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TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
Captain Carrolls vessel, and if necessary, adopt some measures against the mutineers. The motion was seconded and carried by all present, except Lieutenant - Duval, who rather preferred that the affairs of his vessel might not be too closely scrutinized. In a few minutes the American vessel hoisted all sail and made for the Bar where the Privateer was anchored. Captain Carroll became alarmed at her approach. He had his own reasons for wishing to avoid her; and accordingly, he cut cable and put out to sea. The United States officers greatly astonished at this movement, very naturally con- cluded that the mutineers had got possession of the vessel and were making their escape; and under this impression they crowded all sail and went in swift pursuit.- The chase lasted several hours, until the fugitive vessel escaped under the fogs of night. The Ameri- can Officers returned to the Island; but Captain Carroll, still think- ing that he was pursued, continued his onward course and ran into the Vermillion Bay where he lost his vessel and a fine cargo.- The officers and crew abandoned the wreck immediately. The cargo, however, was afterwards rescued, and carried to New-Orleans, by a Kentuckian named Pitts who delivered the goods to the Cus- tom-House officers, without claiming the salvage to which he was entitled.- Pitts was one of the followers of Long; and many years after this event, in publishing a ske.tch of his adventures, it occurred to him, to assert his claims to salvage, which he had neglected to do at the proper time. The necessary petition was drawn up by l\lr Underwood and presented to Congress. The claim, however, was rejected by that body, probably on account of the length of time which had elapsed and the difficulty of establishing facts.~ In General Ripleys letter dated 31st of October 1820, we find the following remark "Your resources will and must improve from the naval force which will soon be with you." Concerning this naval force we have no information. "\Ve have heard very often something indefinite about the followers of Lafitte, after the departure of their leader, cruizing under the commission of General Long, and the stories told of their daring exploits and ferocious achievements on the Gulf might form the subject of a sprightly romance; but of these things we have no certain knowledge; nor do we find among our papers the slightest allusion to this branch of our subject. "\Ve must, therefore, pass it by; and for the purpose merely of terminating the Chapter with one of the prominent characters who figured in the beginning of it, we will barely remark that Captain Carroll soon after this misfortune returned to Bolivar Point and being coldly received by Genl. Long, he and l\Tary Crow departed together up the Sabine river where they made a settlement and reared a family.--
Long 's Expn. 1821
Thus have we followed our hero from the beginning of his enterprise in 1819 to the latter part of the Summer of 1821. We have shewn how his Banner was stricken down at Nacogdoches, and re-planted at
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