Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I, Part 23

Author: Fortier, Alcee, 1856-1914, ed. 1n
Publication date: 1909
Publisher: Atlanta, Southern Historical Association
Number of Pages: 1294


USA > Louisiana > Louisiana; comprising sketches of counties, towns, events, institutions, and persons, Volume I > Part 23


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form in front of the cabildo. In the evening the opera "Carmen" was given at the French opera house.


On Sunday, the centennial day, high mass was held at the cathe- dral, which was decorated with the flags of the three dominations, which Louisiana has successively known and recognized-France, Spain and the United States-the latter the highest of all, marking the event around which the day's celebration revolved. Archi- bishop Chapelle officiated. At 12 o'clock the centennial ceremonies began, a signal gun announced the departure from Decatur and St. Peter streets of Charles F. Claiborne and Theodore S. Wilkinson, whose grandfathers were the American commissioners at the trans- fer of 1803. They were accompanied by James S. Zacharie, who represented the American secretary, Wadsworth, and were escorted to the cabildo by the Continental Guards. who represented the U. S. army of that period. Upon reaching the cabildo they were met at the head of the stairs by the mayor, city council, and Pres. Alcée Fortier, who represented the French commissioner, Laussat, who had no descendants in Louisiana, and were escorted to the supreme court room. Gov. Heard presided and explained that the object of the meeting was to be a repetition of the transfer of 1803. Charles T. Soniat took the part of the French secretary, Daugerot, the French and Spanish representatives, justices of the supreme conrt in their robes of office, the United States representative, the commanders of the men-of-war and other guests assembled in the · court room. In front of the platform were three seats, for the men who took the parts of the commissioners.


Prof. Fortier, as Laussat, had the middle seat, with the other commissioners on either hand, and the secretaries standing, behind. The governor called the meeting to order and requested Prof. Fortier to preside. The latter as Laussat, requested Mr. Zacharie, as Wadsworth, to read the commission of President Jefferson to the American commissioners; Charles Soniat, as Dangerot, then read the power of Laussat to receive Louisiana from Spain ; Mr. Zacharie read five sections of the treaty of cession, and Mr. Soniat read the same in French, after which he read the power of Laussat to deliver the province of Louisiana to the United States. Prof. Fortier, as Lanssat, then delivered possession of Louisiana to the American commissioners. Charles Claiborne then took the chair and delivered the address which his grandfather, Gov. W. C. C. Claiborne, had given when he took possession of the territory 100 years before. After the address Prof. Fortier called upon Mr. Zacharie to read the proces verbal of the delivery of Louisiana, and announced that at the original transfer, after the proces verbal was read, Gov. Claiborne and Laussat had gone out on the balcony, ac- companied by Mayor Bore, and addressed the citizens. He there- fore suggested that. in imitation. the governor and mayor address the citizens. Mayor Capdevielle then read the proclamation of Gov. Claiborne, and declared the celebration at an end. At a signal the American flag was raised on the staff in Jackson Square : the artillery gave a salute, and the men-of-war taking it up each fired


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21 guns. The official representatives then entered the justices' room to sign the proces verbal.


Centerpoint, a post-hamlet in the extreme northwestern part of Avoyelles parish, is about 5 miles south of Kees, the nearest railroad station.


Centerville, a town in the central part of St. Mary parish, is on the navigable Bayou Teche, 5 miles below Franklin, the parish seat, and about 2 miles northeast of Bayou Sale, the nearest rail- road town. It is situated in the center of a rich sugar district, has large sugar industries, a money order postoffice, one bank, several mercantile establishments, and a population of 414 in 1900.


Central, a village in the northwestern part of St. James parish, is situated on the east bank of the Mississippi river and the Yazoo & Mississippi Valley R. R., about 7 miles above Convent, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, telegraph and telephone facilities, and a population over 100.


Centennial Exposition .- (See Expositions.)


Cessions .- (See Treaties, Military Reservations, National Ceme- teries and Transfer of Louisiana.)


