The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-04-06

Much ink has been spilled from that
day to this to maint ain that they sailed
under letters of marque. But certainly
no commission could be worth the un-
rolling when carried by men who had
removed themselves beyond all the re-
straints that ever 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 pris-
oners.
There lived at this time, in New Or
leans, John and Pierre Lafitte. John,
the younger, but more conspicuous of
the two, was 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 courteous,
though he was irascible and in graver
moments somewhat harsh. He spoke
fuently English, Spanish, italian and
French, using them with much affabili-
ty Mt the hotel where he resided, and
indicating, in the peculiarities of his
French, his nativity in 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 be-
yond 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 horse
shoe.
1t was during the embargo, enforced
by the United States Government in
1908, that John LATTE began to be a
merchant. His store was In Royal
street, where, behind show of legiti-
mate trade, he was busy running the
embargo with goods and Africans. He
wore the disguise carelessly. He was
cool and intrepid and had only the
courts to evade, and his unlawful adj
ventures did not lift his name from the
published lists of managers of society
balls or break his acquaintance with
prominent legislators.
John and Pierre Laftte became the
commercial agents of the "privateers.
By and 10y they were their actual chiefs.
They won great prosperity for the band
prizes were rich and frequent, and slave
cargoes profitable. John LATTE did
not at this time 60 to sea. He equipped
vessels, sent them on their cruises, sold
their prizes and slaves, and moved hith-
er and thither throughout the Delta,
administering affairs with boldness and
sagacity. The Mississippi's coasts" in
the Baptist were often astir with his
own presence, and his smaller vessels
sometimes pierced the interior as far as
Lacides Allemands. He knew the val
lie of popular admiration, and was often
at country balls, where he enjoyed the
fame of great riches and courage, and
seduced many of the simple Acadiar
youth to sail in his cruises. His two
principal Captains were Beluche and
Dominique You. Capt. Dominique
was small, graceful, fair, of pleasant
even attractive face, and a skillful sail
or. There were also Gambi, hand.
some Italian, who died only few
years ago at the old pirate village OF
Cheniere Caminada and Rigoult, @
dark Frenchman, whose ancient house
still stands on Grande Isle, the island
next to Grande Terre on the west
And yet again Johnness and Johannot
unless-which appears hkely-these
were only the real names of Dominique
and Beluche.-George ". Gable IN the
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