Morris tribune., 1882-01-19
THE PIRATE OF THE GULF.

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 most pictur-
esque characters of the early part of the
present century, and to the American novel
list and poet has proved fruitful theme
He is thus described. not by the pen of
fiction, but by an accurate historian: He
was n ell-formed, handsome man, six feet
two inches in height, strongly built with
large hazel eyes, and black hair, and he
usually wore a mustache. He dressed in
green uniform. lie was man of polite and
easy 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 parentage, 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 quarreled
with his fellow officers and lett them.
In some manner unknown he obtained
ship, doubtless by methods be-
coming an embryo corsair, and,
rallying to his black flags crew of de-
termincd men, be boldly embarked in a ca
reer of piracy on the Indian Ocean. Little
is recorded of his fortunes at this particu-
lar period, save that he finally fell into the
hands Of the British naval authorities, but
| evaded the halter by a timely escape and
succeeded in reaching his native land. His
stay was brisf. however. Only the excite
ments of a lawless life possessed the allure
ments his restless nature demanded. Fit
ting out vessel he sailed for the West In
dies, and made open war on British and
Spanish commerce Many a galleon
freighted with treasure became his spoil,
and many rich English cargo. His ex-
ploits fully equaled those of the most noted
heroes OF piraticnl romances, while his per-
sonal characteristics we're far from uncom-
mendable. Hai7 said to have been brave,
refined and high minded-in fact "ths
mildest- hammered man that ever scuttled
ship or cut throat"
Let not his mode of raisiDs cash seem strange,
Although he tleeced the flag Of every nation
| For into E Prime Minister but change
| Els tile, and 'tis nothing but taxation
| Bu he, more modest, took an humber range
OF life, and in an honester vocation
! Pursued DER the high seas his water Journey
And merely prachced as a sea attorney.
In 1916 Commodore Patterson, with sew
eral American vessels of war, was dis.
patched to cruise in search of him. He
was found we'll established on an island in
Barataria Bay, about forty miles west of the
delta of the Mississippi river. He had {,
large force of outlaws under his command
and small feet OF vessels, but retired
without opposition. We were then at war
with Great Britain. LATTE cherished an
intense hatred of the English, by reason of
the severity of his treatment while prison.
er in their hands, and was our natural ally.
He had also, probably from motives of
policy, usually refrained from capturin 2
American vessels. The expedition Of Com
modore Patterson was not conducted in q
very energetic manner, therefore, and as
soon as the American feet retired LATTE
again took possession Of the island. The
latter was too conveniently adjacent TO New
Orleans to be needlessly abandoned. At
that city the pirates found ready and ac-
commodatipg market for their captured
slaves and cargoes, and could also procure
any needed military supplies there. The
innumerable bayous 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 CO. operation Of Lafitte, of
feripg him as o recoRlpence the sum d
$4,000 and commission m the roya
navy. He declined these tempting terms
but, without hope of reward, marched *
the camp of Andrew jackson, at the heat
of body of veteran followers, and bore
On honorable part in repulsing the British
For this important assistance, his pas
transgressions were pardoued by the pres
1dent, and he had before him the oppor
tunity of abandoning the wild life he hat
led SO long, and of turning his undoubtet
talents to nobler pursuits. The charm o
adventure too powerfully possessed his ma
ture, however, and he merely determined
on new base of operations. He removed
his plumber and pirates from the immediate
vicinity of New Orleans. and located OF
me uninhabited island OF Galveston. Lii
brought to his new stronghold no less thai
six we'll manned vessels. A tribe of In
dams occupied the mainland, and attempte.
to expel him, but in battle that took plac
thirty savages were killed and the remainde
fled to safer hunting grounds. Laftte nov
had many buildings constructed, including
a fine residence for his own occupancy
His intention was undoubtedly to max
Galveston his permanent abiding place o
well as slave mart, to which planters coul'
at any time repair with perfect security
His ocean raids now became more numer
GUS and successful than ever. Amon
his followers he divided the net result
with just arc liberal hand. Like the pi
rate of romance, he exercised authority witt
reserve and dignity:
With these he mingled not but to command,
Few were his words, but keen the eye an.
hand.
Meier seasoned he with mirth their iovisl mess
But they forgave his silence for success.
His rank and file consisted of desperate
outcasts from every nation, but were chief
" Americans. His favorite lieutenant wal
an American by the name of James Camp
bell, who fought under Commodore PER-,
at the battle of Lake Erie, and afterwar(
| of trtio .,~s &o - -:
battle with the Guerrero. At the end o.
i've years it became impossible to the
United States to longer tolerate the opera.
tons Of LATTE. and in 1920 an American
squadron anchored Off Galveston. TIT
Commodore in command visited the corsail
chief and communicated decisive
orders. LATTE entertained him in princely
style, having q superabundunce Of
sumptuous fare to draw from, and then
quietly gave orders for the embarkation OF
the pirates and the destruction of their town
by fire. While the flames were in full pro-
gress he weighed anchor, and never again
sailed the waters Of the Gulf Of Mexico.
Alter Q long cruise he made his home on
the island of Mazeret, off the coast OF
Yucatan, where he died few years after
wards, at.the comparatively early age of At.
His loss was not only deplored by the wild
freebooters whom he had so long COM
manded in storm and battle, but by o
voted wife, who had been the silent hero
Inc of his romantic story, and had shared
many Of his perils and most of his vicissi-
tudes. II legends may be credited, she
was dark eyad Cuban lady, who was first
his captive, and afterward the willing part
ner of his varying fortunes. Over his
grave was heaped vast mound Of sea
shells, which have not yet been scattered by
time. Not few Of the present inhabitants
Of Galveston and vicinity concede that
| their ancestors served under the flag Of
LATTE.
He left q corsair's name 10 other times,
Linked with enc virtue and q thousand crimea