Morgan County Democrat. (McConnelsville, Ohio) 1886-1943, 1942-04-16

the streets Of New Orleans, with
out being molested.
A force of men were detailed to
arrest the pirates. They in turn sur
rounded soldiers, dictated peace
TO them, and gave them ali costly
presents. Finally stronger force
of men from the navy destroyed the
hangout, and Lafltte lost his estab-
lishment at Barataria, and $780,
600 worth Of loot to the govern
ment.
Then came the greatest chapter
in his life. The battleaof New Or
leans was impending. English
1 agents offered him 10000 pounds.
the position of post-captain, and
the command of frigate. il he
would support the English cause.
He asked time to consider, sent the
communication to the American
headquarters, thus giving away the
secrets of the English plans, and
promptly met with Gen. Jackson to
offer his services. The meeting
took place in the upper chamber Of
the Old Absinthe, saloon where
LATTE hid at times his loot, and
which the tourist visits with great
interest. The Lafitte brothers
fought bravely in the battle at
Chalmette field, along with DOM
mick You, and all their pirate COM
panions. Dominick You was made
captain. Although guilty Of
many and heinous crimes, Presi-
dent Madison pardoned them, and
they were restored to an honored
place in the community, and l pre-
sumo went back to their old trade,
that of blacksmithing. One Of the
show places of New Orleans is tho
blacksmith shop, where he made
grill-work, and lace-like ratings
for beautiful balconies.
Then temptation came again,
and proved too strong for them.
They retired to Galveston Island,
and as agents of Venezuelan gov
ernment were granted letters Of
marque against all Spanish ships.
This meant that they could rob any
Spanish vessel that sailed the main.
They never did attack ships of 9TH
er nations, which may be put to the
credit side of their patriotism and
loyalty to the United States. At
the Galveston rendezvous 1000
men gathered and they were known
as pirates of the Gulf"
Writers have become romantic
over the costliness of the LATTE
home, and the richness Of the
wealth there displayed. LATTE
never seemed to be greedy when
the loot was divided, sometimes
giving almost all of it away to his
men. Some of his crew violated
promises made to the government,
and the home was invaded and they
were compelled to leave Galveston
Island. Jean Lafitte is said to have
burned down the house in which
he lived, with his own hand, but
this is denied, although the place
where he lived is still pointed out.
Treasure is said to be buried in
places on the islam land search is
resumed at times. without anything
being found He died as was fitting
in desoIate Yucatan.
Dominick You seems to have
been honored at last by the people
of New Orleans, who buried him in
consecrated ground in one of the
old cemeteries. The guides always
take people to this tomb. and point
out the 1audatory Spanish inscrip-
ton, and the Masonic EN- blem carv~
ed above 1t. One thinks Of the
lines OF Shakespeare "The evil that
men do lives after them, and good
is often Inferred with their bones"
On the tomb at St. Louis Cemetery
the inscription reads, "Interpid
hero of many battlesson land and
sea-" But the poet Byron is more
nearly right: "Healeft corsair's
name to other times linked with
one virtue, and thousand crimes"
would add to thiss the fact that
he lived in the midst Of an odd
mixture of races. n vices, tragedies,
and of moral and ethical concep-
tions different from our own. That
other fantastic character, Pierre
Laftte is buried in the same con-
secrated ground not far from DOM
mick You.-Howard H. Scott