Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1883 — The Pirates of Barataria. [ARTICLE]

The Pirates of Barataria.

MltP.h {nV Ijne Ivaay« fI’OTT) fKftf _ # ■ '/ ■ - '4. *■ - _ usj to tips to maintain that they ssilou been embarrassed with the care of prisoners. ■ "V ———j^#s There lived at this time, in New Orleans, John and Pierre Lafitte. John, the younger, but more epnspiettous of the two, was a handsome man, fair, with black hair and eyes, wealing his beard, as the fashion was, shaven neatly Hack from the front of his face. His manner was generally courteous, though he was irascible and in graver moments somewhat harsh. He spoke fluently English, Spanish, Italian and French," using them with mnch affability at the hfttel where he resided, and indicating, ‘in the peculiarities of his French, his nativity in the city of Bordeaux. The elder brother was a man and had served in the French navy. He appears to have been pvery way less showy than the other; but beyond doubt both men Were above the occupation with which they began li|e in Louisiana. This was the trade of blacksmith, though at their forge, an the corner of St. Philip and Bourbon streets, probably none but slave hands swung the sledge or shaded the horseIt was during the embargo,' enforced by the United States Government in 1808, that John Latitte began to be a merchant-. His store was m Royal street, where, behind a show of legitimate trade, he was, bmy rUßH*ftg the embargo with"goods and Africans. He wore the disguise carelessly. He was cool and intrepid end had only the conrtS to evade, arid his ’unlawful adventures did not,lift his name irow the published lists of managers of society balls or break his adquatntenoe with prominent legislators.' * 4 John and Pierre Latitte became the commercial agents of the “privatbfers. ” By and by they were their actual chiefs. They won-great prosperity for the band; prizes Vere rich and frequent, and slave cargoes profitable. John Lafitte did not at this time go to sea. He equipped vessels, sent thejn on their cruises, s<fld tfieir prizes and slaves;' ancßnovecMiiiher and thither throughout the Delta, administering affairs with boldness and sagacity. The Mississippi’s “coasts” in the parish of St. James and St. John the Baptist were often astir with his own presence, and his smaller vessels sometimes pierced the interior as far as Laoides Allemands. He knew the value of popular admiration, and was often at country balls, where he enjoyed the fame of great riches and courage, and seduced many of the simple Acadian youth to sail in his cruises. His two principal Captains were Beluche and Dominique You. “Capt. Dominique” was small, graceful, fair, of a pleasant, even attractive face, and a skillful sailor. There were also Gambi, a handsome Italian, who died only a few years ago at the, ol(J pirate village gjf Cheniere Caminada; and Kigoult, a dark Frenchman, Whose ancient house still stands on Grand!/ Isle, the island next to Grande Terre bn the west. And yet again'John ness and Johannofc, unless—which appears likely—these were only the real names of Dominique and Beluche. —George W. Cable vn the Century. s