The sad life of Adrienne Gautreaux

The mental hospital in Jackson around 1900.

You know you’re in for a sad tale when the next of kin on a document is the sheriff. I’ll come back to that in a moment.

My granny’s grandfather was Joseph Cordilier Gautreaux (or Gauthreaux). I don’t know much about Cordilier other than that he married at 21 and there was friction between him and the children from his wife’s first marriage. He was a good 13 years younger than his bride.

He worked as a swamper, carpenter and grocery store deliveryman. Death was a constant presence in his life. He outlived all three of his children, his wife and his parents, leaving it to the stepchildren to care for him in his final years. From family stories, it doesn’t sound like they were happy about it.

Cordilier’s sister had it no better. Marie Adrienne was the last of Desire and Heleine Gautreaux’s children. She was only two when her mother died (probably in childbirth). She went to live with one of her mother’s relatives. Since they had no children of their own, you’d think they would dote on her. And maybe they did.

The women’s ward at the mental hospital in Jackson. This photo also was from 1900. I’ll be honest: This doesn’t look so bad.

Somehow, though, Adrienne ended up in a mental hospital, where she died in 1955. She had been there at least 15 years since she’s listed as an inmate on the 1940 census. I was curious what brought her there so I pulled the interdiction records.

An interdiction is the legal process for committing someone to a mental health facility. For some reason, these records usually are indexed with the probate records in Louisiana. It was not uncommon to be interdicted during the early 1900s.

Adrienne was interdicted in 1936 for “manic depressive insanity” and “constitutional psychopathic inferiority.” According to the doctors who examined her, she heard voices threatening to blow up her home and wouldn’t spend any money on food or warmth. Her stinginess extended to her husband, Oleus Landry.

Oleus, by the way, also died at the mental hospital in Jackson. That’s right. Husband and wife were packed off to the mental hospital on the same day in 1936. The orders were signed just three days after Adrienne’s 65th birthday.

Oleus was deaf, partially blind, suffered from a lung ailment and feared running out of money to live on. Again, it was the 1930s so the U.S. was in the midst of the Great Depression. A lot of people were experiencing economic stress.

Maybe Oleus and Adrienne were content in the mental hospital. They didn’t have to worry about providing for themselves. They had no children so it was just the two of them against the world.

What’s sad to me is something listed on both interdiction forms. For nearest friend or relative, the sheriff is listed. All of Adrienne’s sisters and brothers were dead by this point. Of the five children Desire and Heleine Gautreaux brought into the world, Adrienne had the longest life. And probably the unhappiest.

The plight of an ancestor who couldn’t read or write

Reading through War of 1812 pension records, I came across an interesting saga.

Rosalie Euphrosine Naquin applied for a pension after her husband, Louis Oncal died. The problem with her application was that she had no idea how to spell her maiden name much less her married surname. She was illiterate.

This was a problem for Rosalie because the war office in Washington, D.C., insisted on a precise spelling of her late husband’s name in order to check the war rolls. The name in the marriage record she sent apparently didn’t match any of the names on the war rolls.

The Ascension Parish clerk of court tried to explain to D.C. just how things worked in Louisiana. In a nutshell, the priest decided what the spelling of your name was – and it would be recorded different ways depending on who the priest was. Thus, Rosalie’s husband went by one spelling and his sister went by a totally different spelling.

D.C. wasn’t swayed. At this point, the clerk got a bit exasperated and wrote another letter. It’s faded so I’ve transcribed it:

In the pension claim of Rosalie Oncal, the claimant has not yet obtained her Bounty Land. There is no evidence to show that said claimant and her deceased husband did ever know how to write or spell their names; on the contrary, the records of this case show that the claimant can not write her name though I know personally that she is as strong and healthy as a person of her age can be. At the time of the War of 1812, there was not one soldier out of ten in the country parishes who could sign or spell his name.

The name of Oncal being of French of Spanish origin can be written with the same pronunciation in many different ways as follows: Uncal, Uncale, Uncalle, Oncalle, Oncale, Unkal, Unkall, Oungcal, Honcal, Huncal, Huncalle, Ouchal, all sounding as Ongkal would do in English.

Got that? Not one soldier in 10 from the Louisiana countryside could sign or spell his name.

Rosalie never did get her pension or bounty land. From reading her file, it appears that D.C. didn’t have rolls for every Louisiana company. So Louis might indeed have fought under Uncal/Uncale/Uncalle/Huncalle/Ouchal/Oncal, and his commander neglected to file the mandatory paperwork.

 

 

 

 

From slave to doctor

I was going through obits when I stumbled across a particularly interesting one. A. E. Raymond was a slave, fought in the Civil War on a steamship and became a doctor in Darrow. Excuse the cloying copy about Dr. Raymond always knowing his place. This was written in 1916.

I looked to see if I could find his grave but had no luck. I’d love to know more of Dr. Raymond’s story.

So I did a little more digging and discovered that A. E. Raymond was Agness Ernest Raymond (Agness?).

His wife was Celestine Martin. It appears that they had no children.

 

 

 

 

 

Donaldsonville Daily Times – June 1896

 

JUNE 1, 1896

The funeral of the late Mr. James Teller, who died at his home on the Riverside plantation on Friday afternoon, took place at the Jesuit church, New Orleans, on Saturday, interment being made in the Metairie cemetery in that city.

At half past five o’clock on Saturday morning the body of the deceased was removed from the room where it had been prepared for burial and placed in the hearse and followed by the relatives and friends and all the employees of the plantation, the cortege started for the T. and P. depot to take the 6 o’clock train.

Just inside the city limits the fire department in full uniform and led by Chief Engineer Thos. Cook, was lined up and took its place at the head of the cortege acting as a special escort to the remains. When the hearse reached the depot, the firemen drew up in line with uncovered heads while the coffin was carried between them to the station platform. As it passed they fell in line back of it and remained on duty as a guard to the body of him whom every fireman loved and delighted in calling a friend.

When the funeral procession left the house, the fire bells began tolling and kept up their mournful cadence until the train had passed the city limits.

At the depot there was a large concourse of friends of the deceased, many of whom accompanied the remains to New Orleans. Among them were: Messrs. R. and Henry McCall, Mr. and Mrs. J.P. Kock, Mr. and Mrs. J.S. Webster and their niece Miss Freret, Sisters Clothilde and Julienne, Mr. John Landry, Mr. Jacob Lebermuth and Mr. E.N. Pugh.

Upon the return of the firemen to their hall, a meeting was held presided over by Chief Engineer Cook and the following committee was appointed to prepare resolutions of regrets and sympathy.

Phoenix: W.G. Wilkinson, D. Variani.

Hooks: L.E. Bentley, C. Kline, P. Reddington.

Volunteers: John F. Terrio, Chas. Langbecker, August Heine.

This committee will meet some time this week to prepare the resolutions which will be reported at the next meeting of the department.

Hook and Ladder hall has been draped in mourning and will wear these habiliments of respect for the next thirty days.

The Planters Club has also draped their building in respect to his memory and formal action will be taken at the next meeting of the Board of Directors.

Upon arrival of the train at Gouldsboro, a hearse was in awaiting and the body taken to Johnson’s undertaking parlors, New Orleans. Here the last offices for the preparation for the tomb were made and the body was then placed on view to the many friends of the deceased in that city.

The parlors were well filled throughout the early afternoon, among those present being many of the city’s most prominent gentleman.

The funeral party on leaving the train were driven to the city home of the deceased where they remained until the hour set for the funeral.

Despite the rain the Jesuit Church on Baronne, near Canal streets, was filled, a large delegation being present from the Sugar Exchange. At the conclusion of the sad services, the body was borne from the church to the hearse by the following pall bearers: Messrs. E. N. Pugh, James P. Kock, George A. Williams, John F. Landry, Jacob Lebermuth, S. M. Rodd, Henry Braud and James Von Lotten. The interment was made in the family tomb in Metairie Cemetery.

============================================================

A well known colored man named Charley Kling was up before the Mayor this morning on a charge of allowing card playing in his place on Railroad avenue. After a severe lecture and an admonition from the Mayor not to repeat the offense, he was discharged.

============================================================

A terrible runaway accident which may result in the death of Emmet, the little son of Capt. W. S. Cary, took place at noon today opposite the Masonic confectionary.

The horse, which belonged to Jos. Aymar, of Winchester, St. James, has been left, standing in front of the foundry, hitched to a light sulky.

Through some reasons as yet unknown, the animal took fright and started on a dead run. When it reached the corner of Railroad avenue and Claiborne street, it took to the sidewalk and at a mad pace came tearing down the avenue. Several persons met with most narrow escape but it was not until between the Times office and the Masonic confectionary that any serious damage was done. At this point, Emmet and Ray Cary were on the sidewalk and before they realized their danger the horse was on them. Ray jumped from the walk and saved himself but little Emmet was hit by one of the wheels and thrown violently to the sidewalk. Quick as a flash, with a presence of mind that was really wonderful for one so young, Clarence Cary, brother of the injured child, picked him up and run like mad for his home. When he reached there, Mrs. Mathiesen, Mrs. Capone and other neighbors took the child while a representative of the Times hastened to summon a physician and in a few minutes, Dr. W. M. McGailliard and Dr. J.L. Richard were in attendance. After an examination, they pronounced the injuries to be concussion of the brain and the condition very serious.

Two children of Chief of Police Maher, who were on the platform in front of the bank building where the sulky came in contact and was smashed into pieces, had very narrow escapes.

A child of Mr. F.J. Eikel, the tailor, and one of Mr. M. E. Houlihon, the watchmaker, had most narrow escapes, the horse just grazing them.

Mr. Nic. Eris Sr. also had a fortunate escape, he had barely time to jump from the chair on which he was seated, to the doorway. His chair was struck and broken by the horse. Several other narrow escapes are reported.

After coming in collision with the platform at the bank, the horse stopped and was easily caught.

At a late hour this afternoon, the child was resting easily and there were hopes of its recovery. Mrs. Cary, who had been sick for some time, received a terrible shock, but it is hoped that it will not retard her recovery.

============================================================

The bicycle race at Labadieville yesterday attracted about 1,000 persons. Among those who entered from this city were Jos. Maurin, John Nolan and “Landry,” the one-armed rider. The race, which was one mile, was won by “Landry. John Nolan was a close second and M.D. Bringier third. The time was 2 minutes and 54 seconds.

JUNE 2, 1896

 

Mr. Victor Suarez, a carpenter of this place, while at work this morning on the sugarhouse of McCall Bros. Evan Hall plantation, fell from the roof, breaking an arm and sustaining other injuries.

The distance from which he fell makes his escape from instant death almost miraculous.

He was picked up by the other men employed about the building and removed to one of the dwellings and a doctor at once summoned. In addition to a broken arm one of his ribs is supposed to have been fractured, but it is not thought that he sustained any internal injuries. His broken arm was speedily set and he was said to be resting easily at noon and will probably be removed to his home in Port Barrow this afternoon.

The news of the accident was received with expressions of regret by Mr. Suarez’s numerous friends who all wish him a speedy recovery from his injuries.

============================================================

Yesterday near the dividing line of the Melodia and Bush Grove plantations, Lafourche parish, the body of a colored man was found in the water. Along the line, near where the body was found, was a trail of blood, showing that the body had been dragged along it before being thrown into the bayou. Sheriff Beary and other officials are busy investigating the mystery.

============================================================

It was rumored about the city today that Adolph Sternfels, who at one time was a clerk in the store of Messrs. B. Lemann & Bro., had been killed in the tornado that swept over St. Louis and vicinity last week. An investigation, however, showed that none of his friends or relations had heard about it and a careful searching of the names of the dead in a Chicago paper made by Messrs. Lemann & Bros. manager Mr. Jacob Blum failed to reveal his name. There was a similar report that Henry Rose had also been killed, but his mother received a dispatch last evening that he was in Cincinnati on that day.

============================================================

Little Emmet Cary who was so severely injured by being run over by a runaway horse yesterday is improving and it is now believed that all danger is passed. Dr. T. B. Rider, the family physician, says that the injuries were severe and that the child had a very narrow escape from death. Had the blow, which is now believed to have been from the horse’s knee, been a little higher it would have probably resulted in instant death.

============================================================

Photographer Cook of Napoleonville, a nephew of the late Harry Gould, was the guest of Mr. John R. Beal on Sunday.

============================================================

Louis Ruffin, colored, who is wanted in St. James parish for shooting and wounding, was arrested at the Illinois Central depot New Orleans yesterday morning by Sheriff-elect L. LeBourgeois. The negro was on the same train with the sheriff, and when they reached New Orleans, the negro was arrested. He was turned over to Capt. John Journee, of the first precinct, who made the proper affidavit against him in the First Recorder’s Court. Ruffin was subsequently arraigned before Recorder Finnegan and was remanded to parish prison to await the action of the St. James authorities.

============================================================

Considerable excitement was created in the vicinity of Nicholls avenue and Chetimaches street, about 9 o’clock last evening by a number of pistol shots that came from the yard of John C. Nicholls, the barer. The crowd that assembled began an investigation and found that Nicholls imagined he saw some one in his yard after his chickens and began to use his revolver freely. The crowd that had scented a tragedy breathed easier and quickly dispersed.

============================================================

A colored man named George W. Fletcher was shot while attempting to rob a store at La Place, St. John parish, on Sunday evening. He was taken to New Orleans in the custody of Judge La Place and placed in the Charity hospital.

============================================================

Widow Gayle, a sister-in-law of Mr. W. G. Wilkinson, who was quite badly hurt by being kicked by a horse in Mr. Wilkinson’s yard about a month ago, is now able to be out for the first time since receiving the injuries.

============================================================

Mr. A. D. Vega who will be one of the delegates to the Veteran Encampment at Richmond and the unveiling of the monument at Winchester, will extend his trip further north and will take a well earned vacation.

============================================================

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Aiola are the happy parents of a fine boy, born on Sunday. Mother and child are well.

============================================================

The little boy of Mr. and Mrs. A. Gingry was christened at the Catholic church Sunday, receiving the name of Michael Andrew. Mr. H. Schaff was godfather and Miss Edna Cize godmother.

============================================================

Clebert Johnson, who was admitted to the pesthouse last week suffering from small pox, is doing well, as is also Buddy McNeil, and both will recover all right from the disease.

============================================================

Mrs. Conrad Mayor is at the home of her daughter, Mrs. A. Melancon, on Evan Hall plantation. Her sweet face, with setting of white hair, bears its wonted smile.

============================================================

Mr. Manuel Montecino of Evan Hall plantation has recovered sufficiently from his recent severe illness to be about again.

============================================================

Mr. and Mrs. J. Frost of Mobile are in the city on a visit to Mrs. Frost’s mother, Mrs. R. Hanson Jr.

JUNE 3, 1896

Mrs. Thos. Hugh Jones, nee Alice Bourgeois, a native of Ascension, died on Monday evening at Asheville, N. C., where she had gone for her health. The body was brought to New Orleans and from there will be transferred on the evening Valley train to the home of the deceased in St. James parish. Messrs. Fulgence Bourgeois, Fulgence Bourgeois Jr. and J. Achille Landry went from here to New Orleans yesterday to meet the funeral party.

============================================================

A terrible tragedy took place at 1 o’clock this morning in one of the dives at Plaquemine that resulted in the killing of Oscar Maillian, the proprietor of the Sazerac saloon, and a man named Charles Riggs, a well known swamper of the town.

Details of the terrible affair as received in this city are rather meagre, but are substantially as follows: Late last night, Maillian went to a disreputable house and while there became involved in a quarrel with Charles Riggs and both men drew their revolvers and began firing at each other. Both received fatal wounds, dying five minutes after.

The place was quite well filled at the time and the greatest excitement prevailed. When the men fell there was a rush made for the doctors, but by the time the latter reached the house both men were dead.

Maillian was well known in this city and has been for years the proprietor of the Sazerac saloon.

The officials of Plaquemine have started an investigation into the matter but it is not believed that any facts beyond those given above will be developed.

A later account says that Maillian was the aggressor in the fight and fired the first shot, when Riggs drew his revolver and both men then fired almost simultaneously with deadly effect.

The Coroner viewed both the bodies this morning and several of the inmates of the dive where the shooting occurred were placed in custody to await the action of the District Attorney in the matter.

A telephone message from Plaquemine says that the tragedy has occasioned a great deal of excitement there and that the stories concerning it are numerous but that the general fact is that it was the result of a nasty quarrel over a woman inmate of the place and that both men were under the influence of liquor.

——————————————————————————————

Solemn high mass for the repose of the soul of the late Mr. James Teller will be sung at the Catholic church here on Saturday morning next, at 8 o’clock. Relatives and friends of the deceased are invited to be present.

============================================================

Mrs. M.C. Morgan, the mother of Mr. W.E. Morgan of Ascension, who for the past year has been in ill health, died on Sunday evening last and was buried in Baton Rouge the next day. Mr. Morgan had been in Baton Rouge attending his mother for about a week.

============================================================

Mr. Victor Suarez who was injured by a fall from the roof of the McCall Brothers’ sugarhouse, Evan Hall plantation, passed a restless night, suffering a great deal of pain. Later details of the accident makes his escape from instant death seem almost miraculous. He was engaged in placing the rafters for the iron roof when the support upon which he was standing gave way. As he went down he tried to catch himself by grabbing at two small beams, but his arms went between them, snapping the bone, and letting him drop to the floor which was covered with brick and other debris. Dr. T. H. Hanson was sent for and on examination found that in addition to a broken arm, Mr. Suarez had also sustained a fracture of a hip bone and one of the ribs. These injuries were carefully dressed and the injured man was removed to his home at Port Barrow, by Mr. Tom Cook, who being a brother Knight of Honor, drove with all haste to the plantation as soon as the news of the accident reached him. While Mr. Suarez’s injuries are painful and causes him a great deal of suffering, they are in no wise dangerous and his friends are congratulating him on his escape from instant death. The accident was formally reported to the Knights of Honor at their meeting last evening and Brother Tom Cook was deputized to convey the sympathy of the lodge and such relief as might be needed.

============================================================

At 1 o’clock this morning Dr. Theo Webre was awakened by a noise at one of his windows and supposing that it was his son, Samuel, called to that gentleman who answered “all right.” This morning when the house was opened it was found that one of the windows had been broken, but nothing was missed from the house.

============================================================

Mr. Jean Bourg, proprietor of the Midway Confectionary, on Railward avenue, and one of the clerks of Mr. M. Netter & Co., is seriously ill with lung trouble. His many friends earnestly hope that his sickness will be of short duration and that he will soon be among them again fully restored to health.

============================================================

Mr. G. M. Bowie was reelected Mayor of White Castle on Monday. His election was unanimous, there not being a single vote cast against him. This was a deserved tribute to Mr. Bowie’s public spiritedness and progressive administration of the little city’s affairs.

============================================================

Mr. and Mrs. B. Lemann are in New England where they will remain until fall. Mr. Lemann’s health is already showing signs of improvement.

============================================================

Miss Celestine Lestrapes has issued cards for an “at home” on tonight.

JUNE 4, 1896

The colored man who was found murdered down the bayou on Monday near the dividing line of Melodia and Bush Grove plantations is now supposed to have been Charles Kane from this city, the description given of the body found tallying with that of Kane who has been missing from here for a couple of weeks.

Kane, who was a brick mason, rented a room from Mr. John Solozano and about two weeks ago he locked it up and told Mr. Solozano that he was going down the bayou in search of work and nothing has been heard from him since. At the time he left here he had some money and was drinking.

Last night two colored men who had come here from Mississippi arrived and began to make inquiries about Kane and when they learned of his disapperance, they expressed a belief, founded on the description of the murdered man, that it was Kane and they will in all probability go to Thibodaux to make a further investigation.

These men said that they had been working with Kane along the coast for some time. He left one day to come to Donaldsonville while they remained on the coast and yesterday they came to see him and for the first time heard of his disappearance and probable murder. Kane was from North Louisiana.

============================================================

Marriage Licenses:

• W. H. Jones to Sarah Watson
• Ambroise Dobban to Estella Anthony
• Andrew West to Rebecca Cole
• Moses Graham to Lizzie Graham
• T. A. Sibley to Widow Lillie Brown
• Milton Morris to Flora Jackson
• Napoleon Hayward to Emily Nicholls

============================================================

Capt. Leathers, the octogenarian steamboat man, who was run over by a bicyclist in New Orleans about a week ago, is in serious condition and it is feared his injuries will end fatally.

============================================================

Mr. John Medine, a carpenter employed on Messrs. B. Lemann & Bros.’ Palo Alto plantation, was severely crushed about the body yesterday while engaged in unloading a car of lumber at McCall station.

He was assisting at the time in removing a joist 24 feet long, 9 inches wide and 7 inches thick, which in some manner slipped and fell across Mr. Medine’s breast, crushing him quite badly.

Physicians were immediately summoned and Dr. E. K. Sims was the first to reach the scene and at once proceeded to dress the injuries which he found very severe but not necessarily fatal. Dr. J. D. Hanson, the family’s physician, arrived shortly after and the injured man is now under his care.

This morning Mr. Medine was said to be resting easier but was suffering a great deal of pain. A more careful examination made today does not reveal any internal injuries and there is now no doubt expressed over his recovery.

Mr. Medine has been particularly unfortunate of late, not long ago losing one of his eyes by a piece of iron flying into it.

============================================================

John Nelson appeared before Justice Maurin today and withdrew the charge he made against Mickey Rodeillat yesterday as being a fugitive from justice.

============================================================

Mrs. Wm. Ware and babe, of White Castle, spent Tuesday and yesterday in Donaldsonville as guests of Mrs. Ware’s brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Samuel R. Bowen.

