The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1911-04-26
WAS THE HOME OF A PIRATE
GALVESTON ISLAND HEADOUAR-
TIERS OF FREEBOOTER,
Offered So, $50 for Head of the Gov
ernOr of Louisiana. Afterwards
Fought Under Gen. Jackson.

ernOr of Louisiana. Afterwards
Fought Under Gen. Jackson.
The city of Galveston is built on
an island which was the headquar-
tiers of the noted pirate Laftte. The
island was discovered by La Sable
in 1886, but it was not named nor
lece4Biea 4ptii 1882, when Condo de
GalyeD, 49, OF fe ess's..tS
established a post there and cane,
it by his own name The soldiers
were withdrawn shortly after and
the post abandoned until 1916, when
it was made a base of operations, and
the provisional capita of a republic
by the Mexican revolutionists. The
following year Jean LATTE, French
/ blacksmith from New Orleans, hav-
ing been accused of smuggling, took
! refuge upon the island and occupied
the building which had been erected
by the Mexicans Those Mexican
cOnspiratQrs appeared to have had an
abundance of money and their plans
were very comprehensive. They sent |
out priYateers into the gulf, which |
captured several Spanish ships and |
demoralized commerce. But they !
lacked judgment. They did not dis
cTiminate between the Spanish and |
American vessels, and thus brought |
down upon their heads the wrath of |
the government of the United States,
which sent down man-of-war and
broke up the colony.
Jean Latltte was weird charac-
ter, and for many years he occupied
conspicuous position on the gulf.
Not being able to arrest him the gov
ernor of Louisiana offered reward
of $500 for his head. The pirate re-
torted from his stronghold at Cal
weston by offering $15 600 for the
governors head. The latter sent an
expedition against the pirate, but La
ntte, instead of resisting the attack.
welcomed the invaders with great
and persuaded therr
his party. Durir "a 1s,6
the - the way Of 1912
4IIIush offered him a gift Of
$4,000, the rank of captain in the
navy and command Of a frigate.
Whlch he not only refused, but i'm /
medIately rendered his services no |,
ne United States, was granted q full /
49, uon for his offenses and fought !
under Gen. Jackson at the battle of /
New Orleans.
After the war was over Lc.dt+e re- I
turned to Galveston island attained /
letters of marque from VJnneZueIa to
prey upon tne com ..aerce of Spain, !
AL oo u.i'il W. IS engaged as a pri-
,tot,Is bo - der to give himself a
ombiio " srganized a miniature re-
9Iact Il Mexico on Galveston island,
ing himself president, and forced
everybody who approached his /
stronghold to take an oath of allegi- /
ance to him. He was known as The /
Pirate of the Gulf" lived in grand !
style, entertained royalty, and uos
the hero of many romantic nc;dentS
Although illiterate ar a hIackemitb
by trade LATTE vas handsome man
and OF dig91nif1ed bearing and graceful
manners and Is said to have been an
accomplished musician. By 1921 he
had become such nuisance that the
United States government sent a
man-of-war to Galveston, which |
buildings and took Lafitte and his
men Udch W Iue OAll0u oIoICS q"
prisoners. They were subsequently
released, and Lafitte died about 1925
in Yucatan. There has always been
an impression that he buried his
gold upon Galveston island, but nu-
merous attempts to recover it have
failed. The island remained unoccu-
pied until the foundation of the Tex
as republic in 1886, when it was Sc
lected as the site Of port and has
| justified the judgment of those who
recommended it.