The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1913-08-15
OUTLAW LAF|TTE.
Old Time Patriot Pirate OF the
Gulf OF Mexico.
HE WAS COURTLY AND BRAVE

In the brave days Of old Jean La.
| ftte, rse patriot pirate OF the gulf,
ruled over a little outlaw kingdom OF
his own within few miles OF the city
OF New Orleans.
A picturesque figure was Jean La.
ftte, with a graceful, courtly delivery
about him which made him popular
with many OF the most estimable
dwelers I'm New Orleans. Handsome
able, averse TO the shedding Of blood
and even possessed of loyalty TO the
government whose excise laws he
made IL his business TO break.
Lafitte was French. He drifted to
Louisiana In the early years OF the
nineteenth century and set up I'm plra-
cy I'm the bay OF Barataria. n shelter
ed harbor on the gulf OF Mexico, pro-
tected by Ong island called Grand
Terre, where Jean LATTE dweit in a
house OF brick, with broad and com
Portable verandas. where one might
and drinking lazily. while pirate chiefs
filed In To bring reports Of plunder
taken and prospects ahead.
No crude OF common pirate was this
Jean Lafitte. He held n prlvateers
commission from the republic OF Car
tagena, which had been recently es-
tablished In South America and has
long since been forgotten, and this
commission gave him the right to plum
der Spanish ships. Laiitte's followers
were motley collectlOn-black, white,
yellow aud rrd-restlcss and reckless
rovers OF the sea. Lafitte tralIicied I'm
silk and gold and negroes and sold
his goods openly at auction even In
the city OF New Orleans.
He was popular too; there is no
doubt OF that Had II been otherwise
he would not have been permitted TO
remain five years I'm Baratarla. AS
early as 1909 We find governors OF Lou
isana laundering against him. bnt La
fitte went ca miy about his business.
Occasionally Il revenue officer was kill
rably Lafitte expressed his sorrow that
bloodshed had become necessary. A
case was brought against him In the
federal court. The district attorney was
man named Grymes. LATTE went
TO see Grymos. and the result Of the
visit was thai the district attorney re-
signed his OIL @ and undertook Lafitte's
defense. He and the lawyer who as
sisted him we're promised $4,000
apiece for their services and got II.
After the case was dismissed Grymes
went to Bari taria TO receive his fee
and spent n week feasting with the
pirates, who treated him with princely
hospitality and escorted him back TO
the Mississippi In a handsome yawl,
laden with caskets OF gold and silver.
Repeated attempts had been made to
organize a military expedition to de-
stroy Lafltte's pirate colony. but up to
the year 1914 they had always come
to nothing. In September of that year
British brig anchored six miles from
Barataria pass, and its captain came
ashore and offered LATTE a captains
commission I'm the British navy and
$4,000 II he would join the British I'm
an attack against New Orleans.
Lafitte pretended to consider the Of
fer, sending word meantime to u mem
ber of the legislature OF the British
captains offer and declaring that he
would never accept II. He sent anoth-
or letter TO Governor Claiborne. who
had offered $1,000 for Lafitte's head
and for whose head Latitte in return,
in spirit OF gay bravado, had offered
a reward of $4,000. Laiitte suggested
that the governor extend clcmency TO
his pirates. who in return would aid In
the defense OF the state against the
British. The offer was rejected. and
an expedition under Commodore Pat
terson OF tie United States navy
swooped down on Baratarla unexpect.
edly, tore down the brick house, con
Gscated much plumber and drove out
the piratcs
Jean LatittC and his brother Pierre
escaped and established themselves ON
the lower Mississippi Meanwhile An
drew Jackson had arrived to under
take the defense of New orleans. Jean
LATTE went boldly into New Orleans
10 see him. n Jhough the fiery general
had declared he would have nothing to
do with these pirates and helliSh ban
ditt." There must have been pc
culiar charm and persuasiveness about
Jean LATTE. for after the interview
Jackson changed his mind. accepted
the aid OF the pirates and showed the
utmost trust IN them. And throughout
the siege OF New Orleans the followers
of LATTE showed themselves worthy
OF confidence They were excellent
gunners. and iwo of Lafitte's captains.
Dominique You and man named BE
luche, were put I'm charge OF ships
When the British had been driven
away Jackson recommended that la
fitte and his men he granted pardon
for all previous misdemeanors. and the
thing was done.
Nobody seems 10 know exactly what
became OF Jean LATTE and his brother
In 1916 we Ind Jean in Galveston
Tex. whence he was chased Ivy the
Spanish COVE ament In 1920. Later
there came = Orics OF cruises In the