Cevallos, Pedro, a Spanish statesman and politician, was born at Santander, Spain, in 1764. In 1802-03, as minister of foreign affairs under Charles IV, he conducted an interesting diplomatic correspondence with Charles Pinckney, the American minister to Spain, relative to the establishment of a resident U. S. mercantile agent at New Orleans and the cession of the Floridas to the United States. On July 19, 1803, just after France had sold Louisiana to the United States, he wrote a letter to Mr. Pinckney, in which he said: "His Majesty the king having given orders to his ministers near the United States of America to make known the absolute nullity of the proceedings of France in disposing of Louisiana, which he had formally and positively engaged not to sell, I now communicate the same to you, in order that you may submit it to your government, which will thus receive it by distinct channels. At the same time, I must inform you, in reply to the assurance given me by you at our last conference that France had also ceded West Florida, that the said province never has at any time or by any title belonged to the French." The Spanish opposition to the transfer was withdrawn early the following year and on Feb. 10, 1804, Cevallos wrote again to Mr. Pinckney notifying him of the fact. Judging from his correspondence, there is little room for doubt that the opposition of Spain to the cession was instigated, or at least increased by Cevallos. In 1808 he was sent to London on a political mission by the Junta, and while there published a work which is said to have had a great deal to do in inciting the Spaniards against Bonaparte. Between 1814 and 1820 he served as secretary of state and minister to Austria. He died about 1838.


Chacahoula, a village in the northern part of Terrebonne parish, is a station on the Southern Pacific R. R., about 6 miles southwest of Schriever. It is the supply point for a considerable district, has


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a money order postoffice, an express office, telegraph and tele- phone facilities, and in 1900 reported a population of 124.


Chaise, De la, who came to Louisiana in 1723, and with Du Sannoy was empowered "to exercise inquisitorial powers over the affairs of Louisiana, to take information on the conduct of all the officers and administrators of the colony, and to report thercon to the government," exercised his important functions as king's com- missary alone until his death in 1730, as Dn Saunoy died shortly after his arrival. He was a nephew of the Jesuit Father de la Chaise, confessor to Louis XIV, and was of noble and distinguished ancestry. Gayarre characterizes him as one "not gifted with a superior intellect : but he was a solid square block of honesty, who neither deviated to the right nor to the left from the path of duty, and who, possessing a considerable share of energy, moved stoutly onward to the accomplishment of his mission, regardless of persons and of conseqnqences. * Boisbriant, the governor ad interim,


Perrault, Perry, the engineer Pauger, the attorney-general Fleuriau, all members of the superior council, were censured with severity by the government. Moreover, Acting Gov. Boisbriant, Bienville's cousin, was summoned to France to justify his acts; Perrault, Fazende and Perry, members of the council, were dismissed from office ; Fleuriau, the attorney-general, was invited to throw up his commission, and the office itself was suppressed for the moment." De la Chaise was the direct canse of the downfall and recall of Boisbriant, and bitter enmity existed between the two men until the latter was summoned to France. On the arrival of Gov. Périer in the fall of 1726, he was informed by the company that he must maintain the most cordial relations and understanding with the commissary, de la Chaise, in whose zeal and integrity the company reposed the most implicit confidence. These two men now exer- cised the supreme power in the colony, and each was independent of the other within his respective departments; Périer was chief executive and commandant-general, while de la Chaise had super- vision of its police. commerce and judicial administration. As a result of their harmonius relations, a period of tranquillity in the colony ensued until the outbreak of the Natchez at the end of 1729, and for the first time there was a complete absence of the evils produced by the jealousies and quarrels between the governor and the king's commissaries. When the wretched survivors of the Natchez massacre arrived at New Orleans, de la Chaise made gen- erous use of his extensive authority to satisfy all their wants. His sudden death in 1730 led to rumors that he had been poisoned by those who had cause to fear his impartial investigations. Le Page du Pratz has written in glowing terms of his many virtues, and ended with the statement. "Those orphans and widows who escaped from the Natchez massacre, would be extremely ungrate- ful if they did not. during all their life, pray for the soul of that good and charitable man." De la Chaise had succeeded Duvergier as commissary, and was followed in the same office by Salmon.


Chalmette, a village in the western part of St. Bernard parish, is


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situated on the east bank of the Mississippi river, the Louisiana Southern R. R., and the New Orleans Terminal R. R., about 10 miles, southeast of New Orleans, in one of the rich agricultural districts that supplies the market of that city with vegetables and fruits. It is a considerable town, having a money order postoffice, express offices, telephone and telegraph facilities, and in 1900 reported a population of 110.


