Orleans County Louisiana Archives News.....Execution of Mexican Gulf Pirates November 29, 1868
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The Times-Picayune November 29, 1868
It was in the year 1820, under the administration of Gov. Villere, who had been 
elected in 1816 to succeed Gov. Claiborne, that a most remarkable event took 
place, which at this time caused an immense sensation. The writer of this 
article had then just returned from a business voyage, to the neighboring port 
of Pensacola, then still under the Spanish dominion, although the Government of 
the United States was already in full negotiation for the ultimate cession of 
the Florida territory from the mother country in Europe. There, in that almost 
abandoned little seaport town, we had been apprised of the great capture, 
condemnation and execution of a whole gang of desperate Spanish pirates, as they 
were called, in the city of New Orleans, but we had not been informed of the 
dreadful commotion which this circumstance had caused in the entire population 
of our city.

We must now remind our readers that at that time the proportion of American 
population, constituting the active element in our metropolis, was indeed very 
slender, in comparison to that of the ancient castillan denomination, which 
latter almost every season received more or less reinforcement from the 
adjoining island of Cuba. True, at certain seasons of the year, during the high 
floods of the Mississippi, a large number of Western boatmen, manning the 
hundreds of flatboats coming down the water, would be an additional force to 
that which formed the small garrison of American troops of the line, in the 
public quarters or soldiers' barracks, and the little Fort St. Charles, at the 
junction of Faubourg Marigny and the lower part of the ancient city square. 
Still, it may well be computed that the number of what was called low Spanish 
people, greatly composed of fishermen and sailing characters, and almost any 
quantity of low deserters, and adventurers from the Spanish island of Cuba, 
greatly preponderated in the delta precincts, over any other denomination.

Hence, when it was publicly announced that the United States authorities, in 
order to put a stop to the many piratical proceedings in the Mexican Gulf and 
adjoining islands, had decided upon making an example of some of these desperate 
fellows, there was at once a feeling of vague apprehension of some dire 
commotion in our city. People said that our authorities had so long tolerated 
the clandestine expeditions of armed cruisers, under Carthagenian letters of 
marque, that so many very respectable people, or merchants, it was whispered, 
had more or less been interested in the fitting out of these Columbian 
privateers, whom this Government at Washington seemed especially to protect and 
take into favor, that it seemed somewhat strange and unexpected all at once to 
turn into pirates and sea robbers, men that had engaged in the privateering 
business, under the above-mentioned authorities. Was it a momentary freak on the 
part of our Federal Government, or was it a political stroke, in order to obtain 
the consent and final acquiescence of the Spanish Cabinet for the pending 
session of the Floriday peninsular; or was it actually a desire to clear our 
gulf stream and gulf bays of the obnoxious swarms of piratical crews? We shall 
not undertake to decide which of these considerations may have been the most 
influential ones, but it so happened that the execution of some half a dozen of 
these marauders was actually decided upon, and finally carried out on board the 
United States public vessels moored in the middle of the stream.

Yet, although we thus anticipate the other interesting events between the 
sentence and fatal execution, we should have stated that until the day of the 
capital performance the public sentiment of excitement had been increasing in a 
most fearful manner. Rumors were rife that all over the Spanish parishes--in 
Terre-aux-Boeuf, the Barratarias, Cheniere Caminada, interior of Lafourche and 
other localities--masses of "Campeachy straw hats" were gathering. "Campeachy 
straw hats" was the popular expression for designating the Spanish popular 
masses, and more particularly the Mexican Gulf sea-rovers. Nay, the nearer the 
day of execution approached, the greater was the fear of some popular 
demonstration or outbrea; for it was said that thousands of Yucatan Indians, 
together with Cuban and Havana "Blancas de la terra," had come through the many 
bayous to the lower districts and faubourgs of New Orleans, and that they would 
put the fire brand to the four corners of the city, and plunder and rob its 
banks, public houses, merchants, etc.

Now these rumors becoming so very general, the authorities, State as well as 
Federal, though it would be but a prudent precaution to demonstrate some of the 
martial and military forces at hand, in case of an actual emergency. Hence 
orders were issued to call out the uniformed volunteer companies then organized 
in the city; even some of the country parishes were invited to send down their 
mounted cavalry companies, in order to make a display in our streets and 
thoroughfares. The small force of United States regulars, together with the 
marines and sailors of the naval station, were also placed under extra drill, 
and, in fact, a stir was made, so as to assure the people that the authorites 
would not be taken by surprise, should some desperate dash be made upon the 
private property of citizens, or the more tempting treasures of the public banks 
and other wealthy institutions. After these military measures had been put in 
execution, the day of final execution, a Friday, as usual, was awaited with the 
greatest anxiety by almost everyone in our city, though some people pretend that 
sundry wealthy families had actually taken refuge, with their jewels and 
treasure, upon neighboring plantations, and out of the immediate reach of the 
pretended field of plunder and devastation. Now, the very night before the fatal 
day, all at once a most tremendous conflagration or fire broke out in the United 
States naval arsenal, situate in Dumaine street, and full of combustible stuffs 
and materials. it may well be imagined what was the effect of such a calamity, 
although, at once, all the fire engines were upon the spot, and everyone at his 
post in order to subdue the flames. Happily this was accomplished before 
daybreak, and the fire subdued to the single square in which it had so 
unexpectedly originated. The people had vied with the citizens and property 
holders in maintaining order, whilst the troops and military companies were 
ranged and stationed along the Levee, in order to protect the whole city from 
any possible attack, with which rumor had threatened it. However, no such issue 
took place, but be it that all had been only idle rumors, or that this 
precaution, had actually disconcerted any such desperate enterprise. The day 
passed without any further disturbance, and although the city was fearfully 
agitated, and immense throngs of people covered the Levee and public square, 
gazing towards the public vessels on whose yard arms swung the condemned 
criminals, yet not one case of outrage or excess was witnessed throughout the 
whole of this tragical day's work. Long years thereafter the impression of the 
Spanish pirate execution became a theme of interesting and general conversation.

D.

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