The morning news., 1897-08-29

was travelling, narrowly escaping being
snake-bitten, and having to shoot
huge alligator that proposed to dispute
the right of way with him.
AT sundown he reached a lake. which
surprised him. as he had never dreamed
that one existed in that lonely desolate
place. It's size, too, amazed him. for as
nearly as he could guess it was about ten
miles in circumference. The shores, like
the surrounding marsh, were afioat, no
solid land to be see. What should he
do? Night was fast approaching. The
turf sank at every step, and worse than
all, he had the marsh cramps a kind of
rheumatism, brought on by walking over
the yielding turf. Love of life and deter
mlnation TO save himself gave him
strength, however, and he pushed on to
the left, always keeping as near to the
shore as possible, hoping to find knoll
on which TO spend the night. About dark
ne came suddenly upon a low shelf reef
covered with trees. Having saved his
matches by sticking them in his hat-band
ne son had a roaring fire, and proceeded
to dry his clothes. He did not sleep much
that night, owing to the close proximity
OF too many alligators. The light had at
tracted them from all parts of the lake,
and as they swan slowly about the ghost
ly glitter of many eyes added another hor-
ror to his already wretched situation. Day
break ended his weary vigil and reveal
ed short distance from him, in clump
of myrtle bushes on the reef, an iron
cross.
He examined it carefully, but it was
devoid of any inscription-simply a plain
iron cross planted firmly in the shells.
Suddenly it flashed upon him that this was
counterpart of the one which he had
often seen. All was plain enough now.
Lafitte had sailed up the Mermentau and
| through some connecting bayou, now ev-
| ilpntlV Wi ha t11rf
| into this lake, and had buried another
| lot of treasure on this isolated reef.
There was no tomb here as on the Che
| nier Lafitte thought the lake, with its
surrounding bogs, hiding place enough.
| Surely, no human being would ever ven
| ture here or ever find the place. The
| fugitive did not stay to investigate fur
| ther, for he had eaten nothing in twenty
! four hours, and had 20 make the mainland
| that day or not at all. Besides the tide,
which is governed in the sea marshes by
| the wind alone, might rise at any time,
| and then he would be utterly cut off
| from hope of life. Climbing a tree, he
took a survey of the country. Besides the
shell reef he saw no dry land anywhere
| about the lake. One thing attracted his
attention. About half a mile to the
| east he saw a blind bayou running out
from the lake toward Mermentau which
! was a confirmation of his theory OF the
| lake, but nature had closed it up with a
| heavy growth of turf, making more Sc
| cure the old pirates secret. Looking to
| the northwest he saw this ranch, which
| he recognized as mine by the island of
! trees. As near as he could guess, it was
| five or six miles away. To the north he
| saw large humber of knolls and small
Islands of trees. He saw, too, a cove run
ming out quite a way from the land. He
| concluded that the better way was to
| head directly for the knolls where travel
| ing would be much easier, keeping among
them as long ais possible and then strike
| directly for the cove. This route was con-
| siderably out of his course, but being an
old 'marsher,' he knew he would make
time by it.
He arrived here about o'clock in the
| afternoon, as near dead as any man could
| be and draw breath. | kept him hid for
| several days, during which time he told
me the story of one of the most remark
| able Journeys of which l have ever known
! he being the only man who has ever
| been known to cross the sea marshes at
| this point. He christened this body of
| water Lake Misere and well named it.
He soon left for Texas, but relinquish-
| ed all claims to the find as he told me
he had no desire to visit the spot again.
! "And this" continued the rancher
was what l was looking for but IL was
an experience, Notwithstanding the fact
that I waited until a northwest wind had
| so lowered the water In the adjoining
| rivers and bayous as to dry the marshes
| to a considerable extent. Taking the best
| mud horse L had, two days rations, and
| my Winchester, l went into the cove TO
| about the spot where the young fellow
had quit the marsh. Taking cattle trail
! / struck for the furthest knobs, where
! had been several times before. for cattle
range out that far but no further. At
| the last knoll l climbed a tree, and, look
| ing almost south. saw a little island of
| trees standing by itself j concluded from
! what my friend had told me that this
was the place. My horse got along very
/ well for awhile, but at last / had TO get
| down and lead him. The marsh out there
! is certainly tough But ! pushed on, and
about u o'clock ran suddenly upon the
! lake but not the trees. for they were
still on the other side. Not BIT of dry
| land upon this sde-not even a knoll upon
which to rest-nothing but floating prairie
! everywhere. / was. besides, almost play
| ed out as was my horse, and was afraid
| to follow the shore around to where the
shell reef was, so was obliged 10 turn
back and with great difficulty reached
the knolls Here | was Obliged 10 unsad-
die. as my horse was too tired 70 go
| any further. got out somehow, and have
been laid up ever since"
Hence the buried treasure rests undis-
turbed under It's iron cross on the DESC
| late shores OF Lake Mserc."
! About six months later ! met friend In
Lake Charles. After exchanging greet
| lngs he said:
"Come. let US go 10 some place where
we will not be overheard. ] have some
thing to tell YOU" After a little while
/ ne said:
do YOU know whore white lake Is?
went over there about week ago. during
| the low tide looking for stray cattle" he
said. with a sly wink. "Then there have
been many strange and curious tales told
| or the lake and surrounding country.
that was another OF Lahtte's haunts The
lake is only about twenty miles almost
| due cast from my place. This being al
most an inaccessible route on account OF
bogs nnd blind bayous. ] followed the
public road. which parallels the southern
| Pacific, 20 Jondings. whore ! turned south
20 Lake Arthur There I put up with
| friend for the night From him ] obtained
"a skin and two days rati0ns. ! left my
horse in good hands and started down tho
Mermentau river next morning by sunrise.
About hve miles down ! entered q little
bayou. coming in from the east, and row
Cd nhouf Two OF three miles. until cHmo