Some lost treasures are legendary because of what is hidden. Some
are legendary because of who did the hiding. Both types of
captivating tales are found in the book Coronado’s Children.
Published in 1930 and written by Texas folklorist and author J.
Frank Dobie, Coronado’s Children is an enthralling collection of
stories about buried treasure, Old West capers, and the often
dangerous quest for a fleeting fortune by adventurous characters.
Usually a blend of documented events and dubious oral history,
these stories are not merely Tall Tales but testaments of a
pioneering spirit that furthered the exploration of the American
southwest and was foundational to the United States as a country.
One such account that stood out to us was the legend of Jean
Laffite and his brother Pierre. Spelled “Laffite” by the brothers
themselves, but recorded in contemporary official US documents as
“Lafitte,” theirs is a chronicle that begins and ends in mystery
and everything in-between became firmly entrenched in the early
history of Louisiana and Texas, from the Mississippi River to the
Gulf of Mexico. Arriving in New Orleans around the time of the
Louisana Purchase in 1803 from debated origins, the Laffite
brothers soon established a blacksmith shop in the French
Quarter, which still stands today. Not long after, they realized
the real profit would come from using the shop to “fence” pirated
goods stolen by the privateers who preyed on Spanish merchant
ships in Barataria Bay. Using their natural business acumen, the
Laffites would expand their criminal enterprises enough to make
themselves some of the richest and most powerful men in the
region. Even when their flagrant operations had threatened the
sovereignty of the US government, Jean Laffite was able to gain
at least temporary pardon and acclaim by greatly aiding then
General Andrew Jackson to victory over the British at the Battle
of New Orleans. In a career of contradictions and
double-dealings, Jean Laffite would enjoy such occupations as a
prominent businessman, smuggler, military hero, spy, slave
trader, and criminal mastermind, but popular opinion regards him
most generally as a pirate, a moniker he detested. Whatever his
actual life story is and the fate of his amassed fortune, his
legacy is perhaps best described by J. Frank Dobie as, “Legend,
Paradox, Mystery.”
For more information on this episode visit our website!
Kommentare (0)
Melde dich an, um einen Kommentar zu schreiben.