The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-04-05
carr. FREDERrCK L.fHRBUsH.
Interesting History ~ Man One Hundred
and Eleven Years Of Age.

Capt. Frederick LahIbush, who came 10
New York forty years ago, md who has been Of
late years the subject Of much attention owing
to his great a-c. died ON Tuesday morning at
6lJ Third avenue. According 10 his own state
ment. he was born on March o. 1866; and il this
is true he was u few days over II years old
when he died The Immediate cause Of his
death was congestion " the lungs. brought ON
by exposure lie had been invited 10 call upon
Mrs. \. T. Stewart and throwing off his heavy
clothing. he arraycd himself in his dress suit,
and rod in "a cab 10 tho residence Of his friend.
becoming thoroughly chilled on the way. That
evening he had severe attack Of nguc, and his
complaint rapidly developed into the discnso
which caused his death. Until within few
days Of his end the old man expressed strong
desire 10 live longer in the world in which he
had experienced more than II century Of lifr's
strongest visssitudcs: but toward the last ne
manifested strong desire to die. and at the
appointed Time passed away quietly and calmly,
~ though dropping into Il pleasant slunbor
Capt. lAhrbush WAS born of French parents
in the city OF London, but his parents being
perhaps ignorant Of the laws relating to the
pgstfntion OF births. made no public record Of
their chlld,s advent into the world; and on ac-
count OF the alsence Of any authentic record.
the ccntenarlans statement in regard TO his age
has been doubted by many who have had no on
rottunity 10 test his memory touching occur
rcnccs in the past hundred yenrs
For several years Capt. Lahrbush dncd
every Sunday with Thurow Weed. who soon
learned to regard his aged, guest IA a man Of
derful memory, Mr.. Weed said yesterday; and
| have known IT TO be- put to several severe
OCCASION took the Captain 10 see Hugh Max
well. who had expressed the desire to meet with
mora Tim w bnr r' yca & vi o he c 20
OF an Interesting conversation the qu's-
tinn was asked, Did you ever serve in Indiar
CO.. M ,SS T2piRp PSG ,b pd c y2q kn2 S
wered; knew oihim, but WIS not personally
acquainted with him until 1904 when | was sta
toned at the Cape " Good HOPE. Col Maxwell
WINS not stationed nj the Cape but was spending
his leave there. All officers who had served
certain time IN India were entitled 20 u leave of
ab-'nc for certain time. and those who had
no business TO call them 70 England could stop
letter written 10y Col. Maxwell in 1901 giving his
rensons for not going to England instead Of
Once" Mr.. Weed continued +" had an Eng
lish guest at my house. whom introduced TO
after subJecting the Captain To close catechiz-
ing, he was surprised To find that Lahrbush and
nearly nny years before. At another tine the
Captain accompanied me to- the place of u butch
er in Thirteenth street, who, had heard of the
age. They soon got to chatting. when YOU
were at It. Helena guarding Napoleon Bona
name Of KciiyY i do not remcnib,r the nam.
the Captain replied There was no Kelly in my
company. Was he "a nou-commissionedo OH .er Z
Yes have an indistinct recollection OF su n
u man; but, you know. when We went 10 ~.
Helena W. went q relieve an other company that
at once left so had only short time in which
Ia become acquainted with any II the departing
soldiers. What was the reason for this sud
den DEPARTURE Kelly asked. think ng that his
question would b" a poser. Simply tins Capt.
lahrhush answered: the Government never
left any troops long enough at st. Helena 10 be-
come acquainted with Napoleon There WIS a
fear that he mi ght brh, them That's lust
what my father has told me- Kelly said and
H. was the soldier asked you about.
. The Captain family name WAS DE Lahrhueh.
When application WIS made for "A commission
for him, after many years Of hard service. King
George III refused 20 sEn IT. h'calsc of his an
tipathy to Frrnehmrn. Mhnnthr French prefix
was dropped from the name. the commission
WAS sl-n al without hesitation.
Twenty one years ago. wnnn began 20 at
tend Capt. la,hrhush.' DR.. Thus. {. Chalmers
Of West Seventeenth street sad. his daily al
lowance ol opium had reached the enormous
quantity OF 90 grains. enough to kill "A great
many strong men. l su seeded gradually in
reducing the daily consumption. until u few
years IT was down TO four grains. In his last i'll
ness he used but little opium. and sometimes
ne would not touch IT, even when urged him
totake u for the benefit Of his shaken nervous