Daily Los Angeles herald., 1879-07-12
Death Of -Consul Moerenhout.

Death OF Viec-C0nsul M0erenh0ut.
Our community were shocked
yesterday afternoon by the death
of J. A. Moerenhout, the venerable
Vice. Consul of the French Repub.
lie at this city, which occurred al
the consular residence 81 O'Clock.
Consul Moerenhout last appeared
In public on the Fourth Of July,
participating in the celebration in
his official uniform and occupying
a seat in the carriage with tie
President, Orator and Poet OF the
day. He then appeared to be in
his usual vigorous health and
looked as If death and he were yet
many years apart. His demise
creates an irreparable void in the
social life Of this city, in which he
has lived since 1852, winning and
retaining the love of all by his
genial and urbane manners.
We translate the following sketch
of the last illness and life Of the
deceased from advance proof sheets
furnished by Mr.. J. b. Pigne. editor
Of " Union:
yesterday (Friday) M. Jacob
Antoine MOerenhout died, at the
age of SO years. On the Fourth of
July, wishing to avail himself of
the invitation that he had received
to participate in the ceremonies, he
accompanied the procession ald as.
sisted in the exercises of the day.
He returned home fatigued; passed
good night; but the following
morning he was taken with q slight
suffocation. During the last fifteen
years, he had had such indisposi- :
tions several times; but the attacks
had been of short duration.
"On the 9th he was obliged TO
keep his bed; on the 7th he felt
better, and, although the sufloca
tion had not completely ceased, he
felt well enough to wish to go out.
"From that day until Wednesday
he believed he had recovered, and
wrote to his family that he was
well, and that he would not delay
in joining them at San Francisco.
However, during thu night of the
9th and 10th, the suff cation return.
ed with Increased intensity, and
did not leave him tor an instant,
always alternating from better to
worse.
Thursday night last he was worse,
and all were made to fear the ap-
proach of death. He yielded up
his soul yesterday afternoon at
half past three. To complete his
misfortune, his daughter. Nine.
Philip, and his granddaughter,
have been at San Francisco for the
last fifteen days, and will not re.
turn until to-day Saturday..
"Having been his i..iend for near.
ly thirty years, aud having been in
innate with him for about five
years, we have not the heart to tell
the story of life that has been
consecrated to the service of his
country; we will do SO later; to-day
we eau give but a slight sketch of
it.
"Jacob Antoine Moerenhout was
born in Belgium, when that king
dom formed a part of France. In
1912 he entered the French army
in the Engineer corps; participated
in the battles of Lutzen and Baut-
zen, aud at the dis" tiers at Leipsic
and Waterloo. Af,er the abdica-
ton of the Emperor he was a part
of the army of the Loire.
"Disbanded in 1915, he returned
to Belgium, to his family, where
he remained unit! 1927. At that
period he was at .ched to the Con-
sulate of the Meth srlands to Chill,
and soon after took up his resi-
dence in Tahiti, where he easily
drew to himself the friendship and
esteem of all the captains who WIS.,
tied his quarter. He was appointed
American Consul, and exercised
the functions of the office for many
years. He afterwards received the
appointment of Consul of France,
aud it was during the continuance
of these functions that the difficult
ties caused by Pritchard took place.
M. MoerenhOut was one of the
most active agents in the negotia-
tious which placed those islands
under the protectorate of France.
He was then replaced by Mr.. Dill
Ion, and he came to California
about 1874, where he was appoint
ell Consul of France at Monterey.
Then, having attained the age of
retirement, he asked and obtained,
as q favor, that he should be given
the Vice-Consulate of Los Angeles,
and he established himselfi in this
city, with the title of Honorary
Consul, having charge OF the Vice.
Consulate of Los Angeles.
ave reserve it to ourselves to re-
turn to the labors of this man who,
after having served his country
with zeal, fidelity and devotion
during more than sixty years, died
without taving received the Cross
of Honor, in q strange land and in
quite pree arious financial condi-
tioD, having preserved his faculties
and his intelligence unimpaired.
"May God accord to him the
peace and tranquility lie has so
we'll meritedW
His funeral will take place from
the Consular residence, Main
street, on Sunday morning at 10