20
TEXAS STATE LIBRARY
sailed.for Galveston - the Hotspur had gone in the mean time --: bringing. with them large supplies of ammunitions arms, provisions &c - remained from five to six weeks, when Lafitte made his first . appearance at the Island. -- Aury & Mina sailed for Santandar - Campbell did not accompany them ; but becoming attached to Lafitt, and Lafitt with him he remained on the Island with Lafitte - Camp bell was now placed in command of Schooner, called Concord, 120 tons, 5 guns, & 75 men all told. - Campell run down the gulf, took five prizes - 100000$ in cask and the same amount in dry goods, and returned in 6 weeks. - Sailed again on a second took a guina-man, 308 slaves, brought them to Galveston, wh�re Guy Champlain bought 200 of them - He was a planter on the Mississippi, and noted dealer in smugled articles. - About this time Capt. Juana, came from N. 0. with a schooner and wanted Lafitt to commission him. Lafitt had no confidence in him, and refused a commission; but being afterwards prevailed upon by Campbell and others, he finanally [sic] agreed to commission Juana; and did so; stating to Juana at the same time, that he had but little confidence in him; and that if he ever com mitted depradations upon any other than Spanish vessels, he would most assuredly hang him, if ever caught. Juana, took his commission and sailed the next day. In a few weeks, tidings were brought to Lafitt that Juana had sailed to the Balise, was stealing negroes on the coast, robing plantations and committing all kinds of depredations upon the American Citizens - The US. Officers, pursued him in gun boats, and pushed him so closely that Juana and his crew had to abandon their vessel hy jumping in the mud flats where fourteen of them perished; of those got out of the mud, all perished except Juana and 4 others - These made their appearance at Bolivar Point; where Lafitt found them in a state of starvation. They were immediately ironed; a gallos was erected on Campeche point, where Juana was hung; and the 4 men, were delivered to the Lynx US man of war, and taken to N. 0. where they were tried and executed. While this was going on, a man named Capt Marott came from N. 0. with a schooner, which he sold to Lafitte, and afterwards was placed in Command it, and he and Campbell sailed together on a cruise about Mantanzas, and after several unsuccessful sallies, suc ceeded in capturing a vessessel [sic] with 40 negroes and some goods on board - which they sent into Galveston, while they continued their cruize. They captured 2 other prizes of considerable value, consist ing of dry - goods - plate, silver and gold watches, amounting to one or 2 hundred thousand dollars. With this they made to for Gal veston. On arriving there Marott, who had at the capture taken pos session of the plate and watches, did not give them in the list of cap tured articles. This attempt to swindle was reported to Lafitt, who arraigned Marott. Marott said that the hoxes containig these things had fallen overboard, in attempting to transfer them from one vessel to another. 'l'his Campbell contradicted, having himself seen the boxes placed aboard Marott's vessel. On being reprehended by Lafitt for his conduct, l\farott, spit in Lafitt's face. Lafitt made a grab at him; but failed to get hold of him. Several present were for hanging Marott; but Lafitt, opposed this, and contented himself w�th challenging Marott. Campbell was Lafitt's second - The parties met on the south end
Powered by FlippingBook