Chalmette Plantation, or Chalmette Plain, is situated in St. Ber- nard parish, a few miles southeast of the city of New Orleans, and is the place where the American forces under Gen. Jackson won the decisive victory over the British army commanded by Gen. Pakenham on Jan. 8, 1815. The first step toward the erection of a monument on this historic plain was' in 1840, when Gen. Jackson visited New Orleans and assisted in laying the corner- stone of the equestrian statue erected in his honor in Jackson square. On that occasion some patriotic gentlemen chartered a steamboat to convey a .block of granite bearing the inscription "January 8, 1815," to the old battlefield, where it was placed in position as the corner-stone of the future monument. Nothing further was done until Jan. 11, 1851, when a public meeting was held at the St. Louis exchange, Mayor A. D. Crossman presiding, the object of which was to erect a suitable monument to Jackson, whose death had occurred on June 8, 1845. At this meeting it was decided to erect two monuments-one to Gen. Jackson in Jackson square, and the other on the site of his celebrated victory. A com- mission was appointed consisting of Gov. Joseph Walker, Lieut .- Gov. Jean B. Plauche, Mayor A. D. Crossman, James H. Caldwell, Joseph Génois, P. Seuzeneau, with Charles Gayarre as secretary. The commissioners organized as the "Jackson Monument Associa- tion," which was incorporated as a permanent board by the legis- lature of 1852. The same session appropriated $10,000 for the equestrian statue and $5,000 for the Chalmette monument. By the act of March 18, 1852, the governor was authorized to purchase from the owners of the land a tract one arpent square on the line of the intrenchments occupied by Jackson's men on Jan. 8, 1815, as a site for the monument. Pursuant to this act, on Feb. 19, 1855, the State of Louisiana purchased from Pierre Bachelot, for $5.000. "a certain tract of land known as Chalmette Plain in the parish of St. Bernard and set apart said property for the erection of a monu- ment." etc.


The contract for the erection of the monument was awarded to Newton , Richards, who pushed forward the work until the shaft reached a height of 56 feet, when the work was suspended for want of funds. Before any further action was taken the great Civil war came on and as a result Chalmette was neglected. At the close of the war the old battlefield was practically a wilderness and the unfinished monument, surrounded by a tangled mass of shrubbery, reminded one more of a ruin than a work commemo- rative of a great historic battle. Some years after the war an organization of women known as the "United States Daughters of


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1776 and 1812" was effected in New Orleans and incorporated under the laws of the State of Louisiana. On April 17, 1894, the "care and keeping of the monument and grounds at Chalmette," was entrusted to these patriotic women by resolution of the general assembly, and through their labors and influence interest in the original undertaking was revived. The legislature appropriated $2,000 for the crection of a lodge and employment of a caretaker to look after the grounds and protect the monument from acts of vandalism. Owing to the fact that the state's resources were lim- ited, the "Daughters" decided to appeal to the national government for the means to complete the monument. Accordingly, on June 30, 1898, the general assembly of the state adopted a resolution requesting Congress to establish and maintain a national park on the scene of the battle of Jan. S. 1815. Then it was ascertained that it was contrary to the policy of the national government to build or maintain monuments or memorials on state property, and Hon. Robert F. Broussard, member of Congress from the 3d Lou- isiana district, suggested that the legislature pass an act ceding the grounds to the United States. The act of cession was passed by the legislature and on June 19. 1902, was approved by Gov. Heard. Briefly described, the tract thus ceded has a frontage of about 92 feet on the Mississippi river and runs back a distance of 80 arpents, the end farthest from the river being 453 feet in width. Congress took no action on the matter until March 4, 1907, when the Chalmette monument bill was passed, and on June 5, 1907, the deed of transfer from the State of Louisiana to the United States was delivered to the secretary of war by W. O. Hart, having been previously signed by Gov. Newton C. Blanchard and Sec. of State John T. Michel. Mr. Hart suggested that it would add dignity to the transaction to have the deed accepted by the president, which was done, after which the document was returned to St. Bernard parish to be entered upon the records.