============================================================

Miss Celestine Lastrapes gave a delightful Lotto party at her residence last evening, in compliment to the teachers of the public schools of this parish. In addition to the teachers, there were present a few of Miss Lastrapes’ personal friends. The first prize, a handsome tea pot, was won by Miss Florence Thompson, and the consolation prize, a little fancy whip, by Miss Ida Turner. Among the other teachers who participated were Miss Mamie Armitage, Miss Mattie Saxon and Miss Bertha Carmouche. The affair throughout was most delightful and every one departed with most pleasant memories of the charming hostess.

JUNE 5, 1896

Mr. D. Ohlmeyer returned last night from a day’s stay in New Orleans.

============================================================

Capt. T. K. Voorhies of the Comeaux line has gone to his home in St. Louis for a few weeks rest.

============================================================

Capt. F. M. Andrews, a well known steamboat man, is dangerously ill.

============================================================

One of the most delightful affairs of the season was the fishing party which took place at Bayou Corne last Monday. All speak enthusiastically of the pleasant day spent. Miss H. Bowers received the prize for being the first to draw a fish out of the water. The following were present: Mrs. A. H. Foley, Mrs. F. Foley, Misses Armstrong and Rodgers, Mrs. Schufelt, Mrs. Carroll Barton and the Messrs. A. H. Foley, Lawrence and Edward Pugh, E. W. Pike, Adolph Minuet, Albert Folse and M. Foote.

============================================================

Mr. Frank Messina of this city was married yesterday to Miss Olive Carze of Lutcher, the ceremony taking place at the home of the bride. The newly married couple arrived in this city last evening and are stopping at the home of Mr. Messina’s family.

============================================================

Mr. Joe Keating, an old resident of this city, but for the past 10 years domiciled at Plaquemine has once more returned to his old love and is now comfortably settled in his new home at the corner of Nicholls avenue and Lafourche street, in the house formerly occupied by Mr. J. H. Ayraud Jr. Mr. Keating is the manager of the Wilbert Sons Ascension Lumber yard in this city, and his return is very gratifying to his host of friends who are congratulating him on being back once more in our live city after such a long hibernation in a slow town like Plaquemine.

============================================================

There was a collision this morning at the corner of Iberville and Lessard streets between the ice wagon driven by Dominique Casso and the milk cart of Mr. Thomas Blouin. The cart was upset and Mr. Blouin and his colored boy attendant were thrown out and the milk spilled. Neither Mr. Blouin nor the boy, fortunately, received any injuries, outside of a bath of milk.

============================================================

The solemn high mass for the repose of the soul of the late James Teller which was to have been sung at the Catholic church tomorrow morning has been postponed until some later day on account of tomorrow being within an octave of the feast of Corpus Christi, in which time the church cannot be decorated in black or any vestments of that color used.

============================================================

There has been considerable moving done by residents during the past week. Among those who have set up their household god in new temples are: Prof. Montamat who has been removed from Railroad avenue to Nicholls avenue. Mr. Schaff who has moved further up Mississippi street, and Alcee Rodrigue who is now domiciled on Railroad avenue, near the depot.

============================================================

Mr. John Medine, who was so badly injured by a piece of timber falling on him at McCall station, as reported in yesterday’s paper, is resting easier today and there is no doubt about his recovery.

============================================================

The bicycle that was raffled off by Messrs. B. Lemann & Bro. today was won by Mr. Edgar Fortier, the bookkeeper at the ice factory.

============================================================

Mr. Theophile Fernandez, the venerable father of Deputy Clerk J. F. Fernandez, has returned from New Orleans to which city he had gone to have an operation performed upon his eyes.

============================================================

Miss A. Hemindiger, who has been the guest of Mr. and Mrs. L. Maas, left for her home in Plaquemine today.

============================================================

Prof. A. J. Montamat‘s “Sidonius Waltz” is on sale at the jewelry store at A. G. Wutke & Co. Price, 40 cents.

============================================================

Miss L. Schuster of Hohen Solms spent today in our city with her friend, Miss Florence Maas.

============================================================

Mr. Stark L. Davis, the genial manager of Souvenir plantation, was in the city this morning.

============================================================

The young wife of Mr. Louis Oorde of Napoleonville was buried at Plattenville yesterday.

============================================================

Mr. Laz. Meyer returned from Baton Rouge today after a visit of a couple of days.

============================================================

Mr. William Tearney of Evan Hall plantation was a visitor to our city today.

============================================================

Mr. Henry Meyer of Hayes Station, Miss., spent Monday in the city with friends.

JUNE 8, 1896

Frank Brady, a former steamboat mate, who has been well known on the river, committed suicide last week in St. Louis, because of being haunted by the memory of a man whom he killed in 1892. The man he killed was Mate Jake McCarthy.

============================================================

President Andrews of the Yazoo and Tallahatchie line who has been very ill for the past two weeks is reported to be convalescent according to news received by a friend in New Orleans.

============================================================

Mr. Jasmin Feitel was a visitor to Donaldsonville Sunday.

============================================================

The many friends of Mr. Taylor Bergeron are pleased to seem him out again after a brief illness.

============================================================

Mr. Morris Levy of Elm Hall store, accompanied by the charming Misses Bella and Ida Weill of Napoleonville, left for Baton Rouge Monday to attend the Farnbacher-Blumenstein wedding. Mr. Levy, as usual, looked well on duty as usher. They returned Wednesday evening and speak highly of their trip.

============================================================

Mrs. Langbecker‘s and her daughter, Miss Anna, left for New Orleans yesterday afternoon and took the steamer Louisiana from that city today for Liverpool. On arriving in the latter city, they will proceed direct to London and after spending a couple of weeks in London will go to Germany where they will remain all summer. This is Mrs. Langbecker’s third trip abroad.

============================================================

Mrs. Benjamin Holzman accompanied by her pretty daughter, Miss Hortense, arrived in the city this morning and will remain here a few days as the guest of her sister Mrs. J. Blum. Accompanied by Mrs. Blum, Mrs. Holzman will make a short trip to New Orleans to meet her eldest daughter, Miss Sadie, who is returning from the Young Woman’s College of Baltimore.

============================================================

Justice Edmund Maurin this morning laid down the reins of office to his successor, Justice Israel. Judge Maurin during his incumbency of the office made a first class official. He was always attentive to business, suave and polite to all with whom he came in contact and there were many regrets over his retirement. Mr. Maurin has established a law, notarial and collection office and there is no doubt but that he will prove eminently successful in this new venture, for which he is so well qualified by legal knowledge and personal attributes.

============================================================

Mrs. Catherine Marchand, wife of Mr. Alex Marchand, a well known sugar planter of this parish, died at her home on Willow Grove plantation at 10 o’clock Saturday evening aged 70 years from heart disease from which she had been suffering for several months. The funeral took place at the Catholic church in this city at 8:30 this morning and was largely attended. The interment was in the Catholic cemetery.

============================================================

Constable George Goetz went back into private life on Saturday, when his successor qualified. George made a capital officer and was at all times efficient and obliging.

============================================================

Mr. Jean Bourg whose illness on Saturday threatened a serious turn we are pleased to announce is very much better today.

============================================================

An Italian employed on the McCall plantation was kicked by a mule on Saturday and rendered senseless for some time.

============================================================

Miss Ella Bentley, who has been at a convent in New Orleans, will be home on the 26th inst.

============================================================

Misses Coralie and Florence Levy will leave next month to spend the summer in the north.

============================================================

Miss Jessie Price will spend several weeks in Indiana visiting relatives.

JUNE 9, 1896

Capt. T. P. Feathers has been pronounced out of danger. The Captain had a very close call.

============================================================

According to the New Orleans Times-Democrat there is in the University ground at Baton Rouge a peculiar looking object that attracts much attention from spectators and many inquiries as to what it is. This object according to Col. Nicholson is nothing else than the original kettle in which Etienne de Bore first succeeded in granulating the sugar cane juice and making the first sugar that was ever made in Louisiana from cane. Col. Nicholson said he had picked it up accidentally in a little foundry down in Donaldsonville. The foundryman told its history and gave it to him, and he put it on the university grounds as a fitting souvenir of a great accomplishment in the agricultural world so that it might be preserved.

============================================================

Mr. and Mrs. Henry Buquol are entertaining a little girl visitor who arrived at their house on Saturday evening.

============================================================

Mr. John Dencause of Galvez this parish was a visitor to the city today.

============================================================

There are now 11 prisoners in the jail under the tender care of Jailer Acosta.

============================================================

Mayor Leche is out of the city having accompanied the excursion of the Independent Brass and Reed Band.

============================================================

Miss C. Dufilch, who has been a guest of Miss M. Blanchy, left this morning for New River to visit the latter’s sister, Mrs. C. D. Gondran.

============================================================

A little boy stranger put in an appearance at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Gentil last evening. It will doubt be well bread and become the flour of the flock.

============================================================

Widow A. B. Sharp took the train yesterday for New Orleans to see her grand daughter who soon leaves that city for Illinois on a visit for the summer.

============================================================

Miss Parmella Treille, the youngest daughter of Lieut. Hubert Treille, has been quite ill for the past few days, but we are pleased to say is now speedily recovering.

============================================================

Justice Lenares had his first case this morning when Rose Brooks and Harriette Tate were brought up before him on a charge of disturbing the pace. The evidence was “dead agin em” and the Judge assessed the damage to the peace and good name of the city at $2.50 each.

============================================================

Braud Strong was arraigned before Justice Israel this morning on a charge of petit larceny. He was held in $20 bonds to answer at the next term of the district court.

============================================================

Mary Smith said to be insane was removed to the parish prison for examination into her sanity.

============================================================

Mr. A. D. Vega is in New Orleans today on a business trip.

============================================================

The Independent Brass and Reed Band started this morning on their excursion down the bayou on the steamer Lafourche. Among the ladies that accompanied the party were Misses Irene and Ella Landry, Stella and Emma Richard, Stella and Aline Vega and Mrs. Paul Leche and little son. The excursionists will return some time tomorrow evening.

JUNE 10, 1896

 

Our young and energetic friend, Morris Kahn, is once more able to be out again after a two weeks’ tussle with bilious fever.

============================================================

Messrs. Harry Allemand and E. Bertaut of Lauderdale came into the city last evening with brand new bugles and prancing steeds with the intention of giving two of our young ladies a drive. One succeeded in his mission while the other drove home alone as the lady sought was away on the excursion of the Independent Brass and Reed Band.

============================================================

Handsome Sam. LeBlanc of White Castle was in our city today.

============================================================

Miss Edna Hebert of Plaquemine has been spending a few pleasant days in this city.

============================================================

We regret to announce the death of Frances Alolu, the infant daughter of Joseph Alolu and Lizzie Messina, yesterday afternoon. The funeral took place this afternoon at 4 o’clock at the Catholic church.

============================================================

Mr. D. Gentil, superintendent of the waterworks, is engaged today in cleaning out the water tower. The deposit of mud and other refuse in the tower the past month has been very heavy and the work of cleaning it away is entailing considerable labor.

============================================================

It was a rather quiet day for Justice Lenares only two cases coming up before his honor, those being two colored damsels, Harriette Murray and Martha Anderson who had been arrested for fighting and disturbing the peace. The evidence against them was conclusive and they were fined two dollars each for their little scrap last night.

============================================================

Joe Cambarell, a well known young Italian residing on Railroad avenue, is missing and so is a young and beautiful Italian woman, Josie Connatello, to whom Joe has been paying his attentions for some time past. It seems that the young man was very anxious to marry but his aspirations in that direction were opposed by his father. The young people, however, seem to have taken the matter in their own hands and settled the question by an elopement. While there (sic) whereabouts are unknown, they are supposed to have gone to New Orleans. It is understood if the young couple return, they will be forgiven and given a parental blessing.

============================================================

Somewhat of an excitement was created on Railroad avenue in the rear of the Racket store yesterday evening by a pistol shot said to have been fired at a little Italian boy named Joe Mouro. The boy declared that the shot was fired by Mr. R. Henderson, the proprietor of the Racket store.

Officer William Thomas placed Mr. Henderson under arrest and then paroled him to appear before the Mayor this morning. As Mayor Leche is out of the city all the parties today appeared before Alderman H. O. Maher who is acting as Mayor pro-tem, but that gentleman decided he had no jurisdiction and sent the complainant to Justice Israel. The latter when seen this afternoon said that he understood that the boy’s mother intended swearing out a warrant, but up to that time she had not yet done so.

Mr. Henderson when seen this morning denied all knowledge of the shooting and said that he had positively not fired any shot at the boy. He heard the shot fired and it was in the yard back of his store. He said he knew the boy well and that he had stolen from his store but he knew nothing about his being in the yard yesterday. Officer Thomas had called on him and told him what the mother and the boy said and had advised him to go and see the Mayor, which he did but found that the Mayor was out of town. That was positively all he knew of the matter.

JUNE 11, 1896

The veteran steamboatman Capt. T. P. Leathers was reported last night to be dying, and the end was expected momentarily.

============================================================

At noon today it was suggested that a mass meeting be held at the courthouse to go in search of his honor, the Mayor, and the other distinguished gentlemen on the steamer Lafourche who had not been heard of since the boat entered the tempestuous waters of Bayou Lafourche early Tuesday morning. Editor Bentley volunteered to pilot any party that might be formed to rescue the unhappy excursionists who were supposed to be wrecked on some barren land at the mercy of the mosquitoes. Some skeptics laughed at the idea of the steamer being wrecked and said that the excursion was only a disguised Cuban fiibustering expedition that had been gotten up by the Mayor who was an earnest champion of Cuban liberty, and it was now probably well on its way to Cuban shores.

This was repudiated by friends of the touring musicians as a bass viol calumny tuba denounced as “all in a born.” While this discussion was going on fears of the party starving were expressed when Sidney Vega asked “Isn’t Billy Terrio aboard? Well, that settles it, the steamer will not be heard from then until all the food on board is gone. There will be no starving where Billy is.”

“I don’t apprehend any serious danger to the party,” said Mr. Chas. Maurin, “but as August Heine is along there is a probability of their having a close shave.”

Capt. Ed. Maurin wanted to get out a cannon and fire minute salutes to guide the steamer if she was off her course. Suggestions of all kinds were now coming in thick and fast.In fact everything was coming but the steamer and just as the relief party were about to charter the ferry boat, the snake boat, Cole’s boat and other boats to form a flotella when the whistle of the Lafourche was heard and a shout of joy went up as it was now certain that the wanderers were safe. A rush was made to the wharf and a few minutes later the excursionists landed and were welcomed home with outstretched arms.

============================================================

It is with deepest regret that we record the death of Mr. John Bourg who passed away at 4:30 this morning, from cancer of the liver in the 50th year of his age. The deceased was a part owner of the Midway Confectionary on Railroad avenue and in addition was a clerk at M. Netter & Co’s and was one of the most popular and highly respected citizens of the city and his death is generally mourned by a large circle of friends. Deceased leaves a widow nee Josephine LeBlanc, and one daughter, Miss Edna, to whom, in common with others, the Times extends its condolences in this their hour of deepest sorry. The funeral takes place this afternoon at 6 o’clock from the Catholic church.

============================================================

May and Sam Jackson, who were out last night for a good time, had their careers cut short by being arrested for disturbing the peace. Both were up before Judge Israel this morning and were ordered to provide a peace bond in the sum of $50.

Olivia Tuppen, who was charged with a similar offense, was placed under a similar bond.

============================================================

Mrs. Miller, an aged lady residing on Germania plantation, slipped and fell from the steps of her residence on Saturday and broke her left arm. She was attended by Dr. T. B. Rider. Mrs. Miller’s accident was occasioned by the fact that she is nearly blind.

============================================================

Two young men who claimed to have walked from New Orleans here on a wager and were on their way from here to Plaquemine passed through the city last evening. They gave their names as Henry Geist and Fred. Doeble and looked pretty well worn and travel stained when they reached here.

============================================================

Joseph Carter, a colored boy, aged 10 years, better known as Joe Bradley, was drowned about 1 o’clock this afternoon while swimming near the ferry landing and from an account obtained by the Times representative two big colored boys who were with him at the time are responsible for his death.

It seems the three were together in shallow water when one of the big boys threw little Joe out into the deep water to see if he could swim and being unable to do so he quickly sank.

The two big boys became scared and scampered off never attempting to save their victim and up to three o’clock this afternoon they had not been apprehended.

Some men began at once to search for the body and among them was Arthur Fernandez. The latter made a dive and came up under a flatboat from which he was drawn out in an unconscious condition by Davey LeBlanc. He was at once taken to his home and Drs. Thibaut and Sims summoned but it is feared that he will not recovery.

The search for the body of the drowned boy was kept up and at 3:30 this afternoon it was recovered and taken to his home.

============================================================

Joe. Camborello and Josie Carnotello, an account of whose elopement was published yesterday returned to the city last evening, but unmarried, they having decided that it would be better to have the matrimonial knot tied here. They at once repaired to the office of Judge Israel, who performed the ceremony in a most artistic manner. For fear that the parents might attempt to make matters unpleasant for the young couple, officer McCray visited the former and warned them not to molest the young people or they would get into trouble and under the beneficent protection of the constabulary the newly wedded couple are now launched on the treacherous sea of matrimony.

============================================================

Mr. Felix Dugas of Westfield was a visitor to our city today.

============================================================

Mr. Felix Rodrigue and family of Hohen Solms were visitors to our city today.

============================================================

Mr. C. L. Triche assumed formal charge of the Sheriff’s office of Assumption parish yesterday.

============================================================

Alderman Forcha who has been keeping bachelor’s hall for the past month expects his family back again next week.

JUNE 12, 1896

It was an ideally congenial party, composing the Independent Brass and Reed Band’s annual excursion, that boarded the handsome steamer Lafourche early on Tuesday morning. The party was welcomed as they stepped on the steamer’s deck by its commander, Capt. P. A. Charlet, one of nature’s noblemen, who gave each of the excursionists a hearty handshake and then metaphorically turned the steamer and all its hands over to the command of the party with the statement that while they were his guests the steamer and all its resources were at their disposal and their wish should be a law.

From that time until the excursionists arrived home yesterday evening, pleasure was unconfined and joy and merriment reigned supreme. As the steamer moved slowly down the bayou, the excursionists began to settle themselves and put in order the state rooms that had been assigned them and when this was done the steamer was inspected from stern to bow, the party being accompanied by the Captain and others in his employ, who explained all the workings of the machinery, the latter of which were peculiarly interesting to the young ladies, several of whom became the Captain’s special guests in the pilot house.

After taking breakfast which showed the marvelous resources of the culinary department, the excursionists gathered on the shady side of the steamer and whiled away the time listening to the music of the band and watching the roustabouts as they loaded and unloaded the freight at various landings.

At 6 o’clock the steamer reached Elm Hall and the tourists were informed by Purser Nicolle that he would remain there for a couple of hours and if anyone wished to go ashore they would have an opportunity to do so. This was taken advantage of by the entire party to visit Napoleonville, a short walk from the landing. The little town was thoroughly inspected and the a visit paid to the pretty new courthouse through which the party was shown by the janitor. Shortly before 7 o’clock all were back on the steamer again and remained on deck engaged in singing and other amusements until near 11 o’clock when all retired for the night. During the morning Captain Charlet informed Mayor Leche that when the boat reached Plattenville that he should leave it for a visit to his home, until the boat’s return from Lockport, but while he was away he desired the Mayor to consider himself the commander of the steamer and he would find that all of his commands and wishes would be complied with.

The party was up at an early hour Wednesday morning and just as breakfast was finished the steamer reached Thibodaux and all went on shore for a couple of hours. The first place visited was the Empire Hotel of which Mr. J. E. Moseman is the proprietor, and that genial gentleman took particular pleasure in showing the party over his handsome and well managed house. Mr. Moseman extended to the entire party refreshments after which some of the crowd wended their way to the Catholic church while others strolled about the city until their leave of absence had expired when there was a hasty return to the boat which proceeded leisurely on to Lockport. But a short stop was made at the latter place and the steamer safely began her upward trip. On reaching Plattenville several of the young ladies got off and proceeded to Capt. Charlet’s residence and escorted him back in state to the steamer. After supper on Wednesday evening, the tables were reset a couple of hours later and ice cream and cakes were served by Capt. Charlet as a special compliment to his guests. Following this came music on the piano during which there was some promiscuous dancing enjoyed by the young ladies. It was a late hour that evening before all had retired for their last night’s sleep upon the boat.

On Thursday as the boat passed the convict camp near Paincourtville, there was a burial going on. There had been three graves dug and a body enclosed in a rough plank box was being lowered in one of these just as the steamer passed by. A count of the graves showed 21 had already been buried on the levee and it was said by Purser Nicolle that there were many sick in the hospital of which the excursionists caught a good view.

The steamer was now fast approaching Donaldsonville, and the regrets were general that the pleasures of the past two days would soon be a memory only. Capt. Charlet was now corralled by the young ladies and each and every one took him by the hand and thanked him personally, and through him every one of the employees for the many kindnesses and courtesies that had been shown the party and assured him that it would ever live as one of the most delightful events in their lives.

When the steamer was finally made fast to the wharf, three cheers were given for the handsome steamer, her royal commander and all employed on her.

The ladies and gentlemen who composed the excursion were: Mrs. Paul Leche, little Carl Leche, Misses Stella and Emma Richard, Misses Stella and Aline Vega, Misses Irene and Ella Landry, Miss Edwige Choppin, Miss Octavie Terrio and Miss A. Cire. The members of the band were: Paul Leche, J. F. Terrio, Jas. Fortier, Paul Braud, Fred. Landry, Felix Fortier, Aug. Heine, Henry Terrio, D. Ohlmeyer, Wm. A. Terrio.

