The Worthington advance., 1882-01-19
TIE PIRATE OF THE GULF.

OF the mCSt celebrated pirates known to
american annals--)ean Lafitte, the Robin
Hood Of the Mexican Gulf and Caribbean
Sea. The very spot where his lawless town
stood is still pointed out to the curious
visitor. He was one Of the ,nost pictur-
esquo characters of the early part Of tho
present century, and to the American novel,
ist and poet has proved fruitful theme
He is thus described. not by the pen of
fiction, bnt by an acurate historian: "He
was we'll formed, handsome man, six feet
two inches in height, strongly built with
large hazel eyes, aud black hair, aud he
usually wore mustache. He dressed in
green uniform. lie was man Of polite and
ensy manners, Of retired habits, generous
disposition, and Of such winning address
that his influence over his followers was al
most absolute" He was native Of France.
OF respectable rarentoge, and made his first
ocean voyage as the mate of vessel bound
to the East Indies. He was more fitted to
command than obey, and soon quarreied
with his fellow officers and lett them.
In some manner unknown he obtained
ship. doubtless by methods be-
coming al embryo c0rs,ir, and,
rallying to his black flag a crew OF. de.
ter.nincd men, be boldly embarked in a ca.
reer Of piracy on tho Indian Ocean. ]. little
is recorded Of his fortunes at this particu-
lar period, save that he finally fell into tho
hands Of the British naval authorities, bnt
ovaded the halter by a timely escape and
succeeded in reaching bis native land His
stay was brief, however. Only the excite
ments Of @ lawless life possessed the allure
mcnts his restles: nature demanded. Fit.
ting ont vessel he sailed for the West In
dles, and made open war on British and
Spanish commerce. Many galleon
fre!ghted with treasure became his spoil,
and many a rich English cargo Hin ex-
ploits fully equaled those OF the most noted
heroes Of piratical romances, while his per-
sonal characteristics were far from uncom-
nen0able. f. is saia to have been brave,
refined and high minded in fact "the
miidest- hammered man that ever scuttled
ship or cut q throat"
let not bis mode OF raising cash Seem strange
Although he tleeced the flag Of every nation
For into Primo ldinieter but change
his title, anl 't;s nothing but taxation;
But he: more modest, took an humber range
Or life, and in al honester vocation
Pursued FER the high seas his water Journey
And merely practiced as sea- attorney.
In 1916 Commodore Patterson, with sew
cral American vessels Of war, was dis.
| patched to cruise in search of him. lie
Was found vel! established ca an island in
! Barataria Bay, about forty miles west of the
! delta Of the Mississippi river. lie had Il
| largo force of outlaws under his command
| and q small feet of vessels, but retired
| without opposition. We were then at war
with Great Britain. Latitta cherished an
intense hatred Of tae English, by reason of
the severity Of his treatment while "a prison.
er in their hands, and was our natnra; ally.
He had also, probably from motives of
| policy, usually refrained from capturing
! American vessels. The expedition Of Com
( modore Patterson was not conducted in O
very energetic manner, therefore, and as
soon as the American fleet retired 1.aftte
again took possession Of the island. The
latter was too conveniently adjacent 10 New
! Orleans to be need!essiy abandoned At
that city the pirates found q ready and ae-
commodatirG market for their captured
! slaves md cargoes, and could also procure
any needed military supplies there. The
! innumerable beyons connecting New Or
leans with the Gulf facilitated the clandes-
tine operations. When the British at
tempted to capture the city they
| first sought the cooperation of I4atitte, Of
| ferlpg him as reconpence the sum al
| $4,000 and commission N the royal
navy. He declined these tempting terms,
but, without hope of reward, marched to
the camp Of Andrew jackson, at the head
| OF body of veteran followers, and bore
an honorable part in repulsing the British.
For this important assistance, his past
transsressions we're pardoued by the pres
ldent, and he had before him the oppor-
tunity Of abandoning the wild life he had
led SO long, and of turning his undoubted
taleAts TO nobler pursuits The charm Of
adventure too powerfully possessed his ma
ture. however. and he merely determined
on new base Of operations. He removed
hls plumber and pirates from the immediate
| Vicinity Of New Orleans. and located on
me uninh0bited island of Galveston. tie
brought to his new stronghold no less than
| six we'll manned vessels. A tribe of In.
dians occupied the mainland, and attempted
to expel him, but in battle that took place
| thirty savages were killed and the remainder
He'd to safer hunting grounds. Ia6tte now
mad many buildings constructed, including
q fine residence for his own occupancy.
Ills intention was undoubtedly to make
Galveston his permanent abiding place as
wen as slave mart, to which Planters could
at any time repair with perfect security.
Ills ocean raids now became more numer-
! ous and successful than ever. Among
bis followers be divided the net results
with just ard liberal hand. Like the pi-
rate Of romance, he exercised authority with
reserve and dignity:
M MNh these ho mingled not but to command,
Few were his words, but keen the eve and
hand. NV"
Heer &C. reasoned he with nrth their jovisl mess,
0"t tney forgaVe his silence for success.
Ills rank and file consisted of desperate
o"tcasts " from every nation, but we're chief
americans. His favorite lieutenant was
IN american by the name Of James Camp
peii' who fought under Commodore Perry
~ To1~
batti a tne IIieate CONSTITUTION in it's celebrated
ca,'ie with the Guerriere. At the end Of
nve years it became impossible to the
ohlted States to longer tolerate the opera
tions OF Latitte, and in 1920 an American
squadron anchored off Galveston. The
EoMmoaore IN command visited the corsair
oraera on1e1 fnSt+o ana communicated decisive
styie' having superabundance OF
sumptuous fare to draw from, and then
4oletly gave orders for the embarkation of
Inc pirates and the destruction of their town
uy hfe. while the flames were in full pro-
gtess ne weighed anchor, and never again
s',leo me waters Of the Gulf OF Mexico.
the island of Alazeret, off the coast Of
% %aacatan, where he died q few years AFTER
wards, ut the comparatively early ape Of Is.
Ills loss was not only deplored by the wild
freebooteH whom he had so long COM
mcnded in storm and battle. but by
voted wife, who had been the silent hero
1ne OF his romantic story; ana had shared
meny OF bis perils and most of his vicissi.
tudes. II legends may be credited, she
Was dark-eyad Cuban lady, who was 6rst
his captive, and afterward the willing part
ner OF his varying fortunes. Over his
grave was heaped a vast mound of sea
SHELLS, which have not yet been scattered by |
time. Nota few Of the present inhabitants
OF Galveston and vicinity concede that
their ancestors served under the fac of |
Lahtte. OA
He lett corsair's name 10 other times.
Linked with one virtue and = thousand cgimea