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The true story of Lafittes Landing
March, 1821.
In the Bay of Campeche, later known as
Galveston, Texas, the pirate brothers Jean &
Pierre Lafitte have reached a decision.
Jean, the “Pirate Hero” of the Battle of New
Orleans is given an ultimatum by the very
government he has aided. “Leave immediately
or be blown to bits”. The US Government has
grown weary of the complaints of
privateering and will no longer ignore the
actions of Lafitte. Feeling betrayed, and
realizing that the “golden age of piracy”
was disappearing into the pages of history,
the Lafitte brothers chart a new course.
Having previously navigated the Sabine River
with cargos of slaves and treasure, they
know they can escape the naval blockade in
the bay and travel inland over 500 miles.
Also, because Texas is not yet a state and
the Mexican government is virtually giving
away large tracts of land to encourage
settlement, Lafitte decides to become a land
baron. Jean & Pierre and their crew flee
Campeche via the Sabine River. As a parting
gift to the US Government, they set fire to
their ship and the town before they depart.
The Journey:
Traveling through the bayous and
swamps of the Sabine, not all of Lafitte’s
men survive. The river is untamed and full
of peril, and the local wildlife claims the
lives of half the men. A feeling of dread
settles on the crew. At “Lafitte’s Landing”
(present day Wylie, Texas) Jean begins to
build what he imagines will be a fine new
life as a country gentleman. He does not
acknowledge that some of the crew is already
rebelling at the idea of becoming “land
lubbers”. Suspicion, superstition and greed
are all growing in the ranks of his
remaining men. The stage has been set for a
mutiny.
The Betrayal:
In December, 1821 Pierre Lafitte and a
handful of rebels murder Jean while he
sleeps, with the intent of seizing the
remaining treasure and returning to their
life on the high seas. Jean’s loyalists
capture the traitors and execute them. As
Pierre was sealed alive in his tomb within
the walls of the landing, he placed a curse
on the men-the site and the treasure, and
vowed to extract his revenge on all who
disturb them. History does not record the
fate of Jean’s loyalists or the cursed
treasure. It does record the location of
this event. Dare ye then to take a stroll
through “Lafitte’s Landing”..........
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