Congress appropriated $25.000 for the completion of the monti- ment, which was begun more than half a century ago. A. F. Theard of New Orleans made plans for the United States Daugh- ters for the work, and soon after the deed was accepted the plans were approved by the secretary of war, who appointed Capt. J. F. McIndoe of the engineer corps, U. S. A., to superintend the con- struction of the monument and the disbursement of the funds. The secretary of war also suggested the appointment of an advis- ory committee on the part of the "Daughters," and Gen. Adolph Meyer, Gen. Albert Estopinal and W. O. Hart were selected. In this way the Chalmette Plain becomes a national institution. Future generations of Americans may look upon the monument and call to mind how a mere handful of undisciplined but brave and patriotic men, under the leadership of a man who never knew defeat, overcame the flower of the British army and closed the War of 1812. By Act. No. 29, legislative session of 1902, the gov- ernor was authorized to sell a portion of the original Bachelot tract, which was done for the sum of $3,065.41, and on July 2,


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1908, Gov. Sanders approved an act directing that this sum be . turned over to the United States Daughters to be applied to "the care and keeping of said monument and grounds."


Chamberlin, a village and station in the northern part of East Baton Rouge parish, is a short distance west of the Mississippi river on the Texas & Pacific R. R., about 10 miles northwest of Port Allen, the parish seat. It has a money order postoffice, an express office, telegraph and telephone facilities, and some retail trade.


Champigny, Jean de, a French scholar and writer, was a resident of Louisiana at the time Spanish authority was established in the province by O'Reilly. He wrote a "Memoir of Louisiana," cover- ing the principal events from the time of Iberville down to the beginning of the Spanish domination. The closing paragraphs of this memoir are as follows: "The world has beheld with surprise the silence of the French ministry as to O'Reilly's conduct, its neglect to exact reparation for his inhumanity, its silence as to the violation of the law of nations in pronouncing sentence on French subjects. Still more is Europe surprised to learn that the remnants- of those wretched families, stripped of everything they possess, languish in silence and misery.


"Is there then no beneficence, no humanity on earth? Assured of the contrary, let us say that till now the truth was unknown, the French ministry was deceived. May the faithful narrative which I now present to faithful souls, excite in them those feelings which honor humanity.


* "O, Heavenly Power! send forth the light of truth into the hearts of those raised up to protect it. Unveil iniquity to their eyes, unmask imposture. Let it tremble on the very steps of the throne, where it seeks to escape thy avenging hand, and let me in transports at the sight of thy justice exclaim: 'There is then on earth an asylum for virtue, a support for that innocence, and no place where iniquity and crime can find a shelter.'"


M. de Champigny was also the author of a History of England, which was published in 1777, as well as of several other works, and translated Schlegel's "History of the Danish Kings." He died about 1787.


Chandeleur Islands are a group of islands lying in a crescent shape east of St. Bernard parish, from which they are separated by Chandeleur sound. They were visited by Iberville in 1699 before. his fleet came to anchor in the roadstead between Cat and Ship islands. Gayarre says: "This name proceeds from the circum- stance of their having been discovered on the day when the Cath- olic church celebrates the feast of the presentation of Christ in the temple, and of the purification of the virgin. They are flat, sandy islands, which look as if they wish to sink back into the sea, from shame of having come into the world prematurely, and before having been shaped and licked by nature into proper objects of existence." The distance from the most northern to the most southern point of the group is about 40 miles, and from the main-


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land on the west about 20 miles. On the northernmost point a lighthouse is maintained.


Chantilly, a post-hamlet in the eastern part of Catahoula parish. is situated on a branch of the Black river, about 8 miles north of Athlone, the nearest railroad town, and 6 miles southeast of Har- risonburg, the parish seat. In 1900 it had a population of 250.


