The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-12-25


what not on an
island in the mouth or pass of the water
since known as Barrataria bay. The Briton,
Capt. Lockyer, was an envoy empowered to
treat with certain men outlawed by United
States authorities and secure their aid in
an attack on American territory along the
Gulf coast. The proposal was addressed
to the leader of the outlaws, one Jean La
fitte, and to him was offered a captains
commission in the royal navy, $4,000 in
gold, immunity for his followers for all
past deeds, indemnity for all losses and
rich rewards in money and lands for fu-
ture services.
glittering naval uniform with all the
appointments, a commission and orders as
signing the metamorphosed pirate to the
command of full armed frigate at that
moment riding at anchor close at hand
everything that an exacting ally could de-
mand accompanied the offer. Instead of
swapping up at once the chance to secure
wealth and, honorable recognition and a
decent means of livelihood, the pirate chief
smilingly asked the captain to "come in
and sup" and talk things over The cap
tain did so, and soon, alone with hand
some and courteous outlaw standing six
feet two and costumed after an original and
picturesque fashion, was sampling rare old
vintages from the wine chests of Spanish
galleons gone the way of all prizes of the
Robin Hoods of the sea, and enjoying rare
Havanas that had never paid cent of
duty, much less cost the hospitable enter
tainer farthing on invoice.
Meanwhile the captains fellow officers
and followers roamed about the island in
speeding the haunts of the outlaws. The
place was collection of dwellings, ware
houses and marts, with docks and ship
yards adapted to a seafaring, commercial
people whose goods and chattels, acquired
no matter how, were handled and disposed
of as they would be in any trading seaport,
with the single exception that no revenue
pennants lent the sanction of customs off,
Gals to the proceedings. Little rocked the
British sightseers over this, for the Joke
was on the other side.
Still, # the United States revenue flag
was of no account in Barrataria bay the
flag that stands back of it was reverenced
there, and the presumptuous British being
then bent upon war against it, the outlaws
took UNI bragg at the invasion of American
soil and seized the entire party as prison.
ers, intending to send them under guard
to New Orleans. Then Jean Lafitte, pirate
chief or smuggler prince that he was,
stepped out and made speech to the excit-
ed Barratarians. At that moment there
was price upon his head set by the gov
crnment of Louisiana, and his brother and
partner in piracy or smuggling, Pierre La
fitte, was in the hands of their common
enemy in the New Orleans Jail. Jean read
lily persuaded his people to permit the
British to go as they had come, and after
feasting all hands on the stores of his
ocean lair, he told Capt. Loclyer to come
back in ten days for his answer, meanwhile
to leave him all the official documents
bearing on the offer he had made for leis-
urely consideration.
No sooner were the British well out of
the bay than Laftte dispatched a messen-
ger to the representative American author
tiles at New Orleans, giving an account of
what had taken place and submitting doc
uments in proof. Governor Claiborne and
the officers of the American army and
navy took counsel upon the case, and while
they were still discussing it second COM
niunlcatioE from Lafitte gave the council
fresh news gathered by the outlaws to the
effect that British expedition was about
to attack the American coast, and offering
the aid of his Barratarians for defense.
Though prescribed by my adopted coan-
try, L tender my services to defend it,"
wrote the gallant outlaw.
But the authorities were in no mood to
treat with so notorious an ally. For out
RACES on American vessels and resistance
to revenue officers Governor Claiborne had
proclaimed the whole band of Barrata-
rians, buccaneers" and offered reward
for the capture Of the leader, Jean Lafitte.
Later force Of militia had been sent to
suppress the band, but Lafitte, with his
usual suavity, had kept off hostilities long
enough to disarm their wrath by brides
and lavish hospitality, in the end sending
all hands back to mainland without col
lision.
One member only of the council that
discussed Laftte's dispatches believed in
the outlaws sincerity. The governor was
inclined to trust Lafitte, but at the in
stance of the officers of the army and navy
he decided to mako an end to Barrataria
at once. Commodore Patterson, of the
United States navy, and Col. Ross, of the
army, with schooner, two gunboats and
detachment of regulars, moved down
the river, and at the proper channel sud.
denly steered for Lafitte's island
Under ordinary circumstances the enter
prise would doubtless have come to naught
like many previous attempts to suppress
the smugglers of the gulf. The island oc-
cupied by the Barratarians covers the
mouth Of the bay on the gulf side and is
six miles long. The vast harbor behind
the island connects with the Mississippi
through various canals, lagoons, bayous
and other outlets, the whole screened by
swampy forests and forming an admirable
lurking place for vessels and bands of men
who seek to hide their operations from Off
GERS of the law. This natural fastness had
long been the resort of smugglers and
slavers, and few years before the New
Orleans episode Jean Lafitte had taken
up quarters there as leader in the lawless
enterprises Matched and controlled at that
point He went to Barrataria from New
Orleans, where he had been a successful
trader in Struggled goods
Lafitte was u Frenchman who had led an
adventurous boyhood. Tradition says that
he served as an officer in some Of Napo-