The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-07-30

wood to LATTE with a letter proposing
an alliance against the United States,
and offering him command of a fine
ship and $4,000 in gold if he would join
in the attack on the Americans.
Lafitte Enlists and Is Pardoned.
Lafitte asked for time to consider the
proposal, and then wrote to Governor
Claiborne of Louisiana, detailing the
offer that had been made to him, and
offering his services to the United
States on condition that he and his fol-
lowers should be pardoned of the crime
of piracy and his brother released from
the New Orleans prison in which he
was confined The offer was accepted
and Lafitte fought with great distinc-
ton against the British at the battle
OF New Orleans. President Madison
confirmed the pardon of the pirates, and
in consideration of his services III the
war offered him a commission in the
navy. This was declined with thanks.
Shortly after receiving pardon the pi-
rate colony disbanded. Jean Lafitte
settled in Philadelphia and later came
to Norfolk with his beautiful daugh-
ter, Hortense, who had married q man
named Clarkson. He bought a farm
and built home which he called Dor
utduA mdliDIs vi Wiiht II INV hioW ii
as Sewall's Point. In 1850 ne died, leav-
ing all his property, except the Sewall' S
Point farm, to his daughter. To the
will was attached short note, adj
dressed TO his grandson. Only the first
line was in English. 1t read: Jean
ClarksOn. when you are % years of
age" For many years this puzzle re-
manned unsolved Jean fought all
through the civil war, and returned to
find his father dead and his mother re-
duced to poverty. Such was the state
In which Pierre LATTE found them
when In 1856 he arrived in Norfolk. He
had wandered ell over the world since
the war of 1912 and turned up In Nor
folk by chance. In time he made the
acquaintance of Jean Clarkson. who,
not knowing his father had been a pi-
rate, did not associate this old man of
more than so years of age with him.
LATTE. after while. made his home
with ClarksOn.
Reveals Hiding Place of Treasure.
Jean Clarkson showed him the note
which had been attached TO the will. To
his great delight Pierre deciphered it.
with the aid of the code the pirates had
used for SO many. years. 1t then read
as follows:
Jean CIarkSOn. when you are 20
years of age-at the end of line 500
feet east from the front doorway of
Bordeaux manor dig for your inner
itance."
Clarkson found that the point indi-
Gated was covered by water at high
tide. With Lafitta he started out to dig.
but encountered a man who was al
ready digging at the spot. He was COW
cred by their pistols and taken to the
house, where Mrs. Clarkson at once rec
ognized him as an attorney named
Deer. who had been employed by her
husband and who had long plundered
the estate 10 line his own pocket. To
him was due the poverty of the mother
and son. He was arrested and forced
to give up great deal of the plundered
property He confessed TO having dis
covered the meaning of the WILL of
which he had a copy.
With Deer. the dishonest attorney.
out of the way, LATTE and Clarkson
went back to the beach and dug In the
spot indicated. Three feet below the
water they found heavy brass bound
chest, which Laf1tte at once recognized
as having belonged to his brother. He
touched a hidden spring and revealed a
fortune of gold and Jewels worth sew
eral hundred thousand dollars.
After all his adventures and excite
ment this was too much for old Pierre,
and he fell dead
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