St. Landry democrat., 1890-12-13
Sad Accident.

The town of Opelousas was startled
On Thursday morning, Dec. 4th, by the
Geographic announcement OF the sud
den death of