The ladies of the party wish the Times to extend to Billy Terrio their thanks for the pleasant treat he so generously tendered them.

The excursionists wish to make public their thanks to the following officials of the steamer whow extended every effort and made their trip so delightful.

P. A. Charlet, captain; Edward Nicolle, purser; Simon Pintado and Paul Dominique, mates: P. J. Charlet and Felix Bergeron, freight clerks; A. N. Pintado and Seraphin Himel, pilots; Thos. Ruiz and A. S. Himel, engineers; Joe Pujol, druggist; Alphonse Ledoux, steward.

============================================================

It was quite a busy day for Judge Lenares today. The first offender up was Rosa Brooks, a colored damsel of free and easy tendencies who had been run down in the tenderloin district for disturbing the peace. Rosa was ordered to furnish bonds in the sum of $20 to keep the peace.

============================================================

Theodore Davis and Si Green, jealous of the reputation gained by Barber Nicholls and Sidney Montero in their prize fight, tried to emulate these men but were arrested while the flight was in progress and it will cost them just $2 a piece for their notoriety.

============================================================

Isaac Bell likes to pose as a bad, bad man and he started out last night to run the city. His career was short and this morning he had to pay a fine of $2.50 and furnish a peace bond of $25. This ended the day’s performance in his honor’s court.

============================================================

The drowining of the little colored boy yesterday should act as a warning to the crowd of boys that go into the river to bathe ever evening, most of whom are entirely too young to be allowed to do so. When in the water they throw ordinary prudence to the wind and become reckless. The season of accidental drownings is now fairly opened and parents cannot be too careful in making the river a forbidden place for their young boys.

============================================================

Mrs. John Forcha and her two little children Robert and John returned home yesterday from Centerrville, Miss. after a month’s stay there with Mrs. Forcha’s parents. Mrs. Forcha was accompanied by her sister, Miss Mamie Riggs, a most charming and accomplished society belle of that town.

============================================================

Arthur Fernandez, who was thought to have been fatally injured while diving for the body of the boy, Bradley, who was drowned yesterday, is much improved today and will in all probability recover.

============================================================

Mr. Theodore Myer of Bayou Sara was married on Wednesday to Miss Glass of Shreveport, the wedding taking place at the latter city. Messrs. L. Meyer of Donaldsonville and Myrtille Meyer of Klotzville, brothers of the groom, attended the wedding.

============================================================

Miss Tinette Pugh, the accomplished third daughter of Mr. and Mrs. E.N. Pugh, who has been attending to her studies at Blake’s High School, New Orleans, is at the home of her parents for the vacation period. Miss Pugh’s many friends extend her a hearty welcome home.

============================================================

The funeral of the late John Bourg took place at the Catholic church last evening and was very largely attended. The employee of Messrs. M. Netter & Co., in whose employ the deceased was a clerk, attended in a body. The pall bearers were Messrs Paul LeBlanc, Armand Bordier, Jules Bordier, Tony LeBlanc, Henry Robinson and young Bourg, the latter a nephew of the deceased. The floral tributes were many and beautiful.

============================================================

The energetic young gentleman Mr. Nestor Hebert, until recently in the employ of Messrs. R. and L. Levy’s mammoth store at Paincourtville, recently resigned this position to accept the agency of the Singer Sewing Machine Co. for St. James parish, vice Mr. Monroe C. Thompson resigned. Mr. Hebert took charge of his new place last Monday and says that he is well satisfied with his new business venture. We earnestly and cheerfully commend Mr. Hebert to the firm he represents and to the St. James public as being a courteous, honest, upright and true young gentleman. We wish him much success.

JUNE 15, 1896

George Ward Jr., who is making a trip around the world in a one-horse buggy, is expected to arrive in this city some time tomorrow on his way to New Orleans. He left Ogden, Utah, on the 13th of Jan. last and must, according to the wager, be back at his starting point on Sept. 13, 1898. On arriving at New Orleans, Mr. Ward will take a steamer for Europe and will drive over the old world striking Asia at Palestine. The hard part is, that he is compelled by the terms of the wager, to leave Ogden without a cent of money and all his expenses and living must be made on the trip. He has so far done very well financially by selling his photographs and taking subscriptions for a sporting journal to which he sends letters about his trip. The sensational part of the matter is, that before Mr. Ward wins the wager, he must marry a lady worth at least $2,000 in her own right, and must we before he returns to Ogden to claim the wager.

============================================================

Phoenix Opera House patrons have seen many clever amateur actresses, but about the cleverest of all of them is Miss Willie Lou Bessonet, the accomplished, beautiful and entertaining young lady who assumed the role of Lelia Hawkins in the “Squire’s Daughter” last night. The Paincourtville Dramatic Club is proud to have Miss Bessonet enrolled upon its list of membership. May this gifted young principal of the Belle Rose public school attain a place in the highest rank of educators is the earnest wish of the Times.

============================================================

Every day, and particularly after high mass at the Catholic church on Sundays, a crowd of boys make it a practice to assemble at the old Braud saw mill in Faubourg LaPipe and divest themselves of every raiment and go in swimming. So disgraceful has this become that the residents have applied to the authorities to put an end to it, but as yet it has not been stopped. A few arrests and fines would soon break this practice up.

============================================================

There was only one marriage license issued last week and that was to the Italian elopers.

============================================================

Mr. E. T. Dugas, the leading man of the Paincourtville Amateur Dramatic Club, is an actor of rare merit and there was very little about his work at the opera house last night to suggest the amateur. He was easy, natural, graceful, forceful and finished and it looks that while the medical profession had secured in him a valued recruit, the stage at the same time had lost a notable artist.

============================================================

Mr. L. A. Flaudry, formerly one of Netter & Co.’s leading salesmen, but now fulfilling a similar position in the Armelise store of Dugas & LeBlanc in Assumption parish, was in our city yesterday and we had the pleasure of shaking the hand of our genial friend. Flaudry is as good looking and dudified as ever.

============================================================

That esteemed gentleman and pioneer settler of New River, Mr. Solomon Barman, father of Mr. James S. Barman, the popular and bustling insurance agent of this city, visited Donaldsonville yesterday. He will remain until tomorrow when he leaves for St. Mary parish to be present at the marriage of his son, R. S. Barman, which happy event takes place on Wednesday.

============================================================

Miss M. Blanchy, accompanied by Miss Mary Gregg, the latter the charming young graduate of the St. Vincent’s Institute, were visitors to Mrs. Jos. Gondran of New River lane last week. On their return to this city they were joined by Miss C. Dufilho of New Orleans.

============================================================

Miss Delia Hughes, a sister of Mrs. P. Beddington, spent yesterday in our city.

============================================================

The funeral of Capt. T. P. Leathers, the oldest boatman on the river, whose death was caused by being run down by a bicycle rider in New Orleans, took place today. The steamers on the river had their flags at half mast.

============================================================

Ex-Representative O. A. Bullion was in attendance at the meeting of the Democratic executive committee on Saturday. Mr. Bullion is still limping from the effect of a kick he received from his horse a couple of weeks ago.

============================================================

M. D. Bringier, Dick Godbery, J. T. Nolan Jr. and Warren Guyal, the one-armed rider, were all entered in the bicycle races in New Orleans on Saturday night. Bringier was the only one to get a place, he coming in third in the one mile race. In the trial heat of the one mile race the riders had quite a bad fall. Just as the men had finished the three quarters Bringier, Nolan and Van Cleve, coming from off the banking of the turns, ran entirely too close to the infield. Bringer’s wheel was the first to leave the track and the other two followed. Then there was a tumble and all the riders went rolling over one another. There were no injuries and they mounted their wheels at once and raced after Rollins and Soards. The men did not hope to win, but there was a fight for the third place, which would give them a chance to qualify. Their courage won many friends in the grand stand, and when the three riders finished, there was a general round of applause. Bringier got third place and thus qualified to enter in the final heat.

============================================================

One of the most enjoyable social functions of the season was a charming idea of Miss Mattie E. Pugh, who gave a hay ride party on Saturday evening, in honor of her guest Miss Narcisa Johnson. Three large plantation wagons well filled with hay were supplied by Mr. Willie Hanson and all of them were well filled with one of the jolliest parties of the season. The ride was a most delightful one and on the return of the guests to Mr. Pugh‘s residence dancing was indulged in until a late hour. The party which was chaperoned by Mrs. W. Hanson was composed of the following ladies and gentlemen: Misses Mattie E. Pugh, Tinette Pugh, Albertha and Jennie McGailliard, Marie Richard, Jeanne Poche, Emma Nolan, Alice Kline and Messrs. Jos. Maurin, Wallace Barron, Sidney Vega, Dr. E. K. Sims, Albert Martin, Eddie Hanson, H. Comstock, Leon Levi, Browse Bringier and Norman Prescott.

============================================================

Mr. John Solozano decided the he would run over to Burnside on Saturday and show the cracks of the famous gun club there what good shooting was. John ran up against al the experts of the club, including the hitherto invincible Palmer and downed them all. John is now determined to organize a gun club in this city and will not rest until such a consummation is secured. Mr. Solozano was delighted with the treatment he received from the gentlemen at Burnside who treated him royally.

============================================================

Andrew Gingry Jr., whose business card appears in The Times today, has been turning out some meritorious work of late in the way of balusters, fancy scroll work and cisterns. In the construction of the latter, he is without a rival and his prices are always the lowest. Those who need anything in his line will consult their interest by having a talk with Mr. Gingry before giving out their contracts.

============================================================

Arthur Fernandez who had a close call with death Thursday last by hitting his head against a flat boat when diving for the body of the drowned negro boy is around again all right.

============================================================

Mrs. J. A. Braud has commenced collecting among gentlemen and begs to be favorably received. She has named the following persons to collect from colored people: Mesdames Vileor Dupart, Marie LeBlanc, Joseph Duffel.

JUNE 16, 1896

There are three cases of small pox in a house on Tailor street, all of the afflicted being colored women. The first of these is an imported case the woman having come from Churchville.

Dr. Thibaut, the city physician, this morning said that he would probably have them all removed to the pest house during the day but could not say definitely until he had had an interview with the Mayor.

“There are two inmates now at the pest house that could have been discharged a week ago, but I shall not let them out now until next Friday,” said Dr. Thibaut. “You can say” continued the doctor that there is nothing to alarm anyone on account of these new cases as they are thoroughly isolated and but small danger of contagion.

The woman who came from Churchville is said to have had the disease when she reached this city but was kept secluded by her friends.

============================================================

Mr. Jos. V. St. Martin, the worthy son of our Sheriff, has been spending a week at his home in Faubourg LaPipe. He will return to New Orleans and resume his dental studies today.

============================================================

Mrs. John Williams is spending today with Mrs. Milton Sanchez of the Halfway plantation.

============================================================

Miss L. Harp, the pretty eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John P. Harp, gave us an appreciated call this afternoon.

============================================================

Mrs. Bachemin and daughter and Mrs. Mazorie of New Orleans are guests of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Sanchez of Halfway plantation.

============================================================

Jailor Acosta reported everything quiet at the parish prison this morning. His boarders are in good health and their appetites the best. While his menu does not include ice cream and watermelons, his boarders are entirely satisfied with it. The Jail is as clean as a whistle and Mr. Acosta has reason to feel proud of its condition.

JUNE 17, 1896

Yesterday afternoon a colored man named Bowman, residing just above Port Barrow, became enraged at his daughter, Lillie, aged 17 years, because she had no dinner ready for him when he came in and beat her in a brutal and shameful manner with a piece of rope.

Another daughter who was present at the time ran from the house and came over to this city in search of her mother who was working here. The mother at once left for her home and found that her daughter was badly bruised and suffering greatly from the beating the brutal father had inflicted.

It seems that when Bowman went off to workin the morning, the young woman had fixed him up a big lunch and had not expected him to return for dinner and in consequence made no preparations for that meal.

When he came in and asked why the dinner was not read, she told him of the lunch she had given him. For some reason, this enraged him and he picked up a piece of rope and assaulted her.

The young woman is said to be quite badly hurt, but her injuries are not of a serious character. Up to noon today no complaint had been made against Bowman and he had not been arrested.

============================================================

Misses Albertha and Jennie McGalliard, daughters of Dr. W. M. McGailliard, have returned from attending school in New Orleans. Miss Albertha was one of this year’s class of the Blake High School, graduating with distinguished honors. Miss Jennie, who will graduate next year, received the first prize for music. These talented and popular young ladies have been receiving a great deal of social attention since their return home.

============================================================

There were a score of young urchins swimming in the river last evening. Unless more care is exercised there will be a number of accidental drownings before the season is over.

============================================================

A most delightful wagon ride and dance was given by the young ladies of this city last evening in honor of Misses Sadie and Hortense Holzman of Shreveport, the guests of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Blum and Miss Narcissa Johnson of New Orleans, the guest of Misses Mattie and Tinette Pugh. After a most enjoyable ride the party arrived at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. M. Goldstein on B. Lemann & Bro’s Perseverance plantation and found the house and grounds beautifully illuminated with Chinese lanterns and otherwise decorated, presenting a veritable scene from Fairyland. Dancing at once began and was kept up until 3 o’clock this morning when the party, very tired, but highly delighted and very enthusiastic returned to their homes in this city. During the evening, the young ladies who had the management of the party were agreeably surprised and very much pleased by being presented with three mammoth and handsome cakes, the gifts of Mesdames M. Goldstein, M. Kern and R. Singer. These ladies in other ways did much to add to the success of the affair and our young ladies desire to make their acknowledgement and thanks for all those timely courtesies. During the intermission between the dances, the guests were favored with some piano selections by the Misses Holzman. The party was chaperoned by Mrs. Jacob Blum and Mrs. Holzman and the conveyance was furnished by Mr. J. Elphege LeBlanc, the manager of the Belle Terre plantation. The party was composed of the following: Misses Sadie and Hortense Holzman, Narcissa Johnson, Stella Vega, Loulie Israel, Alice Kline, Jeanne Poche, Lelia Pike, Eloise Esneault, Malvina Esneault, Emma Weber, Laura Comeaux, Stella Richard, Marie Richard, A. Vessier, and Messrs. Walter, Henry and Ned Comstock, Sidney Vega, M. D. and Browse Bringier, Paul and Auguste Braud, Euclid Richard, H. Treille Jr., J. Jos. Park, Leon Levi, Randolph Feltus, Henry Esneault, Richard Godbery, Wallace Barron, Caleb Weber, Frank and Linden Sharp, Frank and Dr. E. K. Sims, August Heine, Jos. Babin and Albert Duffel.

============================================================

Capt. William Campbell resumed command of the steamer Paul Tulane today, after a week’s absence from the boat on account of illness.

============================================================

Miss Jeanne Poche and her sister-in-law, Mrs. Geo. Poche, left this morning for St. James parish to visit the family of Willie Poche. They will be gone a few days.

============================================================

Mr. F. H. Larose, the estimable son-in-law of Mr. John Solozano, is laid up at his father-in-law’s home with chills and fever. We hope to mention his early recovery.

============================================================

A pleasant fishing party composed of Misses Bertha, Lise and Noemie Mollere and Messrs. Max Dupaty and John Gaudin, returned from Bayou Corne on Monday evening.

============================================================

Master Caleb Weber, a popular and promising young student at Dyer’s School, New Orleans, returned home yesterday afternoon to remain with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. E. L. Weber, until the next session of the school. His numerous friends here have given him a hearty welcome home.

============================================================

Our handsome young friend, Master Ned Maher, son of our competent and obliging Deputy Sheriff H. O. Maher, returned home last Saturday from the Chamberlain Hunt Academy at Port Gibson, Miss., to spend the vacation with his parents. Ned is a bright boy and is making rapid progress in his studies.

============================================================

It is with deep regret that we announce today the death of Mr. W. W. Pugh, the father of Mr. Edward N. Pugh of this city, at his home near Napoleonville, Assumption parish, last evening. Deceased was one of the oldest and most respected residents of Assumption which he had honored with his citizenship for many years. The news of Mr. Pugh’s death was received everywhere with tender evidences of regret.

============================================================

An informal but nevertheless a most enjoyable sewing party was given at the residence of Capt. John T. Nolan on the St. Elizabeth plantation last evening by a few of Donaldsonville’s prettiest belles who have enrolled themselves into a club known as the “Sweet Seven,” in compliment to he young men who have a similar organization known as the “Sour Seven.” The gentleman’s first prize was won by Mr. L. A. Becnel, the second by Mr. Joseph Maurin and the third by Mr. H. McCall Jr. A pretty piece of work by one of the young ladies was a picture of one of our society swells that had been embroidered on pink satin with red silk. The likeness was admirable, being rue to every feature in detail and easily recognized.

JUNE 18, 1896

The announcement yesterday of the death of Mr. W. W. Pugh was erroneous and came through information furnished the Times that we had every reason to believe was reliable, our informants having given us the name of Mr. Pugh’s father instead of Mrs. Pugh‘s father, as it was the latter, Mr. Howell, who died in New Orleans.

============================================================

Miss Emma Barrilleaux, a most prepossessing young lady from Lockport, after spending a few days with the beautiful daughters of Lieut. Hubert Treille, Misses Carmelite and Parmella Treille of Port Barrow, left on the forenoon train today for White Castle, where she visit her sister.

============================================================

Masters Willie Bradford and Ned Leche returned home yesterday from the Chamberlain Hunt Academy, Port Gibson, Miss., where they have been attending school. They will spend the vacation with their parents here.

============================================================

Photographer DeZalba showed us some fine snap shot photographs that he took recently of bicyclists at the Driving Park. The work is about the finest of its kind that we have ever seen.

============================================================

Lieut. Huber Treille left this morning for White Castle and other points in the interest of the work he is selling entitled, “The True History of the Confederacy.”

============================================================

Miss Louise Schaff, who was quite seriously bruised by falling off a step ladder while hanging some curtains a few days ago at her father’s home, is new able to be up and about.

============================================================

Lillie Bowman, the colored girl who was so brutally beaten by her father on Monday, has disappeared from her home and her present whereabouts are unknown to her people. She is said to have expressed a determination to run away as soon as she was able, and it is supposed that she has sought protection with some of her friends down the bayou. Her mother and sister started off today in search of her.

============================================================

Mrs. Smith, the amiable wife of the well known Cincinnati shoe drummer of that name, is spending a few weeks in our city, stopping at the Nicholls Hotel. Her husband will shortly arrive here when he will be joined in his commercial travels by his wife.

============================================================

Mr. Jos. M. Coughlin left here this morning via the steamer Louisiana for McBride’s Belle Grove plantation located at Ellendale post office, Terrebonne parish, where he takes charge of the mechanical department of the Belle Grove sugar refinery.

============================================================

Electrician Will. Owens of the Great Southern Telephone and Telegraph Co. after being away at Baton Rouge and other places for several months is again in Donaldsonville and will resume work with his brother, Linesman John Owens.

============================================================

Mr. Abel Landry, the successful Napoleonville liveryman, paid our city a visit yesterday and while here was the guest of Mr. Henry A. Landry.

============================================================

Our colored friends are to be give a surprise party at the home of Eliza and Martha Hargans on Sunday evening next.

============================================================

Mr. and Mrs. Gus Weill of White Castle spent yesterday in our city visiting friends.

============================================================

Mr. E. Levy of Texas was in our city and will leave today for New York.

============================================================

Mr. M. Meyer of Port Gibson, Miss., and Mr. E. Netter and wife of the same city are at the Nicholls Hotel.

============================================================

Miss Sophia Mayer, an amiable young lady from White Castle, spent yesterday with her Donaldsonville friends.

============================================================

The body of Capt. T. P. Leathers, temporarily entombed in the Metairie cemetery at New Orleans, will be taken to Natchez for burial early in the fall.

============================================================

The three women who were found suffering with the small pox in a house on Taylor street, have been removed to the pest house and are doing well under the ministration of Dr. Thibaut, the city physician. It is not expected that there will be any further cases as all necessary precautions have been taken to prevent the spread of the disease.

JUNE 19, 1896

Martha Taylor, the name of an old colored woman who may frequently be seen on our streets, is probably the oldest woman in the State, if not in the entire country, her age from computations made by facts furnished a Times representative being somewhere between 104 and 107 years. Despite this extreme age, Aunt Martha as she is called, is quite spry and is in full possession of all her faculties, her eyesight being still keen and her hearing decidedly acute. The story of this old woman’s life as she told it in The Times office yesterday is decidedly interesting.

She was born a slave in Llewellyn county Virginia, her master being Wm. Pierce. At quite an early age she was taken to Mobile, where when about 15 years of age, she married a man named Taylor. After she had been wedded several years and had four children, she was bought by Camille Mire of St. James and it was while she was being taken through New Orleans to her new home that she saw Gen. Jackson, who, she said, had just arrived in that city. In speaking of the incident, she said, “I ‘member seein’ the general an’ bless yer heart honey I don’t likely to forget dat cause chery one was a follerin him an’ the levee was jus black wid people. Does I member how he looks? Why of cose I does, he was a might fine lookin’ soldier.”

After she had been in St. James for some time, during which she again remembers seeing Andrew Jackson when he came down the bayou where he remained for several days as the guest of Dr. Cottman, Aunt Martha was bought by Jackson Powers of this city. She remained with this gentleman until the war broke out when Mr. Powers and his son Thomas were both killed in battle and Mrs. Powers went to her father’s home in Louisville.

Since that time Aunt Martha has remained here working for many families until growing infirmities have caused her to cease from labor and she is now earning a precarious livelihood by nursing and old paralytic lady with whom she has been for four years. The only other resources she has is four dollars a month which is allowed her by the city.

