Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-03-08
TWO FAMOUS PIRATES.

In the early wears of this century,
when there were slave instructions in the
West Indies, and wars for independence
in Mexico, Central America, and
South America, many people were driv-
en- from their homes in these regions,
that came to New Orleans as place cf
refuge. Among them were two broth
ers, Pierre and Jean Lafitte. They were
Frenchmen born in BayOnne, but they
had lived for several years in the West
Indies. Both We're tall, handsome men;
but Jean had the stronger character.
For time, they carried on the trade of
blacksmithing. Their shop stood on st.
Philip street, between Bourbon and
Dauphin. 1t was pulled down only a
few years ago. Bold and enterprising in
disposition. and of commanding pres
ence, the two brothers were fitted by ma
ture to be leaders of men. Jean, espe-
cially, was of an appearance SO striking
! that strangers, meeting him on the
| streets, turned for second look at him.
At first, they were only the agents in
New Orleans for smugglers who brought
merchandise and slaves into the bays
and bayous along the Louisiana coast;
but it was not long before they became
the chiefs of the most powerful Organi-
cations of lawless men that ever existed
| in this country. In 1910, they made
! their headquarters on the islands at the
entrance of the Bay of Barataria, where
they built fort and a village. They
obtained from the Republic of Cartha-
gena, in South America, then at war
with Spain for its independence, letters
of marque which authorized them to
capture Spanish vessels wherever found.
They fitted out and armed fast-sailing
schOoners. which were the terror of the
Gulf. According to common belief at
the time, these vessels were pirates,
which did not hesitate to pick up any
workmanship they could overhaul, no
matter what flag it might carry; but the
Lafittes denied these reports, and in
sisted that they were honorable privat-
eersmen, only attacking the ships of
Spain. as, under the laws of nations,
their letters of marque gave them the
right to do. That they were smugglers,
violating the laws of the United States,
they did not deny.
In vain did Governor Claiborne issue
proclamations, commanding the people
of Louisiana to arrest the Lafittes and
their men. Jean and Pierre came often
to New Orleans, and read the proclama-
tiOns posted on the walls of the old gov
ernment building, on the Place aux
Armes. Once there was an effort made
to arrest Jean, as he was passing through
a bayou with a bOat-load of smuggled
goods A party of custOm-h house officers
attacked him from the shore. There
was fight, and Jean and his crew beat
off their asSailants. Afterward, Jean
sent polite letter to the captain of the
custom house force, in which he said:
II am a man of peace, and do not want
to fight; but | would have you to know
that am at all times ready to lose my
life rather than my goods"
FACTS ABOUT FEBRUARY.
A MONTH THAT IT TOOK CENTURIES TO
FIND ROOM FOR.
Bill Arp in Atlanta Constitution
February has curious history. In
fact, it took several centuries for the year
to get split up into months as they are
now Augustus Cesar had August put
in the calendar to please his own vanity,
and Julius Caesar had July put in to get
even with Augustus; and so King Numa
had February put in in honor of the fes-
tival of Lupercus Februus. one of their
mythical gods. This festival was held
annually on the 18th day of February.
and some historians say that the obser-
vance of the 14th day came from that
festival. May be it did; may be it did MT
The good saint has the credit of it, and
the best right to it, and so we will let
him keep it. There is no use of under
mining everything that has been pleas
ant in the past. They have blotted out
William Tell and are after Shakespeare
and the other day saw an article headed
"Santa Claus must CO." Some men
would aSsassinate Joan of Are and
Alladin and SanchO PanZa, Cinderella
and Jack and the Bean Stalk and Uncle
Toby and Tam O'Shanter and Christmas
and the Fourth of July. What is the
good of drying up all the imagination of
our natures? Here are the very names
Of the days Of the week that came down
to us from the Scandinavian mythology,
and another mythology gave us the
names of the planets and consultations
SO let st. Valentine and st. Patrick
have their days, and st. Paul and st.
Peter their churches, and st. James his
hotels.