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Baratarians prospered and amassed riches as never before. Just what part brother Pierre played is not clear, but we may be sure he was hand in hand with his brother, and gradually the two assumed virtual control of the smuggler colony, uniting the various factions and electing themselves sole leaders of the horde. It must not, however, be imagined that this was either a simple or peaceful task. The Lafittes were as skillful with the sword and pistol as with tongs or hammer, and on one occasion, when a tough ex-pirate named Grambo questioned Jean's leadership, the latter used a most persuasive and unanswerable argument in the form of a pistol bullet which ended the discussion and Grambo's life coincidently. Within four years from the time they had first set foot on American soil, the Lafittes had become wealthy and had placed the Baratarians on such a footing that the commerce of Louisiana had appreciably decreased and the government customs had become a farce.

Cargoes of slaves and every conceivable article were landed on Grande Terre and openly auctioned weekly. Hand bills advertising the sales were posted brazenly in New Orleans, and the federal government realized that if something were not done the smugglers under the Lafiittes would soon control not only Louisiana but the Mississippi Valley as well.

But the authorities underestimated the resources

and power of the Baratarians. A revenue cutter that was despatched to break up the smugglers' nest, might as well have been an unarmed skiff on a holiday as far as results counted. The Baratarians invited the officers ashore, proffered them cognac and champagne with which to drink to the health of the Lafittes and the damnation of the officials, and after snapping their fingers at the discomfitted officers, sent them on their way with a warning not to return. Then the governor of Louisiana had a try at it. A proclamation signed by him was made public in which he declared the Baratarians to be pirates, warned all citizens to have no dealings with them and vowed dire punishment on all who disregarded his decrees. But neither the citizens nor the smugglers paid the slightest attention to his well-meant but futile threats and orders. All he accomplished was to bestow the name of pirates on the Lafittes and their followers, a name which oddly enough has persisted although neither of the brothers ever committed an act of piracy during all their residence in Louisiana.

Quite aware that public sentiment was on their side, the Lafittes defied the irate governor by openly parading the streets of New Orleans, dressed in the most fashionable and costly raiment, decked with jewels, and frequenting cafés and clubs in company with leading bankers and merchants. Public

charities and entertainments numbered them among their patrons; they were feted and welcomed to balls and receptions, and to add insult to injury, the Baratarians' posters, announcing auctions of slaves and other contraband, appeared on buildings and fence posts side by side with His Excellency's proclamation. Naturally Governor Claiborne was beside himself with rage, and he immediately issued a second⚫manifesto in which he offered a reward of five hundred dollars for the apprehension of either of the now famous brothers. But the only tangible result of this was the death of an over zealous constable who foolishly tried to earn the reward and received a bullet through his lungs instead.

Then the Executive turned to the State Legislature for help, asking for an appropriation to equip an armed force to be sent against the "pirates." Many of the members of the body were, however, far too greatly involved with the Baratarians to accede to this, and to avoid embarrasing difficulties, they informed the governor that the state cupboard was bare. Next, Governor Claiborne managed to secure an indictment for piracy against Jean Lafitte and his fellows, while a warrant for Pierre's arrest was made out on the charge that he was an accessory. Quite smilingly Pierre permitted the warrant to be served and he was duly lodged in jail, and His Excellency felt quite satisfied that

at last he was making headway. But he congratulated himself prematurely. Jean retained the two best lawyers in the state to defend his brother, paying them each twenty thousand dollars as a retainer, and by his offer causing one, John R. Grymes to resign his position as district attorney. With such men the acquittal of Pierre was certain, and the only serious result of the trial was a duel between the ex and the new district attorneys, the latter being crippled for life by a bullet through the hip from Grymes's pistol. Tales are still told in Louisiana of the royal reception accorded to Grymes when, after Pierre was freed, the attorney visited Grande Terre to collect his fee. He returned in a small boat laden to the gunwales with chests of gold and silver coin, but within a week was as poor as ever, having lost every cent of his fortune at cards.

While all this had been taking place, war with England had been declared and on a September day in 1814 the Sophia, British sloop of war, dropped anchor off Grande Terre. The British were cordially received by the Baratarians, they were feasted and wined, and over their coffee and cigars, told Lafitte of a proposed attack on New Orleans and suggested that he and his smugglers join the English forces. To prove their sincerity the captain of the sloop gave Lafitte a letter from Colonel Nichols, commander of the British forces

in the Gulf of Mexico, in which the Colonel promised a reward of thirty thousand dollars and a commission in His Majesty's navy to Lafitte, as well as amnesty to all Baratarians who joined the English. But, added the British officer, if the smugglers refused, the English fleet would destroy Grande Terre and hang every man as a pirate

Naturally the thirty thousand dollars had little weight with Lafitte who oftentimes lost or won twice that amount at a single game of cards, and neither did he in the least desire a commission. As for the threat,-that was not to his mind even worth considering. Moreover, even if he had violated the laws of the United States and had played ducks and drakes with the governor and the authorities, he was almost fanatically patriotic. But he was too keen a man and too good a diplomat to let the English know his feelings. So, he told Captain Lockyer that he would require ten days in which to think the proposition over, and saw the visitors safely off. No sooner had they departed than a messenger was sent post haste to the Governor with full information of the British plans, the letter from the colonel and an offer from Lafitte to use the resources and forces of the Baratarians in defense of the United States. But like the pig-headed fools they were, the officials, led by the still resentful governor, declared letter and papers forgeries, and instead of jumping at Lafitte's offer and pre

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