Photographer DeZalba has just taken an excellent photograph of the old woman and it is proposed to sell them for her benefit. Mr. DeZalba contributing ten cents for every picture that is sold.

While not in actual want Aunt Martha could be made a great deal more comfortable than she is, and her extreme age commend her to our generous people and her last days of so long a life should be made as happy and tranquil as possible.

============================================================

Mr. Jos. M. Keating, the popular and hustling manager of the Ascension Lumber Yard in this city, called at the Times office this morning. Mr. Keating says that their lumber business is booming. They are now loading two flatboats for a big order from down the bayou. In order to accommodate their country patrons a telephone (No. 58) has been placed in the office.

============================================================

Last evening a number of young ladies and gentlemen assembled at the residence of Mrs. Luke Eris and from here proceeded to the home of Mr. Dominique Gentil to serenade and surprise Miss Marie Gentil, in honor of her birthday. Upon arriving at Mr. Gentil’s residence about 10 o’clock, it was found that every one had retired and the party noiselessly made their way to the gallery and the Pastime Orchestra composed of Jos. Babin, mandolin; Alfred Landry and Luke Eris, guitars; Nic. Eris, bass viol. and Andrew Joseph, who had been specially secured, violin, struck up a serenade which soon awakened the greatly surprised inmates of the house and in a short time the doors were thrown open and the party invited in. Dancing at once began and was kept up until an early hour this morning. The music was a feature of the occasion, the playing by the young men, who were all members of the Pastime Club, being remarkably fine. The following ladies and gentlemen constituted the party: Alice Celia and Lydia Ramirez, Marie and Ella Eris, L. Parks, Edna Michel, Loretta Ferrier, Leonie Cire, and Messrs. Albert Duffel, Clem. Mollere, Thos. Parks, Ed. Villeminot, Joseph and Paul Gisclard, Andrew Babin and Mr. D. Gentil and wife. Mesdames D. Landry and Wm. Parks were the chaperons.

============================================================

Mr. Jacob Blum, an old and highly respected resident, died last night at the Nicholls Hotel, which place he has made his home for the past three years, in the 72d year of his age. The deceased, who was born in Germany, but for the past 50 years had been a resident of the State, had for some time retired from business and for the past five years had suffered greatly from dropsy and heart disease which confined him most of the time to a chair. The malady became more acute a couple of days ago and the end came last evening at 10 o’clock while he was seated in his chair. Mr. Blum at one time removed here to New Orleans, but would return to this place every year to spend the winter. He leave a wife, nee Mary Klopman, who has been his patient helpmeet and nurse during his long illness. The funeral took place at 1 o’clock this afternoon from the Nicholls Hotel, Rabbi I. L. Leucht officiating. The burial was under the direction of the masonic rites, the deceased being a member of Perfect Union Lodge F. and A.M. Interment was made in the Jewish Cemetery.

============================================================

Messrs. Fred. Linde and Paul A. Wutke, the patentees of the new car coupler, have signed a contract with the Sherman Iron Works of Sherman, Texas, for the manufacturing of their couplers. The large offer made by this company is a guarantee that they consider it a good thing and as Sherman is a prominent railroad centre a fine opportunity is afforded for the introduction of the patent coupler to where it will do the most good.

============================================================

Manager J. M. Ourso is getting everything in readiness for the big race meeting beginning next Wednesday. Most of the horses entered will be at the track by Sunday.

============================================================

There was only one marriage license issued by Clerk Landry this week, and that was to Gloster Brown and Minerva Mickens.

============================================================

The new house at the corner of Iberville and Lessard streets is about completed. It is a very handsome structure.

============================================================

The ice factory is being run at its full capacity these days, the demand for congealed water being unusually large.

============================================================

Miss Erskine Kock is spending a while at Belle Alliance, having come up from New Orleans last week.

============================================================

Miss Fannie Hewitt of New Orleans is the guest of her sister, Mrs. C. R. Gaines of Belle Alliance.

============================================================

Messrs. Frank and Linden Sharp, the handsome young sons of Mr. W. R. Sharp of Belle Alliance, are at home for the vacation period.

============================================================

Mr. C. C. Clifton has been very sick but is better now.

============================================================

Miss G. Ganier, one of the most popular young ladies of St. James, is the guest of Mr. J. C. Mire and family. All hope her stay will be a long one.

============================================================

Capt. J. Dodd Smith was in Baton Rouge a couple of days this week.

============================================================

Miss C. Chase has returned to her home in Washington, where she will spend the summer. While on the bayou she made many friends who will be glad to see her return when her vacation is over.

JUNE 22, 1896

Mr. Joseph Maurin, the energetic and hustling agent of the Tommie Ross Whiskey, is making this popular brand the standard in this parish and it is now on sale everywhere. The success of this whiskey is not hard to understand for it is a fine, prime, high class article and once drank it is called for again. Add to this merit the keen, active and popular business methods of its agent, Mr. Jos. Maurin, in pushing its sale, we have a combination in which failure is an impossibility.

============================================================

Elizabeth Dupre, colored, wife of Charles Dupre, died yesterday, aged 41 years. The funeral took place this afternoon from the Nazarene Baptist church. The interment was in the Protestant cemetery.

============================================================

The commencement exercises at the Ascension Academy at the Opera House Friday evening, attracted one of the largest audiences ever gathered in this place of amusement, and it is safe to say that nearly as many were turned away as gained admission. The audience was not only large but extremely enthusiastic, every number on the long program being vigorously applauded.

The exercises opened with a well executed overture by the Phoenix orchestra, and the curtain went up on a group of the older scholars who sung quite pleasingly the popular melody “Sunshine of Paradise Alley.” Then follows three excellent recitations, “Willie’s Speech,” “The Night Wind” and “Not So Easy” by Hudson Hunley, G. Donnaud Bentley and Clarence Poebe. “The Little Seamstress” was an admirable effort by Miss Junia Gingry that deserved plaudits.

“Unjust Suspicion,” a very pretty little comedietta was charmingly given by Misses Lily Feitel, Ada Gingry, Fanny Landry, Bella Landry, Nellie Price and Laura Landry.

The hoop drill by the primary department was very cleverly executed and proved to be one of the most interesting numbers of the program.

“Give and Take,” a pleasing dialogue with a splendid moral, was given by Miss Anna Lear and Raymond Capbern.

The tableau, “The May Queen,” was very pretty and was greeted with a shower of applause. The picture was well arranged and the grouping splendid.

“Examination Day” was then presented by a dozen, young lads and misses and it caught the fancy of the audience immensely.

“A Boy’s Pocket,” a very humorous effort, was recited with fine effect, eliciting a great deal of laughter by Vincent Ourso.

The popular song, “Oh, Uncle John,” was then rendered by the chorus in good style.

“Annie’s Party,” a comedy, was well presented by Robert Maurin and Misses Emma Lear, Cecile Creole, Augusta Heintz, Evelin Ourso, Mary Montamant, Anna Lear, Mary Bradford and Linda Acosta. This was followed by another pretty and striking tableau “The Gypsy Camp.”

“The Man and Woman That Waited” was cleverly presented by G. Donnaud Bentley and Miss Edna Cire.

The commedy, “Dr. Cure All,” followed and Master G. Donnaud Bentley in the title character proved himself a comedian of no mean ability. All the characters in this piece were well taken and it was very amusing.

Dr. John S. Thibaut, President of the School Board then awarded the prizes among the number being a handsome gold medal offered by Mayor Leche for the best essay, which was won by Miss Laura Harp who took as her subject, “The United States.”

The essay was a most thoughtful and scholarly production and Miss Harp is to be congratulated on her ability.

The medals awarded were as follows:

• Scholarship in High School: Miss Haidee Weeks.
• Scholarship in Grammar: Miss Ione Weeks.
• Attendance in Principal’s Department: Misses Ada Gingry and Fanny Landry.
• Attendance and scholarship in Grammar B. Department: Miss Emma Wagner.
• Attendance in Primary A Department: Miss Aurelia Rodeillat.
• Attendance Primary E. Department: Miss Jennie Gingry.
• For Spelling Primary C. Department: Miss Marie Michel.
• For Attendance Primary D. Department: Joseph Woolrich.

The exercises closed with the tableau, “Gods and Goddesses,” which ended one of the most ambitious programs ever presented by this excellent Academy and which reflected the highest credit on the pupils.

Between the first and second acts of the comedy, “Dr. Cureall,” Master G. Donnaud Bentley, on behalf of the first class, presented Prof. R. N. Sims Jr. with a silver bicycle name plate. Mr. Sims was taken by complete surprise but managed to make a very neat speech of acceptance.

============================================================

A bicycle race, two miles and a half, was ridden at the Ascension Driving Park on Friday evening between M. D. Bringier of this parish and “Kid” Comeaux of New Orleans. Bringier set the pace and led Comeaux until the last lap when the latter put on steam and forged to the front, winning the race and purse at $30 quite handily. Both riders were greatly exhausted when the race was finished.

============================================================

A telephone message from Bayou Goula this morning stated that Miss Hebert was still alive and that there were hopes of saving her life. She will be taken to Charity Hospital, New Orleans, on tonight’s train and the ambulance in charge of the students of the hospital will meet the train on its arrival in New Orleans. Two additional arrests were made yesterday when the colored woman residing next door to Mrs. Landry and her daughter were placed in custody on suspicion that they knew more about the murder than they told. Detective Flood of New Orleans has arrived there and now has charge of the case. The colored people of the parish, on the account of the high feeling running there, have become panic stricken and are leaving in droves.

Sheriff St. Martin was specially secured by the people of Iberville parish to work up the murder case. The Sheriff admits that it is a hard tangle to unravel but believes that the murderers will eventually be run down.

============================================================

On Saturday evening while Guy Williams, colored, was plowing on the Belle Helene plantation, he stepped on a big rattle snake pilot which bit him twice on the foot. Williams was taken to the store where he was heavily doused with whiskey by Judge Gondran and Prof. Jones, while a doctor was being sent for. Williams leg began to swell and assumed unusual proportions from the poison. Today the swelling began to subside and he was pronounced out of danger. The snake was a very big one but Williams was too frightened to kill it.

============================================================

Rev. Dr. J. T. Sawyer of New Orleans will preach at the Donaldsonville Methodist Church next Saturday evening at 7:30 o’clock and the following Sunday morning at 11 o’clock. The regular quarterly church conference will be held at 4 o’clock on Saturday afternoon.

============================================================

Mr. and Mrs. G. Feitel yesterday entertained Mr. Ed. Levy, Mr. Marc Levy and Mrs. Levy of New Orleans, Mr. Ed. Feitel of St. James, Mr. and Mrs. L. Levy of Barton and their son, Mr. Jasmin Feitel of Elm Hall.

============================================================

Mrs. J. Capone went to New Orleans yesterday and spent the day with relatives.

============================================================

Miss Bella Lauve, accompanied by her sister, Mrs. Henry Poche of Lauderdale, were in town for a few hours today.

============================================================

Messrs. Sidney Vega and Jos. Maurin, who had charge of the bicycle races at the Driving Park yesterday, did their work well.

JUNE 23, 1896

It now looks as if the murderers of Mrs. Telesphore Landry and the assailants of Miss Madeline Hebert had been run down and that justice, terrible but deserved, would be meted out to them.

Among the first suspicioned by Sheriff St. Martin when he took charge of the case was the negro Woody, who resided next door to Mrs. Landry and he was promptly put under arrest. Under the sharp cross questioning of Sheriff St. Martin his story of how he passed the night was both contradictory and suspicious. He admitted hearing groans in the Landry house and when asked why he had not gone to see what was the matter, replied: “I never like to see blood it makes me sick.”

“Oh, then you knew they had been assaulted,” replied Sheriff St. Martin, to which Woody made a confused answer.

Yesterday, a thorough search was made of Woody’s house that brought to light what looks like conclusive evidence of guilt.

A wash basin was found with some bloody water in it and a garment was also found with traces of blood on it. On one of the outer doors there was an imprint as if made by bloody fingers.

Added to this, evidence has been secured to show that Woody in company with the two Whittaker negroes was seen on the street in the vicinity of the house about midnight on the night of the murder.

These developments have wrought the feelings of the people to the highest pitch, and it is doubtful if the counsel of the leading men not to resort to lynch law, but allow the courts to deal with them will prevail, and there is liable to be an attack on the jail, and a lynching at any hour.

Miss Madeline Hebert was taken to the Charity Hospital, New Orleans, on yesterday afternoon’s train, and there are hopes now that her life will be saved.

In one of her lucid moments yesterday, Miss Hebert said to her nurse: “What is the matter with me, what has happened?”

The nurse answered: “Madeline a terrible thing has happened, some one has hit you with a hatchet. Do you remember anything about it? Don’t you know who it was?”

In a dazed sort of way she replied: “Hit me with a hatchet? Why I know nothing about it. It must have been when I was asleep.”

Mr. George Maillan, a clerk at M. Netter & Co.’s and a resident of Bayou Goula, to home the Daily Times is much indebted for information regarding the case, said he knew the negroes who were under arrest and that they were a bad lot, and he had had trouble with them himself.

Mr. Landry, a nephew of the murdered woman, was in this city last night, and said he had no doubt but that the right men had been arrested as the evidence was growing every hour against them.

The New Orleans Picayune this morning says that Miss Hebert stood the journey from Bayou Goula to New Orleans well and suffered no ill effects from it. The ambulance was at the depot and she was conveyed as rapidly as possible to the hospital. The surgeons there at once redressed the wounds and after a careful examination remarked that there was a hope of saving her life, but that she must be kept very quiet.

============================================================

A story was current in this city early this morning that an attempt had been made to attack the Plaquemine jail to secure the five prisoners, three man and two women, for the purpose of lynching them but later news proved this to be a mere rumor. The Plaquemine jail is a strong, substantial structure liable to withstand any ordinary assault upon it. The feeling of the best people in Plaquemine is averse to mob violence, as it is believed that the courts can be relied upon to mete out justice just as severe as that any mob might inflict, and these people will do what they can to thwart such violence.

============================================================

Miss Mary L. Boyer, the secretary of the Moonlight Social Club of Bayou Goula, sends the following to the Daily Times: “Owing to the terrible tragedy of the murder of Mrs. Telesphore Landry and the murderous assault upon Miss Madeline Hebert at Bayou Goula on the night of the 19th inst., and consequent sadness and gloom pervading the community where they were so well known and high esteemed, the ‘moonlight hop’ which was to have been given by the Moonlight Social Club on the 24th inst. at the residence of Mr. P. L. Viallon, is indefinitely postponed.”

============================================================

The quarter-mile bicycle race at the Ascension Driving Park yesterday afternoon between Browse T. Bringier and Junius Comeaux for a purse of $70 was won by Bringier by one length in 37 3/4 seconds. The track was in good condition and both riders put forth their best efforts. There was a good crowd in attendance and Bringier was the favorite in the betting.

============================================================

The brutal murder of Mrs. Telesphore Landry, and the murderous attack upon her adopted daughter, Miss Hebert, has sent a thrill of horror all over this section of the State, and there is but one wish and hope expressed, and that is that the assassins may be speedily apprehended and their foul crime fully avenged. There has for the past two or three months been a wave of crime sweeping over the State, and in every instance the victims have been white and their assailants colored and one cannot help but view it as a legacy of the last gubernatorial campaign in which Captain Pharr and his associates on the stump, stirred up the very worst passions of the colored race in their efforts to coddle them and secure their votes. The Times at that time pointed out the great danger of the utterances of Capt. Pharr and frequently alluded to them as incendiary and liable to incite and foster murder and arson. It looks in the light of events of the past two or three months that our fears and forebodings at that time were amply justified. The colored people have become restless and crime is following in its wake. It must be stamped out, and stamped out effectively, and no efforts or money should be spared in bringing to justice the Bayou Goula assassins and from the tone of the people we have no reason to fear that there will.

============================================================

William Kenner, the Belle Helene mail carrier, while on the Claiborne street canal between Rumsey Duke’s store and Oscar Gentil‘s bakery, had his attention attracted by a little colored boy screaming for his father about 10 o’clock this morning. Kenner could not make out what the trouble was but looking in the canal he saw something floating in the water and without a moment’s hesitation he jumped in and pulled out what proved to be a little colored girl about nine years old. She was unconscious and Kenner began at once to resuscitate her and had succeeded in doing so when Chief of Police Maher came to his assistance. The little boy was so scared that he could not tell the name of either himself or father, but grabbing hold of his sister started off on a run. It was only Kenner’s promptness in jumping in the call that saved the little girl’s life for she was about to go down for the last time when he grabbed her.

============================================================

Donaldsonville’s boss pastryman, Pierre Blanc, has the thanks of the Daily Times force for an assortment of cakes, which were delicious and greatly relished.

============================================================

The sugar factory on Mrs. James Teller‘s Riverside plantation is undergoing a general overhauling under the able superintendence of Chief Engineer Joseph Worrel. Mr. E. F. Landry is among Mr. Worrel’s helpers.

============================================================

Friend Ned Comstock left here yesterday for Planchette, Pointe Coupee parish, where he will spend about two weeks as the guest of his brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Sam P. Lacour.

============================================================

The officers here have received instructions to apprehend strange and suspicious looking colored men on the charge that they may have been connected with the Bayou Goula tragedy.

JUNE 24, 1896

The rumor that circulated throughout the city yesterday that a Wild West Show had arrived here was unfounded and arose from the fact that two men seated on the back of a little pony were seen galloping madly into town about 7 o’clock a. m. showing feats of bare back horsemanship rarely seen outside of a circus tent. The men were Joe Park and H. Treille Jr. and there is a story back of this double bare back act. Both started for the McCall plantation to work yesterday morning. Park on his wheel and Treille on his pony. The storm came up and Joe’s wheel became stalled in the mud and he had to leave it at a wayside house. He then started to walk home when Treille came along on his pony and took him up and from that time until they reached the city it was a two ring circus and Joe is liable to create a corner in liniments and lotions in order to ease the bruises and soreness caused by his bare back exploits.

============================================================

Joseph Romano, a former resident of this city, but for the past three years residing at Morgan City, was drowned at the latter place on Friday last. The deceased was quite well known here and was a brother-in-law of Mr. Gaspard Messina. The drowning was the result of an accident.

============================================================

Mrs. A. J. Bachman, and her sweet little daughter Rhea, and Mrs. Geo. Mazret of New Orleans are spending a few weeks at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Milton Sanchez.

============================================================

There are no new developments in the Bayou Goula tragedy today, but the coils are said, however, to be slowly but surely tightening around the colored man, Woody, and the Whittakers. Detective Flood is expected from New Orleans tomorrow. Miss Hebert is said to be getting on nicely at the Charity Hospital in New Orleans and the surgeons think that she will recover.

============================================================

An enjoyable surprise party was given at the residence of Mr. S. Prejean on the Halfway plantation last evening in honor of the birthday of Miss Felicie Prejean, the handsome and charming daughter of Mr. Prejean. The party assembled at the residence of Mr. Milton Sanchez and from there proceeded to Mr. Prejean’s home, taking Miss Felicie completely by surprise. Among those at the party were: Misses Velma Truxillo, Ella Acosta, Emily Daigle, Marie Ronquillo, Constance Ronquillo, Emeline Jumonville, Mary Sanchez, Virginia Truxillo, Nana Truxillo, Lilly Hernandez, Mesdames Geo. mazret, Arthur Prejean, A. J. Bachmin, Antoine Acosta, Milton Sanchez and Messrs. Honore Ayraud, Jules Ayraud, Jos. LeBlanc, C. Landry, Jules LeBlanc, Edward LeBlanc, P.H. Truxillo, Philip Truxillo, Tony Truxillo, Camille Ruiz, Franklin Ruiz, Albert Ruiz, Cadet S. A. Alleman, Emile Hernandez, John A. Buquoi, Jos. Bell, Edgar Jumonville, K. A. Gauthreaux and Milton Sanchez. Music for the dances was furnished by a piano and violin. During the evening punch and other refreshments were served.

============================================================

Our genial and efficient postmaster, Mr. Solomon Klotz, visited the Crescent city this week for the purpose of consulting an occulist. His beautiful new gold spectacles give him a distinguished appearance.

============================================================

Among those who enjoyed the excursion to the city last Sunday were Dr. J. D. Damare, Judge Albert Kockritz and Jos. Verret. All are full of talk of their trip.

============================================================

Mr. and Mrs. L. H. Folse of St. James parish will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their wedded life on July 3 and it is rumored down here that it will be par excellence, the crowning event of the season. We trust Napoleonville will be fully represented on the occasion.

============================================================

Miss Bella Gilbert, a charming and accomplished belle of this town, has to the regret of her numerous friends been confined to her bed with fever but we are glad to state that she has entirely recuperated.

============================================================

Messrs. Fred. Linde and Paul A. Wutke have returned home from Sherman, Texas, where they made a contract with the Sherman Foundry for the manufacture and introduction of their patent car coupler. The couplers are to be given a test on the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad at an early day and both the patentees and the manufacturers are enthusiastic over the interest the railroad people are taking in the invention, the Sherman Foundry being particularly sanguine that the couplers will be a great success.

============================================================

Leon Smith and Eugene Dright, two young boys, were arrested in the market for fighting and arraigned before Mayor Leche on a charge of disturbing the peace. His Honor after giving them a severe lecture and warning them never to repeat the offense allowed them to depart.

============================================================

The Daily Times is indebted to Mr. Henry Landry, the handsome and courteous mixologist of the Welcome saloon, for a pitcher of ice cold beer and some fresh pretzels which he sent to our office yesterday. Accept our hearty thanks, friend Henry.

