The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-04-06
The Pirates of Barataria.

In George w. Cables picturesque
paper, in the April Century, on "Plot
iers 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 certain
ly no commission could be worth the
uurollng when carried by men who
had removed themselves beyond all
the restraints that even seem to distin-
guish 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 Lafitte.
John, the younger, but more conspic-
uous of the two, was handsome man,
fair, with black hair and eyes, wearing
his beard, as the fashion was, shaven
neatly back from the trout of his face.
His manner was generally courteous,
though he was irascible and in graver
moments somewhat harsh. He spoke
fluently English, Spanish, Italian and
French, using them with much affabil-
ity at the hotel where he resided, and
indicating in the pecul!arities 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 forge
on the corner of St. Philip and Bour
bon streets, probably none but slave
hands swung the sledge or shaped the
horseshoe. ....... ..
1t was during the embargo, enforced
by the United States Government il
1903, that John Laftte began to be {
merchant. His store was in Roya
street, where, behind a show of legiti
mate trade, he was busy running the
embargo with goods and Africans. ii,
wore the disguise carelessly. He wa
cool and intrepid and had only th'
courts to evade, and his unlawful ad
ventures did not lift his name from
the published lists Of managers o
society balls or break his acquaintance
with prominent Legislators. -
John and Pierre Latitte became tn,
commercial agents of the "privateers.
BY and by they were their actua
chiefs They won great prosperit,
for the band prizes were rich ant
frequent, and slave cargoes profitable
John LATTE did not at this time 90 t,
sea. He equipped vessels, sent then
on their cruises, sold their prize
and slaves, and moved hither anr
thither throughout the Delta, admins
tering affairs with boldness and sagac
ity. The Mississippi's "coasts" in th
parishes of st, James and st. John tn,
Baptist were often astir with hi
known presence, and his smaller yes
sells sometimes pierced the interior a
far as Lac des Allemands, He kne,
the value of popular admiration, am
was often at country balls, where !,
enjoyed the fame If great riches an
courage, and seduced many Of tn
simple Acadian youth to sail in hi
cruises. His two principal captain
were Beluche and Dominique Yor
"Captain Dominique" was smal
graceful, fair, of pleasant, even al
tractive face, and a skillful sailor
There were also Gambi, a handsom
Italian, who died only a few years ag
at the old pirate village of Chenier
Caminada; and Rigoult, a dar
Frenchman, whose ancient house sti
stands on Grande Isle, the island ne,
to Grande Terre on the west. An
yet again Johnness and Johanna
unless-which appears tlikely-the'
were only the real names of Domi
ique and Beluche.