Chapelle, Placide Louis, Roman Catholic archbishop of New Or- leans from 1897 to 1905, was born in the diocese of Mende, France, Aug. 28, 1842. At the age of 17 years he came to the United States 'and took complete courses in theology and philosophy in St. Mary's college. From 1863 to 1865 he taught in St. Charles college and in the latter year was ordained priest. The next five years were spent in missionary work; became assistant pastor of St. John's church, Baltimore, Md., in 1870, and later pastor ; was also pastor of St. Joseph's, Baltimore, and in 1882 became pastor of St. Mat- thew's, Washington, D. C. About this time he came into promi- nence as a theologian and acted as president of the theological conferences at Baltimore and Washington. In 1891 he was ap- pointed coadjutor bishop to Archbishop Salpointe of Santa Fe. New Mex., with right of succession, and consecrated titular bishop of Arabissus. In Jan., 1894, upon the resignation of Archbishop Salpointe, he became archbishop of Santa Fe, where he served with distinction until in Nov., 1897, when he was appointed archbishop of New Orleans to succeed Most Rev. Francis Janssens, whose death had occurred the preceding June. On Sept. 16, 1898, Arch- bishop Chapelle was appointed, by the Pope, apostolic delegate of Cuba and Porto Rico, and about a year later he received a similar appointment to the Philippine islands. Owing to his frequent ab- sences from New Orleans on account of his duties as apostolic delegate, Father Gustav A. Rouxel was appointed auxiliary arch- bishop. On Aug. 9, 1905, Archbishop Chapelle died in New Or- leans, a victim of the yellow fever epidemic of that year. Forty of the 63 years of his life had been spent in the service of the Master, and the fact that he rose from a humble priest to the arch- diocese of New Orleans is evidence that his ecclesiastical duties were always discharged with conscientious devotion to the cause to which he had consecrated his life.


Charenton, a village in the northeastern part of St. Mary parish. is situated on the Bayou Teche, about 3 miles northeast of Baldwin. the nearest railroad station and 6 miles north of Franklin, the parish seat, in a rich sugar district. It has sugar industries, a money order postoffice, and in 1900 had a population of 200. The estimated population in 1908 was 540.


Charities and Corrections .- The state board of charities and cor- rections was created by act of the legislature, approved by Gov. Blanchard on July 5. 1904. (See Blanchard's Administration.) Although invested with no authority beyond that of visiting the penal and charitable institutions of the state and making recom- mendations regarding their management, the board has accomp- lished a great deal in the way of improving the character and con-


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. trol of these institutions. The last report of the board was to the general assembly of 1908. Concerning the old penitentiary at Baton Rouge, this report says : and uncleanly condition. "The kitchen was in a most disorderly * * From ' information gathered elsewhere, it was also ascertained that the food furnished the men from this kitchen was not satisfactory, consisting in a large part of salt meats and very few vegetables, in spite of the fact that on the farm at Angola vegetables are grown in such abundance that in some seasons they are allowed to rot because there is no one to eat them. %


* The hospital at the walls is by no means all that it should be. The sleeping quarters are clean and the beds well supplied with bed clothing, but the bathing and sanitary ar- rangements were in a very dilapidated condition at the time of our visit. We have been informed, however, that improvements are now under way in this regard. * * We most earnestly recommend that, at the earliest possible date. this old building be abandoned entirely and the receiving station be established at Angola, with at least one member of the board of control resident there."


The report of the board on the condition of the colored camp at Angola sets forth the fact that it is constructed "entirely of wooden buildings with shingle roofs. The sleeping quarters at this camp. although very well ventilated are, in our opinion, entirely too small for the number of men quartered there. In a room 30 by 130, 131 men sleep every night. The sanitary arrangements are primitive. The dining room at this camp, though large and well ventilated. is extremely crude, and the floor is covered with sawdust, evidently for the purpose of avoiding scrubbing. The kitchen, although large and well ventilated, is not as clean and orderly as it should be. The clothing of a great many of the men here was not clean. in spite of the fact that it was Sunday, and our visit was expected. The board most earnestly recommendis that. as soon as possible, brick buildings be constructed at this camp, like those at Camp E, occupied by white men."


At the camp for white men at Angola the board found conditions ideal in every way, but its report with regard to the women's camp there, says: "There is nothing at this camp that we can commend. and we suggest its immediate and entire reconstruction in brick."


The Orleans parish prison. the Jackson insane asylum, the deaf and dumb institute, and the state institute for the blind were found in good condition and well managed, though the board recommended fire escapes on the annex occupied by girls at the blind asylum, and some of the institutions mentioned were somewhat crowded. The board suggested legislation establishing juvenile courts: that the board of control of the state penitentiary be required to furnish dis- charged prisoners with transportation by railroad or steamboat from the place of discharge to the prisoner's home, provided said home is within the state: and that the members of the board of charities and corrections be allowed their traveling expenses and a paid secre- tary, not a member of the board, the salary of such secretary not




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