Louisiana capitolian., 1881-11-12
Life and Times Of Laitte.
DeBowis Review.

ting out ab tne lsl1nu, bhe CapbdlhoJ VI
one of which was offered LATTE and
accepted. She was o beautiful, fast-sail-
ing vessel, and Ladtte spared no pains
to make her the pride of the sea. Thus
equipped, he attacked indiscriminately
the weaker vessels Of every nation, and
though he accumulated vast sums of
gold and silver, and enriched his crew,
these sums were as soon squandered in
pronigacy and liberality; and his de-
siresincreasing with success, he resolved,
without hesitation, to embark in the
sIavestrade. When mt the seychelles
taking in q cargo or these miserable We
tins bound for the Mauritins, he was
chased by an English man-of-war as far
as the equator and not having sufficient
provisions to carry him to the French
COLONY, with that energy, boldness and
decision for which he was remarkable,
he Immediately put the helm about and
made for the Bay Of Bengal, with the
design of replenishing his stores from
some English vessel then in port. He
had not lost sight of his formidable pur-
suer many days before he fell in with an
English armed schooner with q numer-
ons crew; which, after d sangulnary
conflict, he captured. His own ship was
but two hundred tons, carrying two
guns and only twenty-six men, nine-
teen of whom he transferred to the
schooner, of which he took command,
and proceeded to cruise on the coast OF
Bengal. He had not cruised many days
on the coast, teeming as it was in rich
prizes, before he fell in with the Pagoda,
an English East Indiaman, ea5ying a
battery of twenty-six twelve Founders,
and manned with one hundred aud fifty
men. He SO mannuvred his vessel as to
induce the enemy TO believe him @ Gan
ges pilot: and as soon as he had the
weather-gauge Of the ship, he suddenly
boarded cutlas in hand, and put all who
resisted to the sword. Lattte transfer
red his command to the captured vessel,
and Immediately made sail for the Maui
ritius, where he arrived sold both priz-
es, and purchased strong, well-bnilt
ship, called the 'La Confidance," in
which he put twenty-six guns and two
hundred and fifty men. Shortly after
lin the year 1907, he sailed in her for
the coasts of British India; and while
cruising off the Sand Head, fell in with
the "Queeno East Indiaman, pierced toi
forty guns, and manned with crew OF
about fonr hundred men. All eyes were
upon her. She moved majestic on bel
wav AZ in defiance of his inferior force
and confident on her own strength
Yet Latitto was not to be intimidated
He determined to take her. According
, ly, he addressed n powerful speech II
his men--excited their widest imag
nations, and almost seemed to realiz'
their most nnbounded anticipations
This speech had the desired effect. Ev
ery man waved his hat and hand, criet
aloud for action. The Queen, believing
they were killed or wounded upwarli!
came alongside, with intention to crap
ple and board. At this moment Latitt
rave whistle. and in an instant tn
deck was bristling with armed men
While yet the smoke prevailed he order
ed his hands into the tops, whence the
poured down an incessant fire OF shells
bombs, and grenades into the tore.cas
tie of the Indianman, producing sucl
havoc and slaughter among the crew
that they were obliged to retrsat. At thl
critical juncture, he beat to arms, an
and placing favorite at the hea
of forty of his men with pistols i
hand and daggers in their clenche
teeth, ordered them to board. The
rushed upon deck driving back tn
panic stricken crowd, who retreated
the steerage, and attempted to mantai
position. Latitte now followed, at tt
head of o second division of boarder
engaged the captain of the Indiama'
who stood in desperate position OF a
fense, and after severe conflict, sic
him. Still the crew of the Queen mail
tanned their post and fought bravel,
La6tte, impatient at their obstinac,
pointed at them q swivel, surchargt
with grape and canister; when, SEER
determination the result of further T
sistance, they surrendered. The vess
was then abandoned to plumber, al
large amounts Of gold and silver co
divided among the crew.
The fame of this exploit spread ov
the Indian seas, and struck such a pan
in the British commerce, that it W
under the necessity OF employing strOl