The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1883-09-27
Tha Pirates of Baaata,ia.


In George w. Cables paper, in the
Century, on ''Plotters and Pirates of
louisiana occurs the following descrip-
ton Of the chiefs of the Pirates of Bara-
! taria:
Much ink has been spilled from that
day to this to maintain 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 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. Or
leans, John and Pierre LATTE. 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, shaver neatly back
from the front of his face. His manner
was generally courteous, though he was
irascible and in graver moments some
what harsh. He spoke tluently English,
Spanish, Italian and French, using them
with much aflability at the hotel where
he resided, and indicating, in the pecu-
liarities of his French, his nativity in the
city of Bordeaux.
The elder brother was a 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 forpe on the corner of St. Philip
and Bourbon streets, probably none but
slave hands.swnng the sledge or shaped
the horseshoe
1t was during the embargo, enforced
by the United States Government in
1903, that John Latittc began to be
merchant. His store was in Royal street,
where, behind Il show of legitimate trade,
he was busy running the embargo with
goods and Africans He wore the dis
ouise carelessly. He was cool and in
trepid and had only the courts to evade.
and his unlawful adventures did not lift
his name from the published lists of
managers of society balls or break his
acquaintance with prominent Legislators.
/ John and Pierre Lafitte became the
commercial agents of the ''priyateers. -
BY and by they were their actual chiefs.
! They won great prosperity for the band; ;
prizes We're rich and frequent, and slave
cargoes profitable Johh Latitte did not
Mt this time 90 TO sea. He equipped
vessels, sent them on their cruises, sold
their prizes and slaves, and moved hith-
err and thither throughout the Delta,
administering affairs with boldness and
sagacity. The Mississippi coasts" in
the parishes of ST. James and st. John
the Baptist were often astir with his
known presence, and his smaller vessels
sometimes pierced the interior as far as
Lac DIES Allemands. He knew the value
of popular admiration, and was often at
county balls, where he enjoyed the
fame of great riches and courage, and
seduced many of the simple Acadian
youth to sail in his cruises, His two
principal captains were Beluche and
Dominique You. Captain Dominique
was small, graceful, fair. of a pleasant.
: even attractive face, and skillful sail
! or There were also Gambi, hand
some Italian. who died only a few years
, ago at the old pirate village of Cheniere
, Caminada; and Rigoult, dark French
f man, whose ancient house still stands on
{ Grande Isle, the island next to Grando
Terre on the west And yet again John
/ ness and Johannot, unless which APP
pears likely-these were only the real
q names of Dominique and Beluch6e