============================================================

A story was on the streets this morning that one Italian had murdered another in White Castle last evening, but the report could not verified.

============================================================

Mr. J. E. LaBlanc, president of the Police Board of Assumption, was a visitor to the city today.

============================================================

Mr. Joseph Dudenhofer will do the carpenter work on the new masonic building, and Mr. Andrew Gingry will superintend the work on the part of the lodge.

JUNE 25, 1896

There is very little being done in the Bayou Goula tragedy by the officials who seem to feel that they have the right ones in custody and all their efforts are now directed in strengthening the testimony against them. Detective Flood, who has charge of the case, has been in New Orleans for the past two days on other business but is expected back tonight. Another slight link in the chain of evidence against Woody has been forged in the finding that one of the pickets between his and Mrs. Landry‘s house had been recently removed. There are now nine negroes, three women and six men, in jail at Plaquemine under suspicion of being either principals or accomplices in the murder. Miss Madeline Hebert has improved wonderfully since she has been in the Charity Hospital at New Orleans and is now in a fair way of recovery but she will be terribly disfigured for life.

============================================================

James LeBlanc, aged 15 years, died in Bayou Goula on Saturday last from hyrdrophobia. About two months ago the boy was bitten by a pet dog on the lower lip but at the time nothing was thought of it. About a week ago, however, he was taken quite ill and had to go to bed and all the symptoms of hydrophobia became apparent. On Saturday last he was seized with violent convulsions in one of which he died.

============================================================

Misses Aline and Stella Vega left on the 11:20 train this forenoon for Cottonport, Avoyelles parish, where they will spend several days with their winsome friend, Miss Ethel Ducote.

============================================================

Labadieville’s Park managers are making an effort to secure the bicycle race between Dick Godbery and Warren Guyol at their park for Sunday, July 5, and have offered a big purse as an inducement. We understand that no special effort has been made to secure this race for our park and it behooves our people to be up and doing and not left this race get away from here as it will be a big attraction.

============================================================

Mr. G. Blanchard, who formerly ran a store at Sunshine, Iberville parish, this week joined the clerical force at Cheap Tony’s.

============================================================

The requiem mass for the repose of the soul of the late James Teller will be sung at the Donaldsonville Catholic church tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock. Friends and acquaintances of the family are respectfully invited to attend.

============================================================

Miss Ella Bentley closes her first term at St. Mary’s Dominican Convent, New Orleans, today and will return home for a long vacation on tomorrow.

============================================================

Grading for the Mississippi and Lafourche railroad is now in progress over S. Prejean‘s Halfway plantation and the work will all be completed and in readiness for the ties in about four days.

============================================================

Our handsome young friend, Jos. Webre, who will soon become a D.D. S. is in the city spending a few days with his parents, Dr. and Mrs. Theo. Webre. Joe has been in the New River section of the parish for several weeks and came over to attend the Masonic ball given last night. He reports crops in rural Ascension fine and says that marriages in that vicinity are very plentiful. He will return to New River in a few days.

============================================================

Steamer Lynn J. and barges which were here about six weeks ago with the Daniel Boone show have been seized by United States Marshal on a warrant sworn out by W. C. Craft et alls. who claim they are due wages by the said steamer. Steamer Lynn J. is owned by Capt. Frank Ottendorfer and has not turned a wheel for several weeks.

============================================================

Miss Malvina Esneault, the lovely daughter of Mr. Albert Esneault, the enterprising lumberman of Faubourg Lapipe, left Tuesday with Mrs. F. L. Trepagnier for Patterson, La. to spend a few weeks at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jones, parents of Mrs. Trepagnier.

============================================================

Guy Williams, the colored man who was bitten by a rattlesnake pilot last week on the Belle Helene plantation, is slowly recovering and was yesterday pronounced out of danger.

JUNE 26, 1896

George Desobry, an old, white-haired, white whiskered man, aged about 78 years, has disappeared from his home in this city in a rather mysterious manner. The old man came here about 15 years ago and was apparently without a friend or relative in the world. He hired a small piece of land back of the St. Vincent Institute and began raising vegetables from the sale of which he made a living.

He kept this ladn until about two years ago, when he leased the garden back of the Episcopal rectory where he remained until Monday of this week, when he leased the garden back of the Episcopal recotry where he remained until Monday of this week, when he suddenly left for parts unknown, taking with him only the clothing that he wore and an old bible.

Desobry was always very eccentric having very little to say and never saying anything about himself or his previous life. Rev. Mr. A. Martin, the rector of the Episcopal church, in speaking of the old man’s disappearance today, said that he always acted strangely but was friendly to him up to a short time ago.

At his lodging place it was found that all of his things and other personal property had been left and it looked as if his departure had been a hurried and suddenly conceived one. Just before he went away he told someone that he had enough of this city and was going away but did not volunteer the information of his proposed destination.

A gentleman who knew the old man quite well said that he had acted oddly every since he had been here and his eccentricities at times were quite marked. He was a hard worker however, and managed to make a comfortable living from the ground that he cultivated.

============================================================

Robert Terrell, the crazy colored man who has been in the parish jail for about two months, continues to grow worse and has now become violent. Jailer Acosta keeps him constantly handcuffed and secure in his cell. Mr. Acosta is very anxious to get rid of this boarder and will be very much pleased when the court meets and disposes this case.

============================================================

Sheriff Triche of Assumption parish made an important arrest on last Monday when he captured Levy Thomas, colored, a convict who escaped from Spotwood camp, Nita levee, St. James parish, on Sept. 1, 1889. Thomas was under a life sentence for murder at the time and had served 14 years when he escaped. His whereabouts was never known until Monday when Sheriff Triche located him on the Anatole Landry plantation and put him under arrest. This was Sheriff Triche’s first arrest and he is naturally very proud of it. Thomas will be turned over to the State’s prison authorities at Baton Rouge.

============================================================

Mr. and Mrs. James Frost of this city are in Thibodaux visiting Mr. Frost’s father.

============================================================

Mr. Nestor Hebert, the able young St. James representative of the Singer Sewing Machine Co., was in our city yesterday.

============================================================

Johnny Dorsey will complete his term of imprisonment on tomorrow morning when Jailer Acosta will turn him out of his boarding house.

============================================================

At the Donaldsonville Bottling Co.’s factory Manager Goette said today that rainy weather had a depressing effect on the sale of their pop, the demand for it being lessened one half when the weather was wet.

============================================================

A silk shopping bag that was found near the opera house and the silver souvenir spoon breast pin that was picked up near St. Vincent’s Institute have been claimed, identified and returned to their owners. The Daily Times, with the announcement of their finding, had not been out an hour when Capt. Gus Lanier called at the office and identified the bag as the property of his mother-in-law, Mrs. L. Monnot. Today the breast pin was identified and turned over to Mrs. Jos. Cire, the mother of Amelie Cire, as the latter’s property. “Amelie will be a happy girl now,” said Mrs. Cire “for she has done nothing but cry ever since she lost it.” An advertisement in the Daily Times will recover a lost article every time.

============================================================

James Johnson, another of the Johnson family, was placed under arrest in A Bend yesterday by Deputy Sheriff Maher on suspicion of having some knowledge of the murder of Mrs. Landry at Bayou Goula.

A Times representative this morning, through the courtesy of Jailer Acosta, had a talk with Johnson in the jail. He is a rather tall, well built colored man with apparently more than ordinary intelligence. He said that he had been working for some time past on the Hermitage plantation and declared that he had not been in Bayou Goula for over two years. He denies all knowledge of any complicity in the crime there and says he was miles away at the time.

His arrest was on suspicion solely and some action will probably be taken in his case today and if the Sheriff of Iberville parish wants him he will be sent to the jail at Plaquemine.

Deputy Sheriff Maher this morning in speaking of Johnson’s arrest said that he received a communication from Mr. James Landry, the superintendent of the Hermitage plantation, requesting that Johnson be at once arrested. The deputy went to Marchandville where Johnson resides and found he was not there so he went across the river and found him at A Bend, where he was about to purchase a skiff. He put him under arrest and brought him to the jail. Mr. Maher expected that someone from Iberville would be up today to take the man away.

Word from Bayou Goula today was to the effect that all the work on the case was directed toward strengthening existing evidence against Woody and the Johnson family, and a denial was made of the story published in a New Orleans paper yesterday that the belief was becoming general that the murder was not done by colored men. It is said that considerable evidence has been secured that had not been made public.

============================================================

Mr. Milton Sanches, the energetic and wide-awake business manager of the Valenzuela store of Mr. S. Prejean, in Assumption parish, was in this city yesterday attending to business appertaining to the firm he represents. Mr. Sanchez visited Pass Christian for a couple of days last week for the purpose of securing comfortable accommodations for his wife, who will cave shortly to spend a few days at that splendid and breezy resort.

============================================================

Felix Bethancourt, at one time a resident of this parish in which he was born, died on Tuesday in Terrebonne parish, aged 70 years. Armand, a son of the deceased, was at one time in partnership with Mr. Sam. Ayraud in running the Riverside Hotel which was on the site of the present Nicholls Hotel. Deceased left here during the war and never came back.

============================================================

The residence of Mr. Alfred Esneault in Faubourg LaPipe is being repainted inside and outside by that expert manipulator of the brush, Sam Schefer of this city.

============================================================

Capt. Benjamin Johnson, one of the oldest and at one time the wealthiest steamboatman on the Mississippi, died in St. Louis yesterday. He was a bachelor and had no living relatives that are known of.

============================================================

A negro named Louis was committed to prison by Judge Israel yesterday on the charge of carrying concealed weapons. He was bailed out last night.

============================================================

Mrs. John Park was in New Orleans this week on a business trip.

============================================================

Ned West, alias Babe Will, who has been in jail for some time, was released yesterday upon paying the fine.

============================================================

There was only one marriage license issued the past week by Clerk Landry, and that was to William Gilmore and Evelene Mason.

============================================================

Albert Jones, colored, was committed to the parish prison last evening on a charge of disturbing the peace, by Justice H. C. Robinson, but was shortly after released by his brother going bail for him.

JUNE 29, 1896

Mrs. Cecile Melancon, the wife of Numa Acosta, the well known drayman of this city, died at her residence on Railroad avenue on Saturday evening and was buried last evening from the Catholic church. Deceased was a well known and very much beloved lady, and leaves a husband and seven small children to mourn her loss. Mrs. Acosta was taken sick about three weeks ago with a stomach affection and grew rapidly worse until death ended her sufferings.

============================================================

Mr. Joseph Dudenhofer, who has charge of the carpenter work of the new Masonic temple, said this morning that the building would be completed and in readiness for occupancy by October 1.

============================================================

The ball given by the Sweet Sixteen Club of Plaquemine at the Hope Opera house, Plaquemine, on Friday was a most delightful success and the guests from this city were pleased with the reception that were extended to them. Among those from here were: Misses Bertha Carmouche, Celestine Lestrapes, Ida Turner, Mamie Armitage, Sudie Robertson and Mrs. Paul Leche.

============================================================

The New Orleans Bargain store has been sold by Mr. Sylvan Tobias to his brother, Mr. Jasmin Tobias. The latter is a popular and hustling business man can be depended upon to keep up the big boom in business that this store has taken on by its energetic and liberal management.

============================================================

The half-mile race between Mr. J. M. Ourso Jr.’s “Bessie” and Mr. Jos. Dicharry‘s “Jugador,” for a purse of $50, was run at the Ascension Park yesterday afternoon and was won by Bessie in 53 1/2 seconds. Bessie again proved herself one of the best racers for that distance in this vicinity.

============================================================

Mr. James Landry, manager of Hermitage plantation, in this parish was in the city on Saturday, and speaking of the arrest of the colored man, Johnson, now in the parish prison here on suspicion of having something to do with the murder of Mrs. Telesphore Landry at Bayou Goula, said: “The colored man’s right name is George Johnson and his statement to the Daily Times that he worked for some time on the Hermitage plantation is false. He was employed on the plantation three and a half days in January and a half day in February. At the time of the murder he was missing from his home in Marchandville for four days. Sometime ago he left his home and went to live with Marcelite Johnson, one of the women now in jail at Plaquemine. His father-in-law, the driver at the Hermitage, however went after him and made him come back to his wife. In Marchandville he has the reputation of being the biggest chicken thief in that section and the colored people there are armed with shot guns laying for him. It was on account of Johnson’s suspicious action and his absence from home at the time of the murder, with his connection with the Johnson family, that led to his arrest.

============================================================

Henry Hakenjos, who at one time was barkeeper at the Nicholls Hotel, died in New Orleans last evening in the 30th year of his age. In December 1894 the deceased married Miss Adele Rodeillat of this city. Yesterday word reached this city of his serious illness and Miss Laura Rodeillat, accompanied by Mr. Guy Dunning, went at once to New Orleans, reaching there before his death. This afternoon, Mrs. F. Rodelilat and her son, Lazar, left for New Orleans on the Valley road to attend the funeral. Deceased leaves a widow and one child, a boy, not quite a year old. During his stay here, Mr. Hakenjos made many friends who will read of his death with the sincerest regret.

============================================================

Victor Suarez, who was so badly hurt by a fall at McCall’s about three weeks ago, is rapidly recovering and he will be around and out again in a few days.

============================================================

Manager Daniel J. Foley of the Tallyho plantation, Iberville parish, spent yesterday in our city.

JUNE 30, 1896

Henry Storum, the well known and very corpulent Dutchman of this city, who has been keeping a sort of eating house and cooking for the working men who are building the new ferryboat, was arrested yesterday on a charge of robbing a freight car at the Texas and Pacific freight depot. Storum, it is claimed, was detected breaking a seal on one of the cars and Constable Vic. Cantrelle, who was put on the case, made a search of Storum’s place and succeeded in finding a sack of oats in a barrel over which was thrown a sack marked for E & J Kock. Fifty pounds of sugar were also found in an old box which Storum used for a trunk. Both the oats and the sugar had been missed from the car and he was placed under arrest and committed to the parish prison in default of $150 bail as fixed by Justice Lenares. The prisoner, it is alleged, claims that he is innocent of the robbery and that the goods were brought to his home by other people and he claims that he will divulge their names when he is brought up in the District Court for trial.

============================================================

Ex-Representative O. A. Bullion of Ascension was a pleasant caller at the Advocate officer yesterday. Dr. Bullion was in the city to meet his bright young daughter who returned from the Normal School at Natchitoches, and while here he took occasion to drop in and give us the news of his section. Cotton in that region he reports to be more promising this season than has been the case for many preceding years and while corn has been somewhat injured by the drought, the doctor thinks that the yield will not be as short as some suppose. Dr. Bullion, being an old Confederate veteran, is naturally enthusiastic over the trip he proposes to make to the great reunion at Richmond, and also to the dedication of the Winchester monument – Baton Rouge Advocate.

============================================================

Justice Henry C. Robinson of the second ward last evening committed to the parish jail John Stewart for disturbing the peace, Henry Johnson for carrying concealed weapons and Levi Levin for disorderly conduct. This morning they paid their fines and were liberated by Jailer Acosta.

============================================================

Mr. and Mrs. L. Lemmel, Misses Lillie and Amelia Kling and Messrs. Kahn and Marx Weil, all of Napoleonville, were in our city today to set the tombstone of Maurice Kling, a brother of the Misses Kling who died last year.

============================================================

Miss Ella Bentley, the charming and accomplished daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. E. Bentley of the Donaldsonville Chief, has returned home from her first term in the St. Mary’s Dominican Convent, New Orleans, where she won distinguished honors, receiving premiums for English composition, poetry and mathematics. In addition Miss Ella received a silver medal for printing and composition work done on the “Salve Regina,” a magazine published by the Nuns of that worthy institution. Since her return home Miss Ella has been the recipient of many social courtesies and congratulations from her friends who welcome her return.

============================================================

Antoine Mathieu and Mose Williams, colored, were arraigned before his honor, Mayor Leche, yesterday afternoon on a charge of running a game of cards, gambling and disorderly conduct. They were convicted and fined $5 each. Warrants were also out for the arrest of Rodolph Guedry and Jim Wallace, on the same charges but they took leg bail and skipped out, but Chief Maher has no doubt but that he will soon have them in custody.

 

Donaldsonville Daily Times – May 1896

Local happenings in the May 1896 editions of The Daily Times of Donaldsonville with local ads thrown in for fun:

MAY 1, 1896

Mr. George Vives of Philadelphia Point was a visitor to our city today.

---

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Henry Dallas, the well known drummer of a New Orleans house, was in the city today.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
When Mayor Leche closed his speech of acceptance at the courthouse last night the band played “I Love You.”

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Mr. Abner F. Folse of Napoleonville was a welcome caller at the Daily Times office this morning.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Mr. Henry McCall of this parish was the principal speaker at the Pharr meeting that was held last night in New Orleans.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Mr. E. N. Pugh of this city was one of the gentlemen on the platform at the Pharr meeting in New Orleans last evening.

———————————————————————————————————————————-Mr. W. O. Pomarede, a well known knight of the grip, familiarly known as “Pom,” was in the city a few hours this morning after which he departed for St. John parish.

———————————————————————————————————————————-Mr. Mayer Cahen of Assumption was a welcome visitor to our city today. Mr. Cahen is the only uncontested delegate from our state to the Republican National convention to be held in St. Louis on June next.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
There were in attendance at the wedding of Mr. Samuel S. Brand to Miss Belle Smith at Bayou Sara on Wednesday, Mr. Auguste Braud, the groom’s cousin who served as best man, Mr. Paul Braud, Mr. F. Braud, Miss Angele Braud and Miss Laura Braud, all of Faubourg LaPipe. Mr. Paul Braud returned home last evening and the others of the party will reach here tonight over the Mississippi Valley road.

MAY 4, 1896

On Friday afternoon Mr. Joseph L. Rolling sold his one-half interest in the Point Houmas plantation to Mrs. James Webster (Widow Cofield) of New Orleans. The price is reported at $30,000 cash. Mr. Rolling sold his interest in this plantation so that he might be enabled to devote his entire time and attention to his St. Rose plantation, St. James Parish, of which he recently became the owner.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
On Saturday forenoon fire was discovered in a small out building in the rear of the residence of Mr. J. E. Capbern on Lafourche street. An alarm was promptly sounded and there was a quick response of the fire department which in a short time extinguished the flames before any great damage was done. This was the first call the department has had in about three months but the boys showed that they had not become rusty during this lengthy inactivity.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Miss Sophia Mayer of White Castle is the guest of the Misses Levy.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Genial Isaac Rennyson and gallant Robt. Burns of Evan Hall were in our city Sunday.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Mr. and Mrs. Joe Capone spent Sunday in New Orleans, returning home this evening.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Mr. Sabin Savoie, one of Assumption’s sugar planters, was a visitor to our city yesterday.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Mr. Wm. Dill, the well known copper smith and sheet iron worker, was in our city yesterday.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Widow Frank Rieger is now conducting a small grocery and retail ice depot on Mississippi street.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Mr. D. J. Foley of Bayou Goula was among the people from neighboring towns in our city yesterday.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Misses Augusta Feitel and Edna Joseph are in Thibodaux spending a while with the former’s sister, Mrs. S. Polmer.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Mr. James Landry, manager of the Hermitage plantation, was in our city yesterday circulating among his numerous friends.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Justice Maurin has put on a disguise. He has shaved off that dashing mustache and now none of his friends can recognize him.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Some of our firemen went to Napoleonville Saturday to see the exhibition of the working of the new Babcock fire engine that the Napoleonville fire department has just purchased.

———————————————————————————————————————————-
Three new cases os small pox – two men and one woman – were discovered by the authorities this morning.
Two of the cases, those of the men, were found in the notorious “Buzzards’ Roost”  and the woman in a cabin on Taylor, between Houmas and Lafourche streets.
All three had evidently been suffering from the disease for over a week during which time they have been running about the neighborhood.

A special meeting of the Council will be held this evening to take action in the matter for no arrangements have been made for the reporting of the pest house which was closed this morning. In the meantime, the patients are in quarantine in their rooms and all of whom they have come into contact with have been vaccinated.

It is evident that something will have to be done with Buzzards’ Roost for it is now a vile pest breeder and a menace to public health.

Dr. John S. Thibaut, the city physician, was seen by a Times representative this afternoon, said that the imperative necessity of the hour was general vaccination and that this should be attended to at once.

MAY 5, 1896

The sudden reappearance of small pox in this city yesterday led Mayor Leche to call a special meeting of the Council last evening to take vigorous measures to stamp out the disease.

There was a full attendance of Aldermen when Mayor Leche called the body to order. Dr. J. S. Thibaut, the city’s physician, made a statement as to the new cases discovered and advised that the Council issue an order for general vaccination.

Dr. Thibaut’s suggestion was very promptly acted on and he was ordered to proceed at once and vaccinate everyone in the vicinity of the outbreak of the disease and to make such vaccination compulsory.

The question of reopening the pest house was discussed but it was decided that for the present, at least, the patients should be confined to their homes under a guard to prevent them from getting away.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

The matter of stray dogs running the streets was taken up and the police ordered to proceed at once to poison every unlicensed dog found on the street.

