The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1882-06-09
NUMBER %.
THE FATFD SISTERS.
A ROMANCE OF REAL LIFE IN THE soI

The sequel to a strange story Of VOudoo
superstition was recently brought 70 public
notice by the death Of a lady who has lived
in retirement for the past ten years. The
outlines Of this sketch from real life in the
South are given as they were received.
The De Courcy family is an ancient one,
and is universally known to all old residents
of Louisiana. 1t was one OF the weaithiest
and most influential before the war. De
Courcy, while young and wild, took for his
mistress the favorite grandchlld Of Marie La
Won, the famous Voudoo Queen, who died in
Louisiana about two years ago. In her rage
and indignation the VOudoo Queen uttered
terrible curse. He was to have no male
heirs, and his line was to die with his daugh-
ters. OF course the curse of the old necress
was laughed at and riiiculed. but it became
a familiar household story among the first
families along the Gulf coast. De Courcv
married and had three daughters, who were
afterward known as the fated sisters. The
last of these ladies died in San Francisco
under n assumed name early this year. as
the following brief announcement II the New
Orleans Picaruns of February Is indicates !:
Died.-In San Francisco. February s Madame
Joan Maria Bienvenu, the last Of the fated sisters
This is why they were called the tated sis
ters:
The three daughters, Louise Celeste and
Joan, were tire bellies Of Mobile and New
Orleans. and held undisputed sway over fhe
hearts of many Of the gallant young planters
of the delta. On the death of their father
who left his three daughters immense wealth
in real estate, money and slaves these three
orphans became the bellies, so to speak, of
the Gulf coast society. Ravisbiuolv beauti-
ful, accomplished and CAV, these three girls
Teigned like trio Of queens, and the VOudoo
Queens curse was almost forgotten when
Louise, the eldest married DR.. Hunt of Ala
bama. While the honeymoon was still bright.
her husband, excited by jealousy at ball in
Mobile, cha ilPnged gentleman who had been
one of her old suitOrs. The duel came off
and DU. Hunt was killed. This was tragedy
number one. The year following this tragic
episode the second daughter Celeste De
Courcy. married John Fors ythe Jr, son of
the noted journalist and editor Of the Mobile
ReqtSter. This marriage proved to be even
more unfortunate than that of the elder sis
ter. Young FOrsvthe was proud, brave and
rather exacting. His wife, on the other hand
was born coquette. She was gay, beauti-
tItul and careless of public criticism. She
dehed public opinion, and, notwithstanding
the protestations of her proud, revengeful
and Jealous husband, continued to furnish
food for scandal. In his grief and despera-
ton Colonel FOTSvtbe, Jr., committed sui
eide in Mobile. His father. in the bitternt IS
OF a father hereft Of a favOrite son. headed
his editOria obituary in the Mobile Renter
with the bitter Dut significant title. "KiIled
bv His Wife" and denounced the faShioua-
ble sirens through whose influence two men
had gone 20 untimely graves This same IA
tal destiny was for the third sister The fair
est Of the three sisters was Joan Maria. the
yOun geSt Of them all. She was one of those
brilliant beauties who make men mad in their
alterations. Her ewes were like flashing stars
her hair black as the night and luxuriant in
Last efnsa 4. -
woOiug Of rich yOung Creole Of New Or
leans, named Edward Bjenvenu, who led the
last Of this fated trio to the hvmenial altar
Like her sisters, she cared nothing for what
Mrs. Grundv T.IiGht say, and after her mar
rage with BenvenU continued her fiiTtatiOnS
with her old admirers I was the social ed
itor OF the New Orleans PicdyJIue at the time
the last tragic episode in the De Courcy fam
ily history occurred.
1t was in the month of February. 1874. and
the Mardi GraS festivities were in full blast
/ was standing in the conservatory of the
ball room of the Mystic Kre we, one of our
prominent social organizations in New Or
leans, and talking with brother journalist,
when Madame Bienvenu entered the conser-
vatOTy with fine looking young man. law
yer named Phillips, as her escort. They took
seats upon tete a-tete in a corner, and were
enjoying a pleasant and almost loving firta-
tiOn together, when Edward Bienvenu en-
tered the place. As her husband approach
ed, his eyes flashing with rage and iealOusy
his wife half rose to her feet, and then sank
back in her seat in some confusion. Her
husband, a tall, handsome Creole, waved his
right hand deprecatingly as he smiled grimly
upon his wife, bade her keep her seat. that
he bad no desire to disturb her : te had mere
ly come out to smoke a cigarette. Then,
turning to Phillips while lighting his cigar
ettP he said
''By the way, Phillips, I am going to-mor-
row on little excursion to Bay St Louis (tte
famous dueling ground). Ishall take friend
with me, and would be happy to have your
company. Bring a friend with yOu.'
Il shall take pleasure in Joining your par
tv," replied Phillips gravely. ''What train
do you 90 on?"
ion the u O'Clock train"
81 will meet you on the train, then" said
Phillips, as he accepted a cigarette from the
jealous husband, who Offering his arm to his
thoroughly frightened wife, walked out of
the conservatory and shortly after left the
ball. Thus was the challenge exchanged.
1t was given and accepted as carelessly as
each lighted a cigarette. Both were arrest
ed, and it was not until April S, 1874. that
BeDveuu and Phillips were able to carry out
their intentions. On that day l accompanied
them, with quite a number Of friends of both
parties, 10 the dueIlng ground at Bay ST.
Louis Both men fred maltaneOuslv, and
the husband fell dead az the first shot. He
never spoke a word after he fell. Phillips
turned from the field and walked away with
his friend, after throwing his SmOking pistol
on the ground. He disappeared, and is sup
posed to have gone to San Francisco.
Thus was the curse of the old negress, Ma
Tie LavOn, the VoudOO Queen, literally car
ried ont All three husbands of the fated
sisters died violent deaths. leaving no chill
dren behind them to keep up the De COurcy
race Madame BienveDu brought her fash
iOnable career to a sudden close. RemOrse I
apd shame drove her into retirement, from
which she never emerged. In the summer of
1874 she took passage on a Panama steamer
by the IsthmuS to San Francisco. There she |
changed her name and lived on her wealth Z
in the strictest retirement up to the dayof her 4
death. It is not known Sefinitely whether /
Phillips Joined her there but gossippers in 4
New Orleans reported that she had married 4
the man who had shot her husband. Whether 1
she did or not l cannot say, but l think it 4
likely.