Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1853-07-16
An Inebriate;s Deathbed.

On Saturday last while some negroes were
engaged in clopping corl-wood near the swamp
in the rear of the Messrs. Thibo.l;,ux Brothers
plantation, on the Tcrrebonne, near this place,
they perceived an unusual number of buzzards
lowering around particular spot in the distant
wood Curiosity prompted them to visit the
place and ascertain the cause, when on drawing
near 10, and behold! the nude form of hui
man being, with the face hands, and abdomen
horribly INITIATED and the remaining portions
in n most foul state Of decomposition, was re-
yealed to their view They conveyed the body
to their master, the Hen. II. C. Thibodaux who
Immediately snmmond Maj. J. c. Potts, the
nearest Justice of the Peace, for the purpose Of
holding an inquest over the remains. After be-
ing apprized Of the manner in which the body
had been discovered, a jury was empanneled and
ver,lit of Found dead without any marks of
violence, Z" returned:
The unfortunate man, whose remains were
thus proyidcntiaIly saved from being devoured by
birds of prey, Though much disfSured,) we
have every reason to believe, was poor Ger
man, who some twelve days or fortnight pre-
vious had engaged to drive Mr.. Barnes, one OF
the engineers attached to the Opelousas kall
Road, from Tigcrville to the Lafourche. On ar
irving at Este Brigitte,' the homestead OF
Judge Thibodaux. where MIR. Barncs's business
required him to remain for awhile, the invita-
ton to dine with the family was extended to the
deceased When at table it become evident that
Tic was unwell, and he had every appearance OF
one completely unnerved from an excessive use
Of the intoxicating draught. After dinner was
over, he drove Mr.. Barnes to the Cotcou where
he left the buggy, paid the deceased, and pro-
cecded the remainder of his way to the La
fourche in a boat. All that the deceased then
had to do was to return to Tigerville by the
same route that he had come. But his conduct
here, become very wild and strange-he seemed
to be seized with frenzy-tiroye his buggy into
the swamp from which it was extricated by per-
sons living near and who again put him on the
road home From that time until the finding Of
his lifeless and mangled remains, as before
uSScE1Dtu. HO OllC Iiu SCCH VI HChAu VA H1IIt. ~
is quite evident that reason had left him in Il
total mental darkness, and he continued TO wan
der about through the swamp until at length
death added another victim 10 the awful cata-
logue Of 'died from intempcrance; death
from the the thoughts of which the mind recoils
with horror-but which to reflect upon, many
may derive useful lesson by stunning his evil
course. Look not upon the wine when it is red,
for it biteth like a serpent, and stingeth like an
adder!
It has since been ascertained that this un1or-
tunate man had been on u ssspree" for nearly
three weeks prior to his engaging to convey Mr..
Barnes to the Lafourche, and his nerves being
deprived Of their usual stimulant gave way I'M
der the effort to restrain, and death from deli
rum trcmens was the consequence. The horse
and buggy were found few days previous to
the discovery Of the body Of the i'll fated driver,
but in distant part Of the swamp. Through
the kindness and humanity Of Judge Thibodaux
the body Of this victim to intenperanee was de-
Gently inferred. May his awful end serve as a
warning to those who are addicted to the too fire.