Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1913-06-13
city Of New Orleans and had many
friends among the plantars

city Of New Orleans and had many
friends among the planters.
He was popular, too; ehere 10 no
doubt Of that. Had 1t been other
wise. he would not have been permit
ted to remain five years in Barataria-
AS early as 1909, we find governors OF
Louisiana laundering against him.
but LATTE went calmly about his busi-
ness. Occasionally revenue officer
was killed in q brush with the pirates.
Invariably LATTE expressed his sor-
row that bloodshed had become neces-
sary. Acase was brought against him
in the Federal court; the district at
torney was man named Grymes.
Lantte went 70 see GrymeS ana tne
result Of the visit was taat the dis
trict attorney resigned his office and
undertook Lafitte's defense He and
the lawyer who assisted him were
promised $4,000 apiece for their SER
vices and got 1t. After the case was
dismissed. Grymes went back to Bara-
taria to receive his fee and spent
week feastlng with the pirates, who
treated hirl with princely hospitality
and escorted him back te the Missis-
sippi in q handsome yawl. laden with
caskets Of gold and silver. taPls
Repeated attempts had been made
to organize military expedition TO de-
stroy LAfitte's pirate colony but up TO
the year 1914 they had always come
to nothing. In September OF tnat
year a British brig anchored six miles
from Baralaria Pass, and its captain
came ashore and offered Lahtte
captains commission, In the British
navy and $4,000 IL he would join the
British in IN attack against New Or
leans. ~ s4g 5I,S Mn s.,
LATTE pretended to consider the
offer. sending word meantime to
member OF the legislature OF the
British captains offer and declaring
that he. would never accept It. He
sent another letter TO Governor Clai-
borne, who had offered $4,000 for La
Mites head. and for whose head La
fitte in return. in q spirit Of gay bra
vado. had offered a rewari Of $4,000.
LATTE suggested that the governor ex-
tend ,lclemency 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 Patterson, Of the United
States navy, tore down the brick
house, conhscated much plunder and
drove out the pirates, who at s. first
formed their ships in line Of battle,
but afterwsrd changed their minds
and fed to hide among the number
less waterways and bayous.
Jean Lailtte and his brother Pierre.
escaped AMI established themselves on
the lower Mississippi. Meanwhile
Andrew Jackson had arrived to under
take the defense Of New Orleans.
Jean Iaitts went boldly into New Or,
leans to see him, althouBh the fiery
general had declared he would have
nothing TO do with these pirates and
hellish bandith." There must have
been q peculiar charm and persuasive
ness about Jean Lafitte, for after the
ipteryiew.s jackson -cllanged his mind.
accepted the aid Of the pirates and
showed the utmost trust in them.
and throughout the siege OF New Or
leans the followers OF Lahtte showed
themselves worthy OF conndence.. They
were excellent gunners' ana two OF
Lahtte's captains Dominique You and
"a man named Beiuche, we're put In
charge OF ships. When the British
had been driven away jackson re-