The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1877-05-19
DEATH OF FAMOUS CEHrENARLAN

consequently past one hundred and nine
Years of age; the second was Augustine
Picard, Of Rochester, who is said to have
been born. at Saint Pierre, near Quebec,
March d. 1857, and Vas therefore one
hundred and ten years of age when he
died, anel the last was Captain Frederick
Lahrbus h, who died in New York last
week. He claimed to have been born at
London March 8, 1866, which would
make him upwards of one hundred and
eleven years old at the time of his death.
Of all the centenarians in the United
States, the late Captain Lahrbush was
undoubtedly by far the most generally
known by reputation. For some years
past he had been made a good deal Of a
lion iieNew York city, and accounts of
his appearance and and of his birthday
celebrations have furnished material for
many newspaper articles.
According to the story Of Lahrbush's
life which he told himself, and which
was generally accepted in New York as
correct, he entered the British army in
1888, and in 1893 went with the expedi-
ton sent from England to Holland IN
der the Duke of York. He also served
with CORVALLIS in Ireland in 1888, and
with Nelson at Copenhagen in 1901. He
witnessed the interview at Tilsit between
Napoleon, the king of Prussia and the
emperor of Russia, being at the time on
his way from Memel to Daptzic. After
the kingdom of Westphalla was formed
Lahrbush was forced into the French
army, and was made first lieutenant. He
was taken prisoner by the British after
the battle of Wagram, and sent to He'll
goland. From there he went to England
with a British recruiting officer. Going
to London the Duke of Cambridge
took an interest in him, and by his in
fuence he received a commission as en-.
sign in the Sixteenth Foot, ard served in
the peninsular campaign under Yelling
ton, being promoted after the battle of
Busaco. In 1872 he was assigned to duty
at the Cape of Good Hope, and was mar
ried while stationed there. In 1816-17
he was an officer in the guard of Napol-
@ at st. Helena. In 1918 he sold out
his commission in the British service,
and after being in all parts of the world,
came to New York and permanently set
tied in 184S, with a widowed daughter
anAgrandson, both of whom soon died
and left him alone. For several years
his birthday was celebrated by parties
given by Gen. De Peyster, and when the
Prince of Wales was in this country in
1860 he received the venerable captain
with great cordiality. Thurlow Weed,
the late A. T. Stewart and other promi-
nent citizens of New York were great
friends of the captain. His death was
caused by illness contracted through ex-
posure on a cold morning in February
when he went to make a call On Mrs. A.
T. Stewart.
The claim of the captain to having
been born in 1866 has been criticised by
Mr.. Thems, the editor of Notes and
Queries, and the indefatigable exposer
of centenarian humbugs. MI. Thoms'
researches show that Mr.. Lahrbush's
commission in the Sixteenth Foot bears
date 10th November, 1909; that he never
was a captain, that he did not sell out,
but was cashiered. Mr.. Thoms says:
" In army list of 1919, under the head
of cashiered,' will be found the name
of Lieut.. De Lahrbush, sixty F. And
in connection with this unhappy Incl
dent, Lahrbush has furnished evidence
tina this statement that he was born
in 1866 is not true. Had he
been born in 1866, he would have
been ifty-two in 1918, whereas in 1916,
writing to the wal Office on the subject
of his services, he pleads, as an excuse
for the conduct which led to his removal,
youthful errors Youthful errors at
ftty-two!" Mr.. Thomas is OF opinion
that Lahrbush was born in 1886 and that
he never served in the low countries.
IF born in 1886 he would have been
ninety. one years of age at the time of his
DEATH great age, it is true, but not a
longevity which would attract attention.
Tt is said that when Prince Arthur
, visited this country in 1869-70, Captain
Lahrbush waited upon him, but was not
, received. But it is to be said in the
captains favor that neither the re,
searches of Mr.. Thomas, MOI anything
! else, v e weakened the faith in him Of
, his New York friends.
aBut whatever the exact age of the
!, late Captain Lahrbush may have been
there is no question that he wa a very
old man, as were the other two persons
who it is claimed were centenarians
whose deaths have been mentioned. AS
Stunning that each of them was a centena
Ran, the lessons of their lives seem tx
indicate that there is no particular roaG
to centenarism. Huntley lived much il
the ope air, and was very abstimious
picard had smoked for nearly one hun
dred wears of his life, and had also habi