The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-25
HE SERVED WITH LAFITTE.
THE CAREER OF a HERMIT OF
SOUTHERN INDIANA.
Alleged Revelations Concerntng the Pirate
Among the Hsrr-iCs Pspers-Mouey that
May Have Reen Part OF the Booty.

L~AwRENcEBURa. Ind, Nov. 1.-THE destruc.
tion by a recent storm Of n huge sycamore tree
that had stood as a landmark on the banks OF
Lochry Creek for more than half a century re.
calls recollections of a strange old man who
lived In ~strictest solitude for many years, amid
the heavy woods that crowned the hills over
looking this historical stream. where the first
conflict between the whites and Indians took
place on Indiana soil. The hermit was known
as Louis Napier, and claimed to be a French
man. lie was small, but compactly built and
wiry. One arm was disabled and hung limp by
his side. One eye was gone from the socket, and
deep scars furrowed his head and face.
The old man was exceedingly reticent. When
ever intruded upon he appeared sullen and
morose, and any questions asked of him sub
jected tho questioner to a terrifying glance Of
his solitary eye. lie was always plentifully
supplied with money, and paid literally
for any favors sought, frequently max
Ing costly presents To such persons as he fan
cled. Gold aud silver he seemed to possess In
abundance, but so carefully did he conceal the
source OF his Income that IL was impossible for
the most curious person to obtain a clue that
would lead TO. the slightest disclosure. In n
single-rooined log cabin, with q couple of savage
the closing years OF his life. and died one cold
winter preceding the late war. The bowling OF
house, attracted the attention or passing hunt
ers,who discovered the frozen corpse OF the own
tA To- = lNN HIS uFbNhs
In an old chest in the cabin was found II diary,
with a bundle Of manuscript, that disclosed the
strange story of his life. James Carpenter pre-
served the papers, aud from their faded pages
sessed a wondsrfu ibs; checEere SAf Risto %sa Pie lie
had served for years under the command OF
Capt. Lafltte, the famous pirate of the Gulf Of
New Orleans. when, refusing British offers Of
gold and honor, the gallant chief had teu-
dered his services to Gen. jackson, and so ably
assisted In driving the English invader from
American soil at the memorable contest on
sns ,s SIN o. }dr Ja anu a yii, ISlo ond th an Gsp; Jackson,
rendered by the fearless Lafitte and his men on
that occasion, wrote, to the President OF the
OF the pirates and urging that n full pardon DO
granted them as a reward therefor.
James Madison, then President, recognized
the business of the request, and on the 9th day
Of February, following the battle OF New Or.
pardon TO Iafitte and ali Of his l follower : Who sIt5
had fought with him In that famous battle. A
copy OF the Presidents proclamation was found
Of the dead pirate, including a fragmentary his
tory OF the %piratical h ieftain and his many con-
Napier had known LATTE in France. and had
been a devoted follower of the fortunes OF the
career, and had never deserted the dark flag OF
that leader until he sank in death upon the
deck Of his vessel, fghting against. the over
whclming odds of a British sloop of war that
had attacked him In the waters Of the Gulf of
Mexico when he had again returned to the life
" u IoDbtI IoNtI " u lIt stu LILO DHTuOu Oh
the President had restored him to citizenship
and removed his disabilities, enabling him
which the possession of superior talents Ind
abilities eminently qualified him II he had been
The writings left by Napier indicated that he
not only idolized the pirate chief. but regarded
him as a hero OF remarkable valor and ability.
eulogized his courage and indomitable will as
disclosed in a series Of naval comlats. When
but 20 years OF age he was in NINA of a
small vessel with ONLY two guns md siytppu
men, yet he attacked an armed schooner. carry
ing twenty-si1 le-pound guns and manned with
captured the. big vessel and made all the crew
prisoners, with the loss OF but seven men. Setting
he continued to cruise about in tho waters.
plundering every vessel he met, and increas-
his command. He then sailed for the coast OF
British India, when he fell in with the Queen,
and a crew OF 400 men. Iantte conceived the
bold project OF getting, possession of this superb
IL he would be master Of the sea. Never was
there n more unequal contest on the water. The
giant proportions OF the big ship, In compari-
for the colossal vessel TO run over its tiny
opponent and crush 1t out Of sight. But La
same ardor that animated his spirit. and then.
manpuvring his vessel so as to enable him to
rush alongside Of his huge antagonist. he darted
OF attack. that he had got under. the
mouths of The big guns as they belchsd
l'iNh I" NJ ina -pho5tu oNtE Tic
heads Of the, pirates, who instantly be-
gun hurting, bombs and grenades aboard
tion about its decks. All was confusion, and,
taking advantage of the CONSERVATION that ex-
issfa amons me SURPRISED om crew OF the indiaman,,
and his trained men, with daggers held between
their teeth and pistols in their hands, climbed
up the sides and onto the deck of the opposing
vessel, yelling like demons and cutting and
shooting at every one within reach, LATTE
tiger, and a hand -to-hand struggle ensued, but
the 1.-the young Frenchman was too much for
9 sasld ia a,ryk as q ihs pIr. ses sso fsIl R T6S Ses ssS
OF the Captain was followed BY a panic, and the
pirates, having seized several guns on the ship
loaded with Rrapeshot. reversed their muZZles
and turned them against the frightened crew.
The surviving officers. deeming resistance
of humanity, ordered his men TO cease their
carnage, and at once assumed command OF the
spared. and. as Soon as i Gould b done, he
transferred them TO the smaller ship, and, re-
moving what he desired TO retain aboard his
new vessel. he sailed away with his prize. Ma
piers papers stated that he received two wounds
in this unequalled combat and did not recover
This unparalleled exploit resounded through
the commercial world, and the name of LATTE
became the terror OF English In that
latitude. Armed and equipped as he became by
this capture, the daring pirate increased his
soTes to and over hscs SG0 @ ni%o.t Of all DG nations and
success Was surprising, for several years,
"a NHS ~ AtNhi y " MS Wv
France, But excessive gambling and unstinted
prorigacy soon depleted his purse, and he finally
fitted out a vessel and sailed for the West In
dies. Napier accompanied him.. and, having
captured several small vessels with rich cargOes,
the pirate. made for Barutaria, where a ready
market existed for the sale of plumber. Barata-
ria comprised part of the coast ,0f Louisiana, 10
the west of the mouths OF the Mississippi, and
Included a large hasin which extended the whole
length OF the cyprus swampn, from the tiulf Of
Mexico To three miles above New Orleans.
From all parts of lower Louisiana people re-
sorted to Barataria. where the pirates were
wont TO COngregate for the sale of their SNUG
gled and stolen goods. I.ahtte made this point
his headquarters, and the british sloOps II war
lowered about that vicinity and repeatedly at
tempted To capture the pirates armed vessels
and recover their prizes, hut every conflict re-
suited In favor of the BaTratarIans.
This was the condition oI affairs when the
English invaded Louisiana aud sought 70 take
New Orleans. Laftte was In the harbpr at
Grand Terre when a british man-Of-wAF, bear
ing Il flag OF truce, saluted his vessel. Two
British naval officers met the pirate by arrange
ment, and, with letters Of authority from their
in LATTE Was offered the
CaptainCy of a forty -tour-gun vessel, $40, 900 in
gold. and a high commission In the English ma
val service il lie would fight against the United
Laitte secured time 10 consider the