———————————————————————————————————————————-Mayor Leche in discussing the small pox situation with a representative of the Daily Times said that the present cases of small pox were imported ones. Being at the head of the bayou this city was being made the headquarters for all the colored coal heavers and roustabouts who were now here in numbers, unloading coal for the different plantations. They always lodged in places like Buzzards’ Roost and it was from this that the disease had broken out afresh again.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Marriage licenses

• Emile Richard to Louise Alonzo
• Lewis Parks to Nancy Bilty
• Edmund Baker to Pauline Mittington

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Edwin Arceneaux, the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Arceneaux, died this morning, aged 10 months and 15 days. The remains will be taken tomorrow morning to St. James for burial. The child had been lying between life and death for the past 10 days, but its parents had been hopeful that it would be spared for them and in their grief they have the sympathy and every consolation that their friends can give.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

The case of Julia Lefort vs. Mary Hargins involving the ownership of a gold-plated breastpin valued at $4 took up two hours of valuable time. The court took the case under advisement.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Bush Hall, colored, was tried for assault and battery on Sarah Campbell, and the evidence showing that it was merely a falling out between the pair, Hall was placed under $400 bonds and ordered to pay $4.25 costs.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Last evening at 8:30 a quarrel arose in an eating house at A Bend between two colored men, Robert Hampton and Ike Wethers, arising out of a long standing feud between the man, during which Wethers drew a revolver and shot Hampton in the right breast, inflicting a wound which in all probability will result fatally.
Immediately after firing the shot Wethers made his escape, going down the river. Constable Isaac Murray immediately started in pursuit of him, but so far he has eluded capture.

Dr. E. K. Sims of this city was hastily summoned to attend the wounded man and on his arrival made an examination of the wound which he pronounced very serious.

This morning a Times representative visited the scene of the shooting and gleaned the following facts: Hampton, who is a resident of A Bend, and Wethers, who is from Laurel Ridge but employed on the Riverside plantation, have been for some time at swords’ points over some disagreement that had arisen between them. Last night the two men met in the eating house and at once hostilities began. After an exchange of a few words, Wethers pulled out a pistol and fired, the ball hitting Hampton in the right breast just below the armpit. In the excitement that followed the shot Wethers made good his escape and by the time that Constable Murray was informed of the crime had gotten far down the river. Constable Murray searched all night for the man but returned home this morning without having secured him. Hampton’s condition this morning was very critical and his death was hourly expected.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Robt. Landry of Hohen Solms was in our city this morning.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. F. J. Eikel and family attended the Volk’s Fest in New Orleans, returning home today.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. and Mrs. Lazard Levy entertained in a charming manner a number of their friends at their home on Sunday evening.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Misses Clementine Landry and Octavie Terrio were guests Saturday of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Landry on the Halfway plantation.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Lee Lewmann of the firm of M. T. Lewmann & Co., the contractors who erected the Catholic church in this city and the courthouse at Napoleonville, left last evening for Louisville, Ky.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Meyer Netter of the firm of Netter & Co. left Saturday to join his wife who has been staying for some time at Hotel Dieu, New Orleans. On Sunday in company with his wife, he left for Abita Springs.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

J. C. Bergeron has been appointed chief clerk of the steamer Teche, vice Leo Guillot, who resigned to accept the Tax Collectorship under the Hon. C. L. Triche, who was recently elected the Sheriff of Assumption parish.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mrs. R. Brunet, who has been ill for some time, we regret to announce, is much worse, her malady having taken a serious change. The lady’s friends, who are legions, are still hopeful she may yet be restored to health.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. T. A. LaFar, a prominent scientist, an old Confederate veteran and an orator of more than usual power, is in the city arranging for a lecture. His testimonials are of the highest including among those of Hon. Wm. Porcher Miles.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Joseph Stribling, a handsome and prominent merchant of Bunkie, Avoyelles Parish, visited this city on Sunday on a pleasure trip and returned to his home the same night by the 10:26 Texas and Pacific train. Mr. Stribling’s trips to our city are becoming mighty numerous. We wonder what’s the attraction?

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. E. B. Clapp, chief engineer of the Hermitage sugar factory, was a welcome visitor to our city Sunday.

 

MAY 6, 1896

There is a general feeling in the city that something should be done toward getting rid of that pestilential nest of disease breeders of which the notorious Buzzards’ Roost is the most dangerous, the most flagrant and the greatest menace to public health. Dr. John S. Thibaut, the city physician, in speaking on this matter yesterday said that there was no question but that the city authorities would have to sooner or later take some action to lessen the dangers that constantly lurk in these low and filthy lodging houses and dens of corruption. Their sanitary condition was something appalling and in their present condition they were a perpetual menace. If it wasn’t small pox it would be something else contagious and they required constant watching. Another danger in them was the suppression of the facts regarding sickness, in the last instance, the people found with small pox having been sick a week before the authorities were notified, in the meantime the pestilential infected patients moved about not only in the neighborhood but in all parts of the city.

Mayor Leche said when seen that he was fully alive to the danger which was greater now than at any other season of the year. “You see,” said the Mayor, “this is the season of the year when planters lay in their coal and this brings here with the coal barges hundreds of coal wheelers and roustabouts of the lowest and filthiest order. They make this city their headquarters, sleeping in the 5 to 10-cent lodging houses and passing their idle hours in the dens that infest this neighborhood. Left to ourselves the city would not be in any danger, but the menace to health from this importation is great.”

Several of our merchants to whom the subject was broached were all unanimous in saying that something must be done to clean out this nest, some going to far as to suggest that the most drastic measures for its accomplishment.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Charles Maher who returned from St. James parish last night, this morning gave The Daily Times information of a terrible tragedy at that place on Monday night.

A colored man who was suffering with small pox had been removed to a cabin and another colored man was left in charge of him. On Monday night the sick man became crazed and made a murderous assault upon his attendant. Breaking away from the maniac the guard drew a gun and shot the head literally off the sick man. He then set fire to the cabin, which was burned down, cremating the body of the dead negro.

The tragedy caused a great deal of excitement, but as the killing was clearly in self defense the man was not arrested and it is not probable that anything will be done to him.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

The Grand Jury last night reported a true bill for murder against Antonio Peroni and Luigia Rossia, charged with the murder Rocco Muscimeci. Rossia is in jail but Peroni is still at large.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Ida Hall, a colored woman, who was discovered in the yard of Solozano & Hildago’s store, was removed to Buzzards’ Roost by Messrs. Solozano and Hidalgo upon the advice of Mayor Leche and Dr. Thibaut. It was reported that the woman was still in the yard of the store but this is not so as she was immediately removed and Messrs Solozano and Hidalgo are deserving of credit for the promptness with which they acted in this matter. The woman has quite a severe case of small pox.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Judge Guion is looking quite jaunty in a stylish white straw hat.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Charley LeBlanc took a run up to New Hope on his wheel this morning.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Jos. M. Keating, the able bookkeeper of A. Wilbert’s Sons of Plaquemine, paid us a business call today.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Miss Edith Ayraud of Sleepy Hollow has been spending some time with Mrs. H.C. Wilson of Palo Alto plantation.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Oscar Billon, the popular district attorney, says he lays down the duties of his office with a feeling of relief.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Widow S. Goette, who was quite sick with fever for the past several days, is now on the safe road to recovery.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. L. B. Rivet, the eldest son of Capt. Ben Rivet, agent of the Lafourche Transportation Co. Limited, has been appointed third clerk of the steamer Teche and on Monday took charge of the position. Young Rivet had been employed in his father’s office for two years or more, which makes him fully capable of discharging his new duties.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

The body of the infant son of Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Arceneaux was taken to St. James for burial on the 5:58 train this morning.

 

MAY 7, 1896

“I was very much pleased with the article in The Daily Times yesterday in reference to the pest holes in this city,” said Alderman Forcha this morning, “and I have no doubt but that it will arouse interest and end in something being done to meet the danger that the existence of these places daily threaten. There is not the least doubt but that something should be done, and that something at once, for as long as they exist the danger of epidemics exist and if drastic measures are necessary let us use them. These are my sentiments and I hope The Times will keep it up until the plague spots are destroyed for good. We are a little slow here and want prodding and I am glad to see that we are getting a little of it in that line from your paper.”

Mr. Chas. Maurin of C & L Maurin said this morning in reference to these dens: “I, in common with other merchants, endorse every word The Daily Times said yesterday in reference to the nest of disease breeders and believe that the most drastic measures should be used. I am in favor of getting up a subscription to purchase these buildings and after this is done set fire to them and burn them up. We have plenty of water in that vicinity so there would be no danger of the flames spreading. We have only one thing on earth that will purify these places and this is fire. We are all to much interested in our city and it s health to stand this nuisance and danger any longer.”

Alderman Vega when seen also expressed himself in sympathy with The Times movement to clean out or put in a better sanitary condition these holes. “They are a perpetual menace to the city’s health,” said Mr. Vega, “and I am in favor of the most heroic remedies to cleanse things up, for like everyone else I am much interested in the good health of the city which we cannot afford to imperil by closing our eyes to the danger that arises from these places.”

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Genial Albert Kaufman, after spending a pleasant time in New Orleans where he attended his sister’s wedding, has returned to Elm Hall.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Chas Werner, Elm Hall’s head cooper, visited Donaldsonville on his bike Saturday last and returned here slightly muddy on Sunday evening.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Dave Kahn left for New Orleans Monday to spend a few days.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Messers Gus Weil and Emile Netter yesterday brought the body of the infant child of Mr. and Mrs. F. Baker from White Castle to this city for burial in the Jewish cemetery.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mrs. R. Brunet, whose dangerous illness was reported in our paper on Tuesday, died at 11:30 o’clock last night. Death came to this estimable lady calm and peacefully, like a tired child that falls asleep. About her bedside were her children whom she loved so well and to whom her memory will ever be a priceless legacy. Deceased was one of the best known and most highly respected ladies in the city. For years she kept a store corner Opelousas and Lessard streets. Kind, charitable and generous, she won the affection of all and her death will be most keenly regretted and generally mourned. She leaves four children, one son, who is a resident of New Orleans, and three daughters. Two of the latter are married to the Messrs. Jos. Rateau and Jules Teberne, merchants of this city, and the other, Miss Gabrielle Brunet, who resided with her mother. The funeral will take place at the Catholic church at 9:30 o’clock tomorrow morning.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Senator-elect R. N. Sims leaves for Baton Rouge on Saturday.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Sebastian Hidalgo gave us an appreciated call this morning.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Sylvan Tobias and wife of Baton Rouge are in our city on a visit.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Judge Guion is suffering from Job’s affliction and there will be no court next week.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Miss Julia Pike is the guest for a few days of Mrs. E. H. Barton on St. Emma plantation.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Miss Laura Richard left this morning for Abita Springs, where she will remain until the end of the month.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Edward Van Brunt, a well known drummer from New Orleans, was in the city today. Van says he lost 10 pounds hustling about in the heat.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. James D. Crichlow left this morning for his home in Nashville and more than half a dozen charming young ladies were at the depot to say goodbye to him.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. James Barker, for the past three months in the employ of Mr. V. Maurin at the Palace Drug Store, has accepted a similar position in Plaquemine for which place he has left.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. L. Pugh, whose large sugar refinery at Napoleonville was burned a few weeks ago, has had three colored men arrested who are supposed to have been the incendaries. It is expected that those arrests will result in some important discovery as to the firebugs who have been practicing their nefarious art in that parish.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mrs. J. B. Ford of Bellewood has returned home after a lengthy stay in New Orleans.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mrs. Camille Alleman, who has been very sick in New Orleans for some time, arrived home last week much improved in health.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

We learn with deep regret the severe illness of Miss Felicie Prejean at Halfway plantation and hope for her safe recovery.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Captain J. Dodd Smith made a flying trip to Baton Rouge last week.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mrs. E. H. Barton has just returned from Jefferson parish where she went to attend the funeral of her brother-in-law, Mrs. R. Perkins.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Messrs. J. M. Coons and J.D. Smith Jr. visited the Clark plantation, Ascension parish, this week on business.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

A delightful dance was given by the young men of Assumption at the residence of Mrs. Henry Dupre Thursday night.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Miss Eliza Daigle was the guest of her uncle, Mr. Sabin Savoie, Friday.

MAY 8, 1896

The funeral of the late Madame Brunet took place at 9:30 this morning at the Catholic church. Interment was made in the Catholic cemetery.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

About 1 o’clock yesterday fire was discovered in the residence of Mr. Gervais Gauthreaux at White Castle and an alarm was promptly sounded. By the time the fire department arrived the flames had spread rapidly and were beyond control and in a short time the building was completely destroyed. With the assistance of his neighbors, Mr. Gauthreaux was enabled to save a large portion of his furniture.
The fire was caused by a defective flue in the kitchen, which set fire to the roof and ceiling. The new chemical engine, owing to a mishap in the apparatus, was almost worthless, the only effective work being done by the bucket brigade. At the fire were Messrs. H. Cook Jr., Jake Walker, Jos. Coughlin and Judge Martinez of the Donaldsonville fire department and these gentlemen did effective service in their efforts to save the property of their former fellow citizen for Mr. Gauthreaux was at one time a resident of this city.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Miss Blanche Bougere of St. Charles parish is the guest of Miss Fanny Foley. Miss Bougere is possessed of rare personal accomplishments and her pleasant disposition combined with her winning ways has won her many friends.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Miss Angeline Landry of Bayou Goula is spending some time with her cousin, Mary Guedry of Paintcourtville. We note with pleasure that the Bayou has charms for her yet.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Hon. John Marks, our representative-elect, has taken his departure for Baton Rouge to represent this parish in the legislature.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

We are sorry to mention that our popular and well esteemed friend, Clarence Jones, is confined to his bed with fever.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Dr. Samuel Hicks of Shreveport was in the city today on a business visit.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Judge Edmund Maurin will attend the inaugural ceremonies at Baton Rouge.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Miss Edna Bourg is quite ill with measles. It is her second attack of the disease.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Esteve Hidalgo of Palo Alto plantation was a welcome visitor to our city today and while here paid the Times a visit.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

We are extremely sorry to record that the infant child of Mr. George Goetz, our popular police officer, is lying extremely ill.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mrs. Henry Landry gave birth to a girl this morning. Mother and child doing well and Henry finds his old hat several sizes too small.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. W.W. Campbell, general baggage agent of the Texas & Pacific railway, was in town yesterday on business connected with his road.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Messrs. Angeron, Lawrence and Coughlin made a trip to lower Iberville yesterday by wagon and returned last evening and report that the crops have a fine appearance and are growing rapidly.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

The steamer John Howard ran aground in the bayou yesterday and in answer to her signals of distress the tug Carrie B. went to her assistance and very soon had the steamer off the bar into deep water and the captain and the crew of the Howard breathed easier, for it looked at one time as of she was on the bar for good.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

A pretty little baby boy came to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Werner last week.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Hon. John Marks of Assumption was in the city on Saturday on his way to Baton Rouge.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. George Landry of White Castle spent some time with friends and relatives in this city yesterday.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. John Martinez of the Belle Alliance plantation was among the arrivals in this city on Saturday.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Miss Ella Turner and George Mart came up on the excursion from New Orleans yesterday and returned in the evening. While here they were guests of Widow Luke Eris and family.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Rossia, the Italian who is in jail charged with the murder of Musumecia, will probably be arraigned for trial next week. The State is said to have a strong case against him. Rossia still remains uncommunicative regarding the killing and so far as known neither he nor his friends have yet secured counsel for him. Peronia, the actual murderer, continues to elude arrest and the authorities have little hope of ever capturing him, as he is believed to be out of the country.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Two interesting bicycle races took place at the race track yesterday afternoon between John Nolan of this place and Kid Comeaux of New Orleans. In the first race, one mile, Comeaux took the lead at the start but was quickly overtaken and passed by Noal who had the lead until the end. Time, 3 minutes and 40 seconds. The second event, a quarter of a mile dash, was won by Comeaux in 41 seconds. The first race was for $5 and the second for $10.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Ida Hall, the colored woman who was sick with small pox, died last night and was buried this morning. Her body was lifted from the bed and wrapped in a sheet, after which it was placed on a stretcher and carried to the cemetery and buried. The other cases are reported as progressing favorably.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

A little colored boy fell out of a flatboat on the bayou yesterday and was drowned.

 

MAY 12, 1896

Capt. W. S. Cary Sr., an old resident of this city, is supposed to have been drowned off the steamer J. E. Trudeau about 1 o’clock on Friday morning of last week. Mr. Cary left this city on Thursday evening on the steamer to visit his daughter, Mrs. W. T. Robertson, at Melville La. When the steamer reached the landing Clerk Louis Bergeron made the discovery that he was missing at once telegraphed this information to Mr. Cary’s son. The latter, greatly worried, however, had hopes that his father had gotten off at another place through a mistake or had gotten off at the right place without the clerk seeing him. He at once wrote to his sister and last night received a letter stating that their father was no there, which dispels all hopes and confirms the worst fears of the aged gentleman’s fate.

The supposition is that Mr. Cary wandered about the boat and in some accidental manner fell overboard near Old river. His son has ordered a search for the body in the vicinity where he is supposed to have been drowned.

Capt. Cary was a well known and much respected citizen of this city and his sad fate is received with every evidence of sadness and regret by all who knew him. He was a native of New York State, being born at Staten Island on May 17, 1821. When about 25 years old, he came to this State of which he has been a resident ever since, during the last 10 years residing in this city.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Yesterday while cordelling his boat up the bayou, Signor Don Allen, the snake catcher, was kicked in the back and side by his horse, receiving injuries that may result fatally. Allen was opposite Paincourtville when the accident happened. The rope attached to the horse had become crossed over the animal’s back and when he attempted to remove it the horse began kicking and Allen was knocked senseless.

Painter Beal of this city, who is an old friend of Mr. Allen, was sent for and had him brought to this city. He was unconscious when placed in the boat and remained in that condition when the boat reached hear last night. His condition is still critical today, but his wife, who is in attendance upon him, has hopes of his recovery. Mr. and Mrs. Allen have been on a snake hunt down the bayou and secured some splendid specimens which they have with them now in this city.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

At 10:30 this morning the horse of Mrs. Bertau, that was hitched to a surrey and fastened in front of Cheap Tony’s store, became frightened by a passing dray, broke its hitching strap and started on a run down Mississippi street. Before the horse could be caught the surrey was quite badly damaged. The runaway horse frightened a horse attached to Sterken’s express wagon and it began to rear and plunge, finally breaking out of its harness, but causing no other damage.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. A. T. Carmouche of the Assumption Pioneer gave The Times a call on Sunday.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. J. C. Fernandez of Waggaman was in town Sunday, stopping with Mr. J. F. Fernandez.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Gondran of New River are stopping at the house of Miss Marie Blanchy.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. William Poche of St. James parish was in the city today. Mr. Poche came in to purchase a pump for watering his rice fields.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Miss Josephine Ronquille at New Orleans came up on the excursion Sunday and while here was the guest of Mr. Edgar Ramirez and family. She returned home the same evening.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

We were agreeably surprised this morning to receive a call from smiling and portly Emanuel Blumenthal, formerly of this city, but now a prosperous merchant in Morgan City. Manny is accompanied by his amiable wife and interesting little child and they are the guests of his brother-in-law and sister, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Geiger, where they will remain until tomorrow morning.

MAY 13, 1896

An odd-looking craft of the houseboat order named the Lillie B and belonging to the Chadwick Snake Farm of Missouri, lying in the bayou near the railroad bridge, attracted the attention of a representative of this paper who paid it a visit last evening.

As the reporter stepped off the gang plank on the deck of the vessel, he was met by a woman who introduced herself as the wife of the owner and manager of the boat, Signor Don Allen, who is known all over the country as the “King of Snake Catchers.”

“Would you like to see some of our pets,” she asked and scarcely waiting for an answer which she took as an accepted fact, led the way to a small cabin in where cages with glass sides, filled with crawling reptiles half filled the little room. “These snakes here,” she said as she lifted a dozen or so big pilot snakes from a box “were all caught along the bayou here, most of them in the vicinity of Paincourtville, and we consider them very fine specimens.” While she was talking the snakes were twined about her neck, head and waist and were striking out their vicious-looking heads in all directions, causing the reporter more than once to involuntarily draw back.

“Here we have,” said the woman, diving into another box and bringing out another mass of writhing reptiles “the King snake, the enemy of every other snake. They are the only snakes that I know of that will kill and eat other reptiles. For that reason they are also known as the Cannibal snake.”

After showing off the good points of these snakes, they were all replaced in their den and a large, vicious copperhead was taken from a soap box. It was a remarkably pure specimen of these extremely venomous reptiles and was caught a few days ago just back of Paincourtville.

The woman then entered into a detailed story of how these snakes were captured by herself and husband. They use no sticks but pick them up with their hands. They carry with them always two remedies which they declare is a sure cure for any snake bite.

“As soon as my husband recovers from the injuries received by a kick from our horse, on yesterday, we will move up the bayou again in search of rattlesnakes, which are now in season. I was told by some men the other day that they had seen a big rattler, but when I got to the place I found it had just been killed by a couple of men. I was so vexed over this disappointment that I sat down and cried. It was a fine snake and was easily worth $15. We can generally sell to colleges, museums and zoological gardens all the snakes we can catch and what we cannot dispose of are sent to the farm.”

