The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1884-01-19
TERRIBLE
Burning Of the Pastoral Residence
of the C'dtholc Church at Bayou
du Large-Rcu. Father Coustdr0t
Burned to Death IN the Building.

dM Large-Rcc. Father Coustdr0t
Burned to Death IN the Building.
Yesterday afternoon the remains
of the late Father CoustarOt. II
young Catholic priest, were brought
to the city Oh Morgan's louisiana
and Texas Railroad from Houma
Station.
His death was the result of an
awful accident which occurred at
4 O'Clock Sunday morning, which
also destroyed the Presbytery OF
the parish church at Bayou du
Large, in the parish of Te:rebonne.
How it occurred will perhaps nev
er be known. Whether it Was all
accident Or the diab0lical work OF
al incendiary. who, after having
murdered the good man, set the
house on fire to destroy the eviden
ces OF his crime cannot be said. The
priest vas well beloved by his par
ishioners, whose temporal and spi
ritual welfare was ever his first
thought. He was the Instructor OF
their children, and always had Il
smile and good word for the mem
bcrs Of his flock.
The Presbytery was situated
about twenty five ya'ds from the
residence of IL Of his communi
cants, and last Saturday night he
visited his neighhor and remained
until s O'Clock, when he re'urned
home. He had written ii letter IT,
the Archbishop here informing him
that he would be in the city OIL
Monday yesterday and after
leaving his neighbours house he
busted himself in packing his trunk.
After his evenings devotion had
been said, he retired and was never
more seer in llfc.
About II O'Clock that night a
party of young people returning
from a merry making in the vicini
ty passed by the honse, and every
thing Was quiet.
At 4 O'Clock, the neighbor at
whose house Father Coustarot had
passed his last evening III lite, was
awakened from u sound sleep by
the roar Of the flames, the crack
ling OF burning wood aud the fall
Of timbe,s. He arose, and looking
out ola window which opened on
the presbytery, discovered the fire
darting out of the doors and win
/ dOwS.
Hastily donning his clothes he
ran TO the door ofthe burning house
but was driven back by the heat and
smoke. He rain around to II win
dow near which he knew the bed
OF Father COnstarOt was situated.
He broke in the sash and reaching
in dragged out the mattress aud
bed clothes which were on fire.
No'hing, however, could be seen of
Father CouStarot.
The Openiug:of the window added
unprecedented amcs,and beingagain
driven back by the heat and smoke
he rushed back to his house, satu
rated a blanket with water and
throwing it over himself, with 9th
ers residing in the neighborhood
similarly arIayed, he made his way
into the room. III one corner, sur
rounded by fire aud inaccessible to
human aid sat the holy man, his
head bowed down and resting on
his hands.
His parishioncrs made a last des
pairing effort to reach him, but fail
ed, and to save their own lives.
they We're compelled to retreat and
leave Father Coustarot to his fate.
They believed that he was dead
when they entered, for he made no
movement, and his hair was singed
from his head, and his clothing on
fire. Powerless to extinguish the
fire, they were compelled to stand
idly by aud see the building des
troyed By the flames.
When the ruins had been tho
roughly searched yesterday morn
ing, and the still smoking debris
bad been removed from the spot
where Father COustarot had been
seen sitting, a few blackened and
charred bones, the remains of their
beloved spiritual adviser were
found aud revcrently gathered to
gether and placed iu a casket. The !
ceremonies of the church were Der
formed at Houma, at II O'Clock YES
terday morning, after which the
remains were placed in charge of
Father Wienard, who caused them