The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-02-21
of the authorities pricked too

conscience of the authorities pricked too
Hitherto, the privateers had lacked
leader, some man of power and determina-
ton to organize the lawless mass of dis
contented humanity into something like
order. The man to do this soon appeared
in the person of Jean LATTE. He and his
brother Pierre lived on the north corner or
ST. Philip and Bourbon streets, and around
the corner, on st. Philip, between Bour-
bon and Dauphne, was their blacksmith
shop in which they worked their slaves.
Lahtte dealt for some time with the Ba-
ratarians as their city agent, but gradu-
ally attained such influence over them and
showed such ability that he became their
leader and ruled them with generalship
which showed genius of the first order.
Under his direction, an elaborate system
of illegal commerce was set going YES
sells under his leutenants Beluche, Domi-
nique Yon, Gamble, alias Nez Coupe (Cut-
Nose; Grambio, and others, ranged the
seas and plundered British and Spanish
vessels, traded in slaves, and brought car
goes of rich plumber from every expedi-
ton. At Grande Terre was the chief sta
ton, and here used to occur public auc-
tons of slaves and contraband goods.
There were settlements on the mainland
where the Baratarians met merchants and
traded in 'smuggled' goods. Then, too.
they carried on direct trade with New
Orleans, and were in the habit of appear
ing openly in the streets. In fact, they
were supported by most of the citizens of
French blood, who could not understand
what harm the foolish Americans could
men. LATTE was received in good society
and he and Beluche could often be seen
walking the streets with Davezac Liv-
ingston and Leclerc. 1t is true that now
and then some arrests were made by the
meddling American authorities, but, then,
all the Latin element favored them and
they always got off scot-free with the aid
of money, friends and Livingston.
Here in the city they had many paid
agents and friends also; In the Fauborg
Marigny was a counting-room presided
over by o certain Sauvinet and his book
keeper, Laporte. This Sauvinet was a
TALL gaunt, sour-looking old fellow with
his daughter. and his mysterious habits
and well-known connection with the pi-
gamins on the street found amusement in
Pirate"
Another suspected agent of I.afitte was
no less a person than the Count Louis
Philippe Joseph de Roffignac, who was at
one time mayor of this city. AN old resi-
dent has told me that Roffignac had a
slave who was noticed to disappear peri
odically. and it was discovered that he
went to fetch "smuggled" goods to the
city and sell them. Later in life Roffig-
nae returned TO France and there died an
| odd death. He had been sick for some
time and was on the point of coming back
to Louisiana, when one day, as he was sit
| ting in an invalid's chair and loading a
pistol he was taken with an apoplectic
fit As he fell dying, the pistol was dis
Charged and the ball pierced his brain.
| NOlte, I'm his memoirs, states that the
aristocratic Mai St Gene, who after
wards fought at the battle of New Or
leans, was also an agent of the Barata-
rians. Gen. Humbert the old revolu-
tionary soldier, adventurer and traveller
the champion of democracy. and after
wards one of the heroes of the defence Of
New Orleans against the British. was also
a friend of the Baratarians, and when any
of these amiable and congenial spirits
were In town he was not at all backwards
IN meeting them at Turpins cabaret on
Marigny and the levee and telling stories
and drinking healths and singing songs
far into the night.
They say thai on some especial occasion
there was n great feast at Turpins. At
the table were Jean and Pierre LATTE Be
luche. who was afterwards a commodore
In the Bolivian navy through the infiu-
ence OF Andrew Jackson; Dominique Yon
agent and his bookkeeper Laporte; Thiac,
the blacksmith; Vincent Gamble, alias
Nez Coupe, the worst villain OF the lot;
Jean DucOing who afterwards handled the
only mortar used In the battle of New Or
leans; Marc. the notary; and Gen. Robert
| Marie Humbert himself, arrayed in the
uniform of the old French Republican
army. After many songs, spicy jokes and
much heavy drinking one OF the pirates
proposed the health of Gen. Humbcrt and
proceeded TO recount the brave deeds OF
the old soldier. Humhert was strangely
anected by this, and rising to his feet he
said that those words had reminded him
of what he once had been, and showed
him the present degradation into which
he had fallen and with what low and
criminal associates he consorted. Then
turning 20 Beluche, whom he particularly
/ disiikcd, he poured upon him torrent Of
abuse and strobe out of the house In half
drunken Indignation. 1t was not long
however before he relapsed into his old
habits. Humbert was made brigadier-
general by Andrew jackson, and was con-
spcious IN the defence of the city
These were happy days for the Barata-
rlans. Trade was brisk, life was gay,
! they were never molcsted by meddlesome
officials. they were always welcome In the