The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1914-02-21

the bayous Of Plaquemine and Atcha-
fa.ayala, were the headquarters OF the
ravager Laffite One of the blOodieSt
OF pirates, he gathered together hun
dreds OF violent men and dozen OF |
80 vessels and ruled as king. In
such a kingdom there Is always dis
sension and Gasparilla. after dis.
agreement with Laffite over some OF
the loot, broke away from the band,
took the ship he commanded and the
bloody crew who did his bidding and
sailed across the gulf to the coast or
Florida
Pensacola was a settlement even
then, but down the long stretch OF the
Florida coast there was hardly anotn-
er bay that had even a flsherman's
hut along the shore. Hiding places
there were in plenty among the keys
and bays OF the coast.
Found Haven on Gaspariila Isle.
On the island where the phosphate
port Of Boca Grande is now located.
Gasparilla found the haven he was
seeking. 1t blocked one OF the en-
frances OF Charlotte HarbOr in any
one Of a dozen Of whose smaller bays
and creek mouths there was plenty OF
chance for him to escape prying eyes.
This must have been about the year
1900. Gasparilla built mansion on
the isle and here he lived like
king with his bloodthirsty pirates a.
the courtiers.
There was not wanting ladies' in thia
court
Gasparilla had great eye for femi'
nine beauty and his course OF action
when taking a ship was always the
same.
Overheard with the men: save the
women" was his invariable order.
! But it was this practice that led TO
his ruin. His depredations were report
ed to the United States government
and q frigate sent to the gulf waters
to run him down.
After 4 long chase through the Ten
Thousand Islands, and up and down
the coast the pirate was cornered IN
Lemon bay az he was trying to make
his way through Gasparilla SOUND into
Charlotte Harbor.
A bloody battle ensued. The pirate
was no coward and his crew fought.
a. they we'll knew, with haiters
around their necks. Few were leat'
according to the tradition that naa
come down. Gasparilla was one o.
the captives, 10 the story runs. ana
suffered the speedy penalty Of his
crimes, In short, he was hung At une
yard arm OF his own boat.
One legend has 1t that the frigate
bnrned out the pirates nest, root ano
branch. and destroyed the home. An
other story has it that 1t endured 1ot
MANY years though avoided by the &C
, casional fishermen who landed on thai
|. coast. who felt that 1t was haunted
This story has it that the old place
was finally struck by lightning IN one
Of the tropical storms that sometimes
sweep the keys and destroyed.
Certain it is that 1t Is gone. though
old residents say remains Of the place
we're still to be seen when they came
into that country in the days OF Mt
SeminOleS
treasure Seekers Pock Mark the Coas
Even now on Coral Creek, nea
Lemon bay, in sight Of where the Char
lotte Harbor and Northern railroad
takes to the water in the two milf
7 crossing OF Gasparil.a sound. treas
IRE hunters are seeking $ll,0OO,OU
in buried gold, believed to have bee.
the property OF the dead pirate.
= was buried in long boat when wa
sheathed with cement, 80 the stod
goes to make 1t water tight. then SUM-
in the little creek.
It /. this story Of Gasparilia TIA
\ Ye Mystic Krews which bears N
name keeps alive.
a Isn't It great foundation for
Il Carnival? Could any better name D
designed?