Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-04-08
The Pirates of Barafaria.

In George W. Cables picturesque paper,
in the April Century, on "Plotters and
Pirates of Louisiana" occurs the following
description of the chiefs of the pirates of
Barataria:
Much ink has been spilled from that day
to this to maintain that they sailed under
letters of marque. But certainly no com
mission could be worth the unrolling when
carried by men who had removed them
selves beyond all the restraints that even
seem to distinguish privateering from
piracy. They were often overstocked with
vessels and booty, but they seem never to
have been embarrassed with the care of
prisoners.
There lived at this time, in New Orleans.
John and Pierre Laffitte. John, the
younger, but more conspicuous Of the two.
was a handsome man, fair, with black hair
and eyes, wearing his beard, as the fashion
was, shaven neatly back from the front of
| his face. His manner was generally ceur-
teOus, though he was irascible and in
graver moments somewhat harsh. He
spoke fuently English, Spanish, Italian,
| and French, using them with much affa-
| biljty at the hotel whore he resided, and
| indicating in the peculiarities of his
French, his nativity il the city of Bor-
deaux-
The elder brother was sea-faring man
| and had served in the French navy. He
appears to have been every way less
snowy than the other, but beyond Doubt
both men were above the occupation with
which they began life in Louisiana. This
was the trade of blacksmith, though
at their forge, on the corner of St. Philip
and Bourbon streets, probably none but
slave hands swung the sledge or shaped
| the horseshoe.
It was during the embargo, enforced by
the United States government in 1903, that
John Laf1tte began to be merchant. His
store was in Royal street, where, behind a
show of legitimate trade, he was busy run
ming the embargo with goods and Africans.
He wore the disguise carlessly. He was
cool aud intrepid and had only the courts
to evade, and his unlawful adventures did
not lift MS name from the published lists
of managers of society balls or break his
acquaintance with prominent legislators
tx = X :
John and Pierre LATTE became the com.
nercial agents of the ''privateers." By and
by they were their actual chiefs. They
won great prosperity for the band; prize:
were rich and frequent, and slave cargoe;
profitable. John Laftte did not at thu;
time go to sea. He equipped vessels, sent
them on their cruises, sold their prizes anC
slaves, and moved hither and thithel
throughout the Delta, administer
ing affairs with boldness and
sagacity. The Mississippi's coasts
in the parishes of St. James and St. Joh1
the Baptist were often astir with his known
presence, and his smaller vessels some
times pierced the interior as far as Lac des
Allemands. He knew the value OF popular
| admiration, and was often at country balls
where he enjoyed the fame of great richie:
and courage, and seduced many of the sim
, pie Acadian youth to sail in his cruises
His two principal captains were
Belrche and Dominique You. Gap
tain Dominique was small, graceful
fair, OF pleasant, even attractive face
and a skiliful sailor. There we're alsc
Gambi, handsome Italian. who died only
a few years ago at the old pirate village O
Cheniere Caminada; and RigOult, darl
, Frenchman, whose ancient house still
stands on Grande Isle, the island next t,
Grande Terre on the West. And yet agall
Johnness and Johannot, unless-which ap
, pears Iikely-these were only the rea
names Of Dominique and Beluche.