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Last evening shortly after 8 o’clock a collision took place on Railroard avenue opposite Mr. Desire Landry‘s residence between a horse ridden by Andrew Solozano and a bicycle being speeded by Bob Robertson. Young Solozano who had in his hands a bird cage and some dishes was thrown off the horse by the shock and the dishes scattered about the street, but strange to say none were broken. Robertson was thrown a distance of 10 feet but neither himself nor the bike were damaged. Both Solozano and Robertson were dazed for awhile and it took them a minute or so to realize what had happened.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

There is nothing new today relative to the sad drowning of Capt. W. S. Cary Sr. as reported in detail in yesterday’s issue. Capt. Cary Jr., his son, had a watch instituted for the body in the vicinity of Old river and it is hoped that it will be recovered. Up to noon today no word had been received by the family of its having been found, although it should have come to surface by this time.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Lieut. Hubert Treille is today celebrating his 63rd anniversary, an event which is also being observed by two other distinguished citizens of Donaldsonville, ex-Governor Francis T. Nicholls and Miss Mathilde Comstock, a nun, now traveling in France as a representative of her order. There was a strange coincidence in these births, for Mr. Nicholls’ father was Judge of the parish, Mr. Treille’s father the Sheriff and Mr. John Comstock, Miss Comstock’s father, the Deputy Sheriff and Jailer. Mr. Nicholls was born in a house on the lot now occupied by his nephew, Mr. E. N. Pugh. Miss Comstock in the old jail building and Mr. Treille in a house on the corner of Chetimaches and Iberville street. These children grew up together and were very close friends and play mates. Messrs. Treille and Nicholls left Donaldsonville on the same day for school – Mr. Treille going to the Military College of Kentucky and Mr. Nicholls to West Point. A few days later, Miss Comstock entered Mount St. Mary’s Convent at Emmetsburgh, Md.

When the war broke out Messrs Treille and Nicholls joined Gen. R. E. Lee‘s army and received their promotions on the same day. Mr. Treille being made a lieutenant and Mr. Nicholls a general.

“When we were youngsters,” said Mr. Treille this morning when speaking of the strange coincidence of their birth, “our fathers being employed in the courthouse, we were constant playmates and our birthdays used to be jointly celebrated and we were almost inseparable.”

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Don Allen, who was badly injured by a kick of his horse down the bayou on Monday, is slowly recovering from his injuries, his condition today being very much improved.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Police Juror A. J. Daigle of the eight Assumption ward, was in our city yesterday.
Mr. Edgar Ramirez returned from New Orleans on Monday night. He escorted Mr. Wm. Parks to the Soldiers’ Home.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Pretty Miss Cora Levert, a favorite society belle of Iberville parish, is the pleasant guest of the Misses Irene and Ella Landry at their pretty home on Lessard Street.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

The infant child of Constable Geo. Goetz, whose life for several days was despaired of, we are pleased to note is improving and her complete recovery is confidently anticipated.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Robt. Reynaud, better known as “Vallion,” a former resident of Donaldsonville, but now representing the Backus Fuel Saving Co. of Detroit, Mich., is in our city on business.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Our printer friend, Felix Gaudet, spent a few hours in our city Sunday. He was on his way to Baton Rouge, where he is representing the New Orleans States during the session of the General Assembly. Felix is a Donaldsonville boy but is now a resident of New Orleans.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Miss Anna Langbecker, who was credited in yesterday’s issue for the handsome decorations of the Volunteer hose carriage, writes to say that equal credit should be given to Misses Noemie and Bertha Mollere, whom she says were her coworkers in the decorations, those young ladies having made all the roses that formed the beautiful canopy.

MAY 14, 1896

There is every reason to believe that the city has been finally and effectively rid of the small pox plague, providing the authorities take some action toward the removal of the Buzzards’ Roost and the other pest holes in that vicinity. Cases at present under Dr. Thibaut’s treatment are progressing nicely toward recovery and as there has been no further outbreak it is pretty safe to say that there will be no new arising from contagion with the present ones.

Dr. Thibaut, who has handled the outbreak with rare skill and judgment, is of the opinion that the warm weather and dying out of the disease in other places, making contagion less likely, has wiped out the plague here, but holds as he ever has that the sanitary conditions of places like Buzzards’ Roost makes them a constant menace and breeders of contagious diseases of all kinds. If they are not destroyed something should be done in the way of sanitation and purifying them at once.

The small pox situation at one time here was more serious than most people imagined but it is a credit to our people that they never lost their heads on good judgment and what might have created a panic in other places was treated here with a coolness that was something admirable and that showed the most implicit and perfect confidence in our health officers. That this confidence and trust was not over estimated or misplaced is proven by the gratifying results.

Dr. T. B. Rider, when questioned on the subject, said he thought that all danger of a further breakout was now passed but the authorities would do well to make some preparations against its reappearance next fall or winter, as the germs were undoubtfully yet about these places and if they weren’t burned down they should be treated to a thorough purifiction of some sort.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

A sharp lookout is being kept by men about the river for the bodies of the victims of the explosion of the Harry Brown on Monday.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Yesterday about noon a colored man named John Richards, residing on the bayou about two miles from the city, saw the body of a colored man floating in the water and set out with his skiff and towed the body to the shore. Deputy Coroner T. A. Rider was notified and in company with a representative of this paper started down to view the body.

The body was lying in the water with the face downward and when turned over there was evidence that it had been in the water eight or nine days, as decomposition was quite well advanced. A careful examination failed to reveal any evidence of foul play and it was plainly evident that it was an accidental death. From the fact that the body was only attired in a thin shirt and drawers the supposition is that he must have walked off or fallen off one of the coal barges in the night time.
The body indicated that of a man about 25 years old, five feet nine in height and weighing about 170 pounds.

Dr. Rider did not deem an inquest necessary and gave an order to one of the men there to bury the body at once, which was done.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Andrew Solozano must be under the baneful influence of a hoo-doo, for last evening he figured in another accident, in which, however he did not come out as fortunately as he did on the proceeding evening. It was almost 8 o’clock when he was speeding on his bike on Mississippi street, when Dominique Casso, also on a bike, loomed up and the two wheels came together in a dull thud collision. While the riders escaped injury, Solozano’s wheel will have to go into the hospital for broken down bikes for a few days’ rest.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Last evening, Messrs. George Richard, H. O. Maher, Robert Landry and L. E. Bentley left for Bayou Corne with the purpose of raising havoc among the fish there. The party was well provided with bait of different kinds and it will be odd if they don’t have a good time. The party expects to return home some time tonight and there is a prospect of a glut in the fish market tomorrow.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

A most charmingly informal reception was tendered last evening in honor of Miss Cora Levert of Iberville by pretty Misses Irene and Ella Landry. Among those present were Messrs. H. Comstock, Walter Comstock, William A. Terrio, James Von Lotten and Miss Loulie Israel. During the evening there was some excellent music, both vocal and instrumental. Miss Ella Landry‘s piano and zither solos and the piano solos by Misses Irene Landry and Cora Levert being of unusual artistic excellence, as was also the vocal selections by Mr. H. Comstock. A delightful repast was served and the event was one of those charming gatherings that linger long in fond recollection. Miss Cora Levert, much to the regret of her friends, left for her home this morning.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. G. W. Bowie and his son, Don, came down from White Castle this morning and remained in the city until noon, when they returned home.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

The body of Capt. W. S. Cary Sr., who was drowned off the steamer J. E. Trudeau on Friday morning of last week, has been recovered and was buried yesterday at Brusly Landing by Justice E.O. Gwin of that place.

News of the recovery came in the following dispatch from Brusly Landing published in the New Orleans Picayune this morning: “Yesterday morning at 7 o’clock, Jake Turner, a negro was fishing in the river in front of Mr. L. Mouch‘s plantation, a mile below here, caught the body of an unknown white man and secured it until the arrival of the proper officers. The body, which was slightly decomposed, was that of a laborer, engineer or fireman, 60 years old, gray-bearded, bald-headed, except a few hairs tinged with grey, 5 feet 6 inches tall and had been in the water about five days.

He was dressed in a white cotton undershirt, dark striped woolen trousers, suspenders and white socks. He had $1.43 in a cloth bag, and in another pocket a piece of manila paper, on which was inscribed: “101, V. J. Carg (or Cary) Jr., Donaldsonville, La.” Coroner Caruth, being in attendance at the meeting of the Louisiana Medical Society, Justice Gwin viewed the body and issued a certificate in accordance with the above facts and buried the corpse on the river bank at the expense of the parish.”

A represenative of the Daily Times was the first to acquaint the family of Capt. Cary of the finding of the body and after they had read over the printed description unhesitatingly pronounced it that of their father and his son, Capt. Cary Jr., will go at once to Brusly Landing and have the body brought to the city for burial.

A letter received by the deceased’s son last night from the clerk of the steamer Trudeau stated that Capt. Cary’s coat had been found in his state room and that one of the engineers on the steamer felt positive that he saw something white drop off the boat about 1 o’clock on Friday morning and reported the same to the Captain of the steamer the next morning.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Last evening two colored women of the ninth ward named Lucy Ayraud and Clara Washington became embroiled in a quarrel which led to blows, during which Clara, who is a much smaller woman than her antagonist, got the other down and was using her fists effectively, when Lucy’s sons, Raphael and Jonas, took a hand in the melee. Raphael drew a knife and stabbed Clara in the thigh while Jonas belabored her over the back with a hickory club. Clara was very badly hurt and had to be carried to her home where she was attended to by Dr. John R. Fridge.

Warrants were sworn out for the arrest of Lucy Washington and her two sons who were placed under arrest and arraigned before Justice J. M. Lusk who held them under bail to answer at the District Court.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. S. Goette Jr. has been out of the city for a couple of days on business connected with the enterprises in which he is interested.

MAY 15, 1896

• 
  Licensed to wed
• Simon Dorsey to Isabella Brooks
• William Henry to Doris Carter
• Toby Turner to Carrie Johnson

 

A store and residence owned by A. Wilbert’s Sons, in Seymourville, were destroyed by fire yesterday. The store was occupied by Frank Seymour, in which he had nearly $700 worth of stock, which was an entire loss. The origin of the fire is unknown but it is supposed to have been the work of an incendiary. The two buildings were valued at $4,500 and were insured for about two-thirds of their value.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Considerable indignation was expressed among Masons last night after reading the account in the Daily Times of how the body of Capt. Cary, who was a member of the Masonic Lodge of this city, had been buried by a stupid official at Brusly Landing as an unknown pauper, when his name and address were found on his body.

“I cannot imagine how an official could be so stupid as this,” said a prominent friend of the deceased. “Why the Captain’s name and address were found on his body and yet no effort was made to communicate with this place to see if such a person was missing. A telegram here would have been followed by a prompt answer to have the body cared for and prepared for shipment here. Instead of that they buried him as a pauper and up to this time no communication has been received from the officials there. It is a case that calls for investigation and I am in favor of making an example of such officials as they evidently have at Brusly Landing.”

Last evening Capt. Cary Jr. called up Rev. H. S. Johns of Plaqumine to the telephone and requested that the gentleman to see after the remains of his father and Mr. Johns went to Brusly Landing that morning. Mr. Cary will go up tonight and it is probable that the body will be brought here tomorrow for burial in which case the funeral will be in charge of the Masonic order.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Lucas Locaylo and his son, Pedro, who was bitten by a mad dog about three weeks ago and went to St. James parish to have a mad stone applied to their wounds, have apparently escaped hydrophobia through this treatment, as they do not seem to show any symptoms of the approach of the rabies. The stone is said to have stuck fast to the wounds until it had absorbed all the poison. There was never any doubt as to the dog’s madness, as those who saw it unite in saying that it was in the most acute stage of the rabies.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mrs. Albert Comstock, one of our most estimable ladies, left this morning for Raccourci, Pointe Coupee parish, to join her daughter, Mrs. S. P. Lacour, who yesterday made Mrs. Comstock a grandmother. The new comer is a boy. Mrs. Comstock intends remaining with her daughter a month and during her absence her worthy sons will keep bachelors’ hall.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

• Mr. J. Emile St. Martin was among the visitors to the city this morning.
• Messrs. Jos. Dichary and Gus Melancon of Smoke Bend were in the city today.
• Judge Joseph Carbo of the Third ward was circulating among friends in the city today.
• Max Dupaty of the Welcome saloon returned from Bayou Corne last night and reports fishing there first class.
• Mr. William Ware, the genial proprietor of Belle Grove store, Iberville parish, was a visitor to our city today.
• Judge Edmund Maurin is taking a respite from his onerous and exacting judicial duties in a visit to New Orleans.
• Mr. W. H. Phillips, the well known lumber dealer, who was in this city on business, has returned to his home at Saline by the way on Monroe on the steamer City of Camden.
• Messrs. Maher, Richard, Landry and Bentley returned from their fishing trip to Bayou Corne last night. Fish, however, is selling at the old price in the market today.

 

MAY 18, 1896

The body of the late Capt. W. S. Cary Sr., who was drowned off the steamer Trudeau, was brought to this city Saturday evening and buried. The services at the grave were attended by relatives and personal friends only.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Henry Loeb while riding his bicycle on Mississippi street on Saturday evening came in collision with a surrey driven by Mr. Frank Parrish. The wheel was badly damaged.

Shortly after the steamer Teche left here on Friday, Alfred Mann, one of the roustabouts, was arrested on a charge of robbing Charles Smith, another of the boat hands, of $6.90. The money was found on him and when the boat reached New Orleans on Saturday, Mann was arraigned before United States Commissioner Wright and held in $25 bond to answer at Court.

MAY 19, 1896

A terrible accident occurred last evening about 5 o’clock at the sugar house on Mr. James Teller‘s Riverside plantation, resulting in the death of Joe Morton, a colored lad aged 17 years.

Morton was engaged in helping others raise one of the big rollers of the back mill which had been jacked up with blocks of wood. While at work under the roller the jack in some manner tilted causing the roller to drop eight inches, which forced out the blocks at one end, catching the boy under the bed plate when it came down, crushing him in a terrible manner about the stomach.

As quickly as possible the roller was raised and the boy drawn from beneath it and Dr. John D. Hanson was sent for. The doctor at once pronounced the injuries fatal and death came to relieve the suffering of the victim at 8 o’clock, just three hours after the accident.

Young Morton was highly thought of and a great favorite on the plantation and his terrible death is sincerely regretted by all.

Chief Engineer Jos. Worrell of the plantation was very much attached to the boy and when he began the raising of the roller, had made a request that Morton be sent to assist in the work.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

A squad of 24 convicts, 20 colored and four white, arrived here from Baton Rouge on last evening’s train and left early this morning on the steamer Louisiana for one of the convict camps down Bayou Lafourche, where they will be put to work on the levee. They were all new and fresh having just donned the stripes and made up a fine body of workmen.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

The celebrated pinchback breastpin case of Julia Lefort vs. Mary Hargins that has been before Justice Maurin‘s court the past two months has been decided in favor of the defendant, Judge Maurin rendering a long written opinion that will probably be often quoted by lawyers in similar cases as an unassailable authority.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Lillian, infant daughter of Joseph E. Landry and Euphemie Medine, died at his parents’ residence, Port Barrow, on Monday. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon at the Catholic church, this city.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

The frame work of the new residence at the corner of Iberville and Lessard streets has been raised.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Shortly after the steamer Stella Wilds left Donaldsonville on Saturday, Mate John M. Comeaux had trouble with a roustabout named Geo. Mason. On the arrival of the boat in New Orleans yesterday, Comeaux was arrested on a charge of assault and battery and was arraigned before United States Commissioner Wright. After examining several witnesses the commissioner placed Comeaux under $250 bonds to await a further hearing. The bond was promptly furnished.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Our good looking confrere, Henry A. Winfree, editor of the Castilian of White Castle, was in our city today and gave us a pleasant call.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Leon Godchaux of New Orleans has purchased the Madewood plantation of Mr. L. Pugh for the paltry sum of $30,000. We consider this place sold at a sacrifice of about one half its worth. In addition to this Mr. Pugh has turned over the place cultivated up to date with all expenses paid and $5,000 worth coal. This leaves him this beautiful place for a net of about $20,000.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Prof. Geo. C. Bessonet of the Napoleonville High School paid a flying trip to Bull Run on a visit to his sister, but we presume he called on someone else’s sister. Very nice way we must say of killing two birds with the same stone.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Luija Rossia, who was indicted in connection with Antonino Peroni for the murder of Rocco Musumeci, at the store of Rocco Savoja in March last, was arraigned for trial in the District Court this morning before Judge Walter Guion. The accused man being without counsel, Mr. Paul Leche was assigned by the court to look after the defense.

A jury was quickly impaneled and after Dr. E. K. Sims had given testimony as to the character of the wound a number of Italians were called. They gave their testimony in Italian which was interpreted to the jury. Their testimony was greatly muddled and it was with the greatest difficulty that anything could be made of it, outside of the fact that Peroni fired the shot that killed Musumeci and that Rossia gave him the pistol to do it with.

Mr. Leche, after the State had presented its case, stated that he would call no witnesses and would submit the case on argument to the jury. Short addresses were then made by Mr. Leche and District Attorney Billon after which Judge Guion charged the jury.

After delivering his charge the jury retired to deliberate on their verdict and the court took a recess until 2 o’clock. When court reassembled the jury had not yet reached a verdict and Judge Guion a recess until 4 o’clock.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

• Mr. Max Geanelloni has returned from a two weeks stay with relatives at Biloxi, Miss.
• Mr. Horace Mavor of Napoleonville spent Sunday in our city as the guest of Mr. E. N. Melancon.
• Mr. Jos. Verret, a rising young law student of Napoleonville was in our city yesterday on business.
• Mrs. O. Landry, the beloved wife of Capt. Ozeme Landry, left Sunday morning for New Orleans to spend some few days with her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Michel Maier.
• Miss Laura Richard, the polite and courteous saleslady in the mammoth store of Netter & Co., returned home last evening from Abita Springs, after a few days sojourn at that splendid summer resort.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

J. B. Alcorn, colored, of Franklinville, Assumption parish, whom it was said had been whipped and ordered to leave the parish, this morning denied the statement. He said that he came to this city on Sunday on a visit to his cousin, Joe Thompson, and would return to his home today.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Last night while Mr. E.N. Melancon was engaged at the ice factory hoisting ice, the handle of the crank which he was turning slipped from his hand and flying back hit him on the head, knocking him senseless. He was alone at the time and laid in this unconscious condition until one of the other workmen found him. He was taken to his home and while his injuries were severe they are not likely to prove serious.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Quite a number of colored men have been run out of Assumption Parish the past two or three days, and most of them have found their way to this city.

This morning a reporter was informed by Deputy Sheriff H. O. Maher that he had heard that six colored men who had been badly whipped and one who had been shot in the arm had come into the city from the Second ward of Assumption Parish where the regulators had been very active.

Joe. Thompson was subsequently seen and said he knew of but three men who had been driven away, one of them named Reed, having been shot in the arm while fighting his way out from the regulators. Another man whose name he did not know claimed to have been whipped and the other, John Pugh, escaped without being punished.

The trouble seems to have arisen over the colored men having voted for Triche at the last election for Sheriff. Since that time, the regulators have been busy serving notices on the negros to quit the parish.

At the court house this morning, the work of the regulators was condemned by all the officials, Sheriff St. Martin being particularly severe in his strictures on the regulators and their work. His view was seconded by other officials and lawyers who thought that it was a rather late time in the day for methods like these.

An effort was made by the reporter to see the man Reed who had been shot, but he is said to have left here and gone to Plaquemine.

 

MAY 20, 1896

Fire broke out in a tenement house on the Evan Hall plantation about 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon and in a short time the house was completely destroyed. The occupant, Mr. Valentine Landry, succeeded in removing all of the furniture, but a great deal of it was badly damaged by the hasty removal which was necessarily done in a hurriedly and rather roughly manner.

At the time the fire was discovered, Mrs. Landry was quite ill, having been confined to her room as an invalid for several years, and had to be removed from the house in a chair.

A telephone was received in this city to get the engine in readiness in case the fire spread, but a few minutes after another message was received that the fire was confined to the house and the services of the engine would not be needed.

Mr. and Mrs. Henry McCall were on the plantation at the time the fire started, and both rendered valuable services, Mr. McCall in directing the efforts of the men fighting the fire and Mrs. McCall in directing the carrying away of the household goods.

The fire started in the kitchen and is supposed to have been caused by a defective flue. The house was valued at $600 and the damage to the furniture will increase the total loss to about $700.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Oscar W. Landry, colored, a former resident of this city and a son of Rev. Pierre Landry, a presiding elder of the Methodist church, was shot and instantly killed by a negro named Thomas Smith at Navosta, Texas, on the 11th inst. Landry was the principal of the colored school at Navasota, and Smith, his murderer, was the leader of a faction that was trying to oust him from this position. Smith was arrested and with his wife, she is held as an accessory, will be placed on trial next Monday. Landry’s father and his brother, Palmerston, have left for Navosota to be present at the trial.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

The little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry A. Landry was christened on Monday by Father Dubernard being given the baptismal name of Beulah May Landry. Mr. Max Dupaty was godfather and Miss N. Mollere godmother. After the christening there was a delightful reception at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Landry where light refreshments were served to the guests and the little girl received many wishes for its health and prosperity.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

• A little stranger arrived at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Gingry last evening. This makes the eight, but as all the others are girls, Junior is naturally elated and he celebrated the event with open-handed liberality.
• Dr. L. E. Dufel of the first ward was in attendance at the District Court today.
• The Misses Joseph, two beautiful young ladies from St. John parish, are in Donaldsonville visiting their cousins, the lovely Misses Feitel.
• That estimable lady, Mrs. Charles Landry, of Half Way plantation in Assumption parish, was shopping and visiting friends in our city yesterday.
• Mr. M.D. Dalferes is moving from Nicholls avenue to Lessard street in the house formerly occupied by Mr. A. F. LeBlanc, who moved further down the same street.
• Miss Angele Duffel we are extremely sorry to record is quite seriously ill. There is a fear of a return of typhoid fever with which the young lady was dangerously ill some time ago.
• We regret to learn of the serious illness of Master Walden, the bright and promising little son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles LeBlanc. The boy has been ill for some time but it is to be hoped that he will ultimately be restored to good health.
• Messrs. W. B. Brazelton and G. M. Bowie, the former secretary and treasurer and the latter vice president of the White Castle Lumber and Shingle Co. Ltd, were among the visitors to our city yesterday on business. It afforded us pleasure to meet them.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

The acquittal of Rossia yesterday afternoon in all probability will be the last hear of the Musumeci murder as the authorities have no hope of ever capturing Peroni.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Two more colored men who were run out of Assumption parish passed through the city yesterday on their way to Plaquemine.

