on American
vessels, determined TO break it up and DIS
patched naval force under Lieutenant
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