The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1935-07-04
Highights of An Auto Tour
CONTINUED from page y

con- home with furnishings the rich
est money could buy. But just as tn
enterprise was about to start, dealt
claimed the great emperor and warrior
| Alter touring the entire city, Mrs
Rowe, Helen and l, returned to lhi
old city for more intimate visit. w
found that many of the old home
were built around courts or patios, al
was the Spanish custom Corridors leat
from the street to these pleasant re-
treats Originally they were very beau
tiful, with palms and flowers and foun-
tains and vines. Today they still are
lovely. Now many of them are usec
as cafes or tea gardens. The building
at the front of one such patio had beer
used as bank when the city was
young. We were graciously invited 10
visit and inspect its furnishings and
wrought iron utensils that had been
! handed down through the years A
young man showed us about. He stepped
over to wall, opened a crude plank
door hung with large wrought-iron
strap hinges and showed us d recess
cut into the wall. In that recess was
a small bricked up vault and in that
vault was where the bankers kept their
money and valuables in the early DAYS.
AT one side he pointed out the black
opening of tunnel. THAT he said
is an underground tunnel that runs
from this building and opens on side
street. 1t was used as a means OF
secretly entering or leaving this build
ing when affairs became too stirring
for comfort"
We were also shown Pirates Alley.
This was shortcut from the heart Of
the then city to the pirates ships in the
harbor, and when matters became too
hot and the pirates must needs hurry
away, they used this shortcut.
Pirates Bold and Bad.
This is as good time as any to tell
the story of the Lafitte brothers, Jean
and Pierre Lafitte. They were two
pirates bold and bad and they made
New Orleans their Headquarters for
many years Tall stories are told of
their raids on the high seas and of The
fabulous treasures taken from their
victims and hidden along the coast.
Dark and bloody were the tales told Of
these two scoundrels and their follow
ers. And yet there was streak-9f
besides bad in them. As The
story goes, Jean Lafitte went to Gen
eral jackson before the battle of New
Orleans and offered himself and his |
men to fight on the side of the Ameri- |
cans. We were shown building in +
which, it was said, Lafitte and Jackson
planned the strategy of the battle IN
the night before the engagement And |
SO fiercelv did these buccaneers FIGHT
side by side with the Americans that
later the governor of Louisiana par
doned the two Lafittes. But that pardon
was only good in Louisiana, which did
not wholly please the Lafittes
Of course there is haunted house
Years ago aristocratic DR.. Lalaurie and
his wife lived in the beautiful place.
1t caught fire and the gracious lady
brayely stood and directed the CARRYING
out OF handsome paintings, bronzes.
brocades, the furnishings of luxury.
Helpers found the doors to the third
tory locked. The gracious one refused
Q unlock them, whereupon they were
broken in. Behind those doors was
ound fiendish torture chamber.
slaves with iron collars and manacles
uttlng into the raw flesh. Women were
'arried out who could not walk, One
I'D negress had been bound in kneel-
ng position SO long that when released
he could not stand erect. One of The
women testified that Nine. Lalaurie
would come sometimes and inflict tor
ure upon them while music and dane
ng We're going on below. When these
Kings were learned mob Quilted the
'lace. Nine Lalaurie fled to France.
my memory does not fail me. it was
aid Nine. Lalaurie had turned into
his fiend in pursuit of revenge for a
wrong done her This house of course. /.
) now haunted :
A Blighted Romance.
That is rather gruesome story. Here !,
one more pleasant and yet with a
ote OF sadness. 1t is the romance Of !
ohm McDonogh. John was hand
ONE, literally educated Scotch irish
IAN, born in Baltimore. He removed
New Orleans and embarked in bust
ess and was soon regarded as a !,
,ealthy and successful man. He was
Dung, gay, general favorita well I
ONE in all the best homes He fell
love with and sought to marry The
eautiful daughter Of the Spanish I
randee and philanthropist, Don Al
lonaster. The proud old nobleman 9
,,ould not listen to it, stating emphatic =
lily that daughter Of his noble race
Mould never marry q plebeian !,
The lady later married baron 10 J
cars old and McDonough was SO grief = =
+ricken that his very nature seemed !,
} change. He swore that he would be- Z
ome as rich as the richest and here
tier he became a veritable miser.
lueezing those who borrowed from !"
i'm. and for half a century living