 

MAY 21, 1896

Upon the opening of the District Court this morning the case of State vs. Clarence Parham, colored, charged with the murder of a negro named John Clayton on New River, was called for trial. Mr. E.N. Pugh appeared for the prisoner. Some time was taken before a jury was impaneled, after which the taking of the evidence was begun. From this evidence it appeared that the prisoner and Clayton had had a quarrel at New River, during which Parham claims he fired one shot to scare Clayton. The latter then pulled out a knuckle point and rushed on him, when he fired in self defense and killed Clayton. The case is still on.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

• Mrs. A. Blum of Houma is here the guest of her brother, Mr. Felix Kahn, and his family.
• Mrs. Chas. Bohn of Lutcher spent today in our city as the guest of her aunt, Mrs. Chas. Heintz.
• Miss Julia Lowenstein of Houma is spending a while in our city as the guest of her cousin, Miss Florence Maas.

 

MAY 22, 1896

The case of the State vs. Clarence Parham, who was charged with the murder of John Clayton at New River, was concluded late last evening when the jury, after a short deliberation, returned a verdict of guilty of manslaughter. Mr. E.N. Pugh made a vigorous defense for Parham, but the evidence of the State was too strong to overcome.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

The body of an Italian named Mano di Calogero Falco was found yesterday about 10 miles from this city just off the railroad track. The Coroners of both Iberville and Ascension were notified and both decided that the body was not in their parish so superintendent Pearsall of the Texas & Pacific railroad ordered the section foreman to bury the body, which was badly decomposed. The dead man’s son who is employed on the Glennan plantation was notified and on his arrival that his father had money in the Donaldsonville bank and as no bank book was found on him his son believed that he had been murdered and the bank stolen. The bank here was notified to withhold payment of money to any one claiming it. Cashier W. D. Park when seen this afternoon at the bank said the deposit was a small one. A complete examination of the body was made by Superintendent Pearsall but no marks of violence could be found. On the track near where the body laid was found an empty 38 cailbre cartridge shell.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

• Miss Francis Bercegeay of Hohen Solms spent today in our city at the home of Mr. Auguste Barthelmy and family.
• Miss Adeline Hemendinger of Assumption is spending a few days in the city as a guest of her friend Florence Maas.
• The family of that experienced and successful sugar planter Mr. J. L. Lebermuth, co-owner of the magnificent Salsburg plantation, St. James parish, left on Tuesday to spend the heated term at Claiborne Cottage at Covington, La. Mr. Livermuth left this morning to join them.
• Mrs. Meyer Netter, the kind and estimable wife of that enterprising merchant, Mr. Meyer Netter, of the firm of Netter & Co. of this city, who has been sojourning for the past four weeks at Abita Springs enjoying the balmy climate of that resort has returned home much benefited by her trip. She was accompanied home by her husband and her sweet little child, Ethel, who had been with her.
• Miss S. Melancon of Port Barrow went out to attend to some business on Tuesday leaving a silver watch and gold chain in the room. While she was gone a colored man came to the house to buy milk and on her return Miss Melancon discovered that her watch and chain were gone. The colored man who had been in the habit of coming to the house every day is also missing and it is supposed that he took the articles.

MAY 25, 1896

Saturday very shortly after 8 o’clock, Jerry Lamais, colored, employed on B. Lemann’s & Brother’s Dugas plantation, was shot and severely wounded by a colored woman named Sennie Rogers, in one of the cabins on the Riverside plantation.

Lemais, up to a week ago, had been employed on the Riverside plantation when he left and found work on the Dugas place. During his stay, at the Riverside plantation he had been living with a woman named Rogers, but when he left did not take her with him. On Saturday morning he went to the woman’s house to get his clothing which he left there and to get the balance of the wages due him and as he put in an appearance she took him to task for having talked disparagingly about her. After a few words had passed between them the woman went into the next room and as she remained there for some time Lamais opened the door to see what she was doing. As he did so he saw that she had taken his revolver and cartridges from his valise and fearing that she intended to shoot him started out of the house on a run and when he was about to climb a fence, despite his entreaties not to shoot, she fired, the ball hitting him in the shoulder and ranging downward towards the breast. He started to run, still pursuedby the woman, who had fired again but this time the ball merely grazed the skin of his back.

Immediately after the shooting the woman gave herself up to Theo. Landry, the second overseer on the Riverside plantation, who took her before Justice Raymond Landry, who committed her to the parish jail in this city to await the action of the District Court.

Dr. J. D. Hanson was summoned to attend the wounded man and after carefully examining his injuries pronounced his condition critical.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

What had every appearance of an attempt to rob the residence of Judge H.O. Maher on Saturday evening was frustrated by the timely appearance of Mrs. Maher on the scene, scaring the would-be burglars away. Mrs. Maher was away from the house chatting with one of her neighbors when one of her boys came up and she sent him away on an errand. The boy asked his mother if his father was at home and received a reply in the negative which was heard by a big burly colored man who was leaning against a water butt. The man started off toward Mr. Maher’s residence. Mrs. Maher, without divining the man’s intention, started a minute or so after homeward and coming in view of the house saw the man open the gate to go in. At this juncture, he evidently saw the lady for he hastened away, giving a whistle as he did so and was joined by another colored man and both moved away quickly.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Saturday evening a quarrel arose between Oliver (Mickey) Rodeillat and a colored man named Garner over a game of craps that was being played in a house near the depot. Rodeillat slapped the colored man in the face and was in turn knocked down and badly beaten by Garner. On getting to his feet he drew his revolver and chased the colored man down the track, and getting within range fired and hit the negro in the knee. No arrests were made and the matter, it is said, has been quietly settled between the parties.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Quite a number of our local fishermen spent yesterday at Bayou Corne and returned last night with marvelous stories of their catches. Among the party were Messrs Lawrence Brun, Leon Levy, Joseph Babin Jr., Alf. Landry, William A. Terrio, Ives Ramirez, Prosper Ganel Jr., Eugene LeBlanc, Gus Cire, F. Linde, Paul Wutke and Wm. J. Frank. Taking their individual accounts of fish hauled in, the bayou must be about destitute of the finny tribe today.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

• Sheriff St. Martin leaves for Baton Rouge tomorrow with five prisoners who have been sentenced to the penitentiary.
• Mr. D. J. Foley of Bayou Goula spent yesterday with friends in our city.
• Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Gondran of Belle Helene were in our city yesterday as the guests of Mrs. Gondran’s sister, Miss Marie Blanchy.
• Mr. Edward Park of this city who is a student at St. Mary’s Theological Seminary at Perryville, Mo., has been given the chair of belles lettres in that institution.
• The ice wagon horse got a move on him Saturday morning and struck a gait out Railroad avenue and Mississippi streets that has put a notion in Rodriguez’s head to enter him in the next races over at the park.
• Mr. Bernard Lemann will spend the summer in Maine for the benefit of his health, which has been run down of late by too close application to business. The best wishes for his recovery to complete health will go with him from his numerous friends.
• The Lugger “Pelican” which has been sold for debt by Mr. Louis Dehon and had been hauled out on the bank opposite his cooper shop, was set on fire and burned up on Friday night. A colored man named Buddy McNeil, a minstrel performer who had been sleeping in the boat, was found to have small pox and after he had been removed the boat was set on fire.

 

MAY 26, 1896

• The friends of Miss Felicie Prejean learn with pleasure that she is again up after a severe illness.
• Miss C.B. Gustine of New Orleans is visiting her sister, Mrs. A. Leo Greenwood.
• Mr. C. Melancon of Paincourtville is quite ill.
• Miss Lillian LeBlanc, one of Assumption’s fairest debutantes, is just recovering from an attack of measles.
• Mr. J. J. Claverie and wife, lately of Donaldsonville, have now made their home with Mr. H.C. Wilson and family of the Palo Alto plantation.
• Mr. Alfred Munch of Plaquemine spent Wednesday of last week with his cousins, Mr. J.O. Ayraud and family.
• Dr. S. D. Gustine and Mr. C. Dodd, both of New Orleans, paid a flying visit to friends on the bayou recently.
• Mrs. Chas. Rice of Bowietown, Lafourche parish, was here Sunday on a visit to friends.
• Mr. Joseph Crowley, the well known mechanical engineer, was a welcome visitor to our city today. Mr. Crowley represents Payne & Joubert, the well known sugar machinery manufacturers of New Orleans.
• Sheriff St. Martin who had made all preparation for taking to Baton Rouge today the prisoners in the parish jail sentenced to the penitentiary, postponed the trip until tomorrow on account of the death of his sister-in-law, Mrs. Lea Leroy.
• A. H. Combes, an employee at the Donaldsonville ice factory, was quite badly hurt about the legs and feet last evening by a heavy piece of ice that he was engaged in lifting, falling on him. His feet were quite badly bruised and crushed and he had to be assisted to his home.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Beatrice Montecino, 10 years of age, fell while jumping a rope in the yard of Ascension Academy at noon today and broke her right arm. She was assisted home and Dr. T. H. Hanson summoned who set the fractured bone. The little one has just come from the school room and was on her way home when the accident happened.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

It is with regret we announce today the death of Mrs. Lea Leroy, nee Dugas, the estimable wife of Mr. Alcide Leroy, at her home at 11 o’clock last ninth in her 36th year of her age. The illness was of short duration and her death therefore is a great shock to her relatives and friends. Deceased, who was a sister-in-law of Sheriff Sam. St. Martin, was a most estimable and lovable woman, a faithful wife and a devoted mother and her loss to those who knew and loved her best is irreparable. The funeral took place this afternoon at the Catholic church and was very largely attended.

MAY 27, 1896

Sheriff Sam St. Martin left for Baton Rouge with the following prisoners this morning: Clarance Barham, sentenced to six years; Vincenze Tortorich, sentenced to 18 months; and Andrew and Joseph Foster, sentenced to six months. The Sheriff was accompanied by Frederick Landry and both are expected back tomorrow. Parham who goes to the penitentiary for six years was convicted of manslaughter in killing a man at New River.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Albert Gauthreaux and Charley Cook have gone into the gumbo-fealey business.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Delora Melancon, infant daughter of Arthur J. Melancon and Victoria Oubre, died last evening at her parents’ residence on the Salsburg plantation, St. James parish. Her funeral took place this afternoon at the Catholic church, this city.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Jerry Lamais, colored, who was shot on the Riverside plantation by a woman named Sennie Rogers, as previously reported in this paper, is said to be on a fair road to recovery. The woman who is in jail here, will probably be given a preliminary hearing on a charge of assault with intent to kill, and if she can find bail, will be released. Lamais’ wound which was in the shoulder was a serious one but responded favorably to Dr. Hanson’s treatment.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Dr. McGalliard has been confined to his home the past few days through illness, which is fortunately not of a serious character.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Dr. John D. Hanson has been ill and unable to attend to his professional duties but his rapid recovery to perfect health again is confidently anticipated.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. James Teller of the Riverside plantation is quite sick and it was deemed advisable by his attending physicians to send to New Orleans today for Dr. Souchon for consultation.

MAY 28, 1896

Apparently if you laid in supplies in 1896, everyone knew what you ordered. 

Clarence Parham was not among the prisoners taken to the penitentiary yesterday by Sheriff St. Martin as announced in yesterday’s issue. An appeal was taken in his case and he will remain in parish prison until this appeal is decided.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

On Saturday evening while Rev. A. Martin was dining with Dr. McGalliard at the latter’s residence, a sneak thief entered and stole Rev. Martin’s hat and umbrella. The loss was not discovered until he was about to make his departure. Our reverend friend escaped much easier than did a distinguished divine in Chicago a short time since who was robbed on Saturday evening of every article of clothing he possessed and appeared in the pulpit the next morning in a dressing gown.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Miss Ida Breaux, the beautiful and cultured daughter of Mr. J. Monroe Breaux of Burnside, was in our city this morning shopping.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Deputy Sheriffs Alex. Bertin and P. Gilbert of Assumption parish were in the city today on their way to the insane asylum in Jackson with a colored woman from Napoleonville.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

A petition is being circulated asking the legislature to remove the leper hospital from the Indian Camp plantation opposite White Castle to a more isolated locality in White Castle and Plaquemine.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mr. Edward N. Pugh Jr., after spending a few days here with his parents and a couple of days with his Baton Rouge friends, returned to Waverly plantation, Lafourche parish, this morning.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Mrs. Sims, the wife of Ascension’s distinguished lawyer and able Senator, R.N. Sims, we regret to say has been confined to bed since Saturday with an attack of fever. Her manly and handsome son, Frank, a page in the Senate chamber at Baton Rouge, came to visit his mother yesterday and returned to resume his work this morning.

 

MAY 29, 1896

That charming lady, Mrs. T.O. Dalferes, of this city spent Wednesday as a guest of Mrs. Buford, the estimable wife of Mr. W.W. Buford of Port Barrow.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Dr. W. M. McGailliard is about again receiving the congratulations of his many friends over his recovery. The doctor is too valuable a citizen to have laid up with sickness.

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Licensed to wed

• Andrew J. West to Rebecca Cole
• Ambroise Doblan to Estella Anthony
• W. H. Jones to Sarah Watson
• Arthur Smith to Manette Johnson
• Frank Lacave to Florence Parnell

———————————————————————————————————————————-

Last night about eight o’clock while running on the sidewalk in front of the residence of Mr. J. J. LaFargue, Lawrence Casso, the little son of Lucien Casso, was attacked by a small dog belonging to Mr. LaFargue and severely bitten about the legs. The screams of the child attracted the attention of passers by who drove the dog away and took the child to his home where his injuries were attended to.

A visit to Donaldsonville’s Catholic cemetery in 1885

Newspaper writers of bygone years could be a little flowery – or Victorian – in their writing.  Still, this is an interesting tour of the Ascension of Our Lord cemetery in Donaldsonville from “The Donaldsonville Chief.” I’ve added modern photos.

All Saints’ Day–The Principal Tombs and Decorations in the Catholic cemetery —

“There is no more beautiful custom in the Catholic religion than the observance of All Saints’ Day, which has been set apart by the Church to the memory of the saints
and is a feast of obligation as regards attending divine service and abstaining from
manual labor. The peculiar and touching custom of decorating the last resting places
of loved ones who have fallen under the relentless hand of the great reaper is essentially Southern, and has been of late years observed by nearly all religious denominations.

The old Catholic Cemetery of Donaldsonville, where sleep so many of its founders, contains numerous handsome and costly tombs and monuments, as well as poor and humble ones, but both classes alike bore evidence that those who rest within still live,
hallowed in loving hearts and undying memories. The cemetery is approached by
a long grassy walk, bordered on each side with tall, widespreading willows, and ere
the visitor has reached the gates of the hallowed enclosure, the mellowed light, the
hush and solitude seem to shut him away solemnly from all the outer world.

The Bringier tomb

Just beyond the entrance, to the right of central avenue down which we look upon
passing through the gates, is the Bringier tomb, a square, granite mausoleum, the
largest in the cemetery, in which lie members of the Bringier, Tureaud, Kenner and
Colomb families. It was simply decorated here and there with natural flowers, and in
one corner of the railed enclosure stood a bundle of sugar cane, bound like a sheaf of
wheat. A compartment in the side of the tomb devoted to the Colomb family had
been but a few days before opened to receive the remains of Marie Louise Colomb,
who had been snatched away from earthly life at the age of 15, before she had tasted
either its joys or sorrows. Immediately opposite the Bringier tomb, on the other side
of the avenue, is the tomb of Mrs. Antoine D. Vega, one of the few in the graveyard
that bears a poetical inscription.

In front of the O’Malley tomb, a little further down the avenue, a broken column
of snowy white told a pathetic tale of a bright young life cut off in all its promise,
and bore the simple inscription, “John O’Malley.”

On the Wilson tomb near by was carved the name of Mary Armide Theresa Wilson,
aged 10 months. Loving hands had tenderly placed sweets flowers here, fragrant as
the fleeting perfume of her life, weaving them about the marble slab which bore up
on its face the indelible letters telling of the time when Christ suffered them to come unto Him.

Further along a black marble headstone told of Doctor A. Maszke, Baron of Elpenbein, a native of Mariampol, Pologne, who died far from home and loved ones, a poltical exile from his native land.

The family tombs of Jean Dominique, Comstock, Simon Braud, Dr. Theo. Webre, Robt. Coquille, Guedry, Matthew Couughlin and Louis Dalmas are among the most conspicuous in this portion of the cemetery, the two last named attracting especial attention by their decorations and the flowers and shrubs growing around them.

On a flat, old-fashioned ” table tomb” was traced the name of Eloi Melancon, grass-grown and mossy, as if preparing for a final plunge into oblivion.

The family behind this house, Evan Hall, is buried in Donaldsonville.

The beautiful Gothic sepulchre of the Andrews family, the antebellum owners of Evan Hall, is constructed of finest marble and attracts immediate attention.

Near the end of the middle avenue are grouped the tombs of several branches of the Duffel family, all bedecked with natural flowers.

At the termination of the avenue rises the great mission cross so recently erected, and
near its base, surrounded by an ornamental iron railing, repose the remains of the Sisters of Charity who have breathed their last within the peaceful walls of the St. Vincent
Institute. In the centre of the enclosure rests the revered Sister Mary Austin, whose
grave is surmounted by an imposing headstone erected by the ladies of the parish,
many of whom were her pupils in bygone years. Two large urns, bearing the initials
E. J. and M. V. respectively, and filled with blooming chrysanthemums, composed the
offerings to this gentle religieusd, whose good deeds and kindly excellence will never
fade from the memory of those who knew and honored her in life. Within the shadow of the cross she served so faithfully she sleepeth well.

Turning now to the left we pass the tombs of J. LeBlanc, E. Bujol, T. Landry and Hubert Treille, all newly cleaned and decorated. Below these a spacious iron-railed enclosure contains two old tombs said to bear the names of Pedesclaux and Winchester. Weeds and wild flowers hold high carnival here; coarse coxcombs have thrust their gaudy heads through fissures in the brickwork, and from the gnarled branches of a leafless tree, trembling and swaying with every passing breeze, there hang the dismantled remnants of a forsaken nest.

 

The grand Landry sepulchre

Adjacent to this neglected spot is the tall and stately Landry sepulchre, the most conspicuous in the cemetery, wherein lie the remains of members of the old Landry and
Duffel families. A stray shell injured a corner of this structure during the war, and
for many years a great hole in the mason work disfigured it, but the place has been
neatly repaired and no longer serves as a reminder of the time when the passions of
the living marred even the tranquil slumber of the dead. At the entrance of this
mausoleum a headstone marks the resting place of Father Herman Stucke. Father
Tichitoli was also buried here in an upright position; in conformity. with his dying re
quest, the slab above him forming one of the steps of the Landry tomb, but the remains have lately been relocated to the enclosure belonging to the Sisters.

Turning again to the left and coming up the lower avenue, we pass tombs bearing
the familiar names of LeBlanc, Ayraud, David Israel, Mollere and Hatkinson-four
of the latter in a group-Tournillion, Randall, Dugas, Brand, Rlanchard and others
equally well known and prominent in this community.

One simple headboard, graced with a posy of white marguerites, bore the name of
Ada Terrio; not many among us have forgotten the gentle girl who, then buddiing
into beauteous womanhood, faltered and left us by the way.

Near here is the beautiful Bethancourt tomb, recently enlarged and improved. A
shaft of white marble has been erected, and four urns, one at each corner of the
burial plot. At the foot of the stone a tiny cross appears, ” Erected to the memory of
Little Arthur,” a nephew of the gentleman who had these lovely testimonials placed in
position-Mr. L. S. Bethancourt, for many years a resident of Panama, who visited his
native land not long ago.

Many imposing tombs are situated in this vicinity. That of Jean Baptiste Gaudin, a
large granite structure, is very conspicuous, and so are two of similar device bearing the
names of Aristide Landry and D’Ignace Dugas. The tomb of H. S. Boudreaux and
his little daughter Adele was tastefully decorated as also was that of Michael Keating. Both were freshly whitewashed and covered with natural flowers.

Near the upper end of the front cross avenue, to the right of the entrance, are several handsome tombs, notably that of the Seyfried family, in which repose the remains of Gottlieb Seyfried, Mrs. Baptiste Walker and Mrs. Patrick Reddington, the last named of whom but a few short weeks ago crossed the shadowy path which separates time from eternity.

All through the cemetery the eye is met by old tombs fast falling into decay; the.
bricks, green and dank with age, are covered with a tangle of wild verdure, as if nature’s tender hand had sought to hide the touch of time. Some bear, in letters that are fast passing away, inscriptions dated as far back as 1836; others have faded, decaying decorations, dried and withered flowers that crack and crumble at the touch,
but too plainly indicating that the gentle hands which placed them there have long
since fallen to dust. On one such Mecca of earthly hopes appears the legend, ” Une
epouse et une mere inconsolable.”

Almost all the decorations were of natural flowers, though a few clung to the old
style of paper and bead wreaths. Some tiny mounds simply bore branches of evergreen
laid across the top, showing that mothers still lived and cherished the memory of
these “babes that never grow old.”

The quaint, curious custom of burning candles before the graves was observed in many instances, and very gruesome these flickering points of light looked, shining out in the gathering twilight. The huge cross threw heavy shadows, touching with wavering fingers the last homes of those “gathered within the fold;” and the sweet tones of the Angelus bells broke musically upon the evening air, ringing la Toussand of 1885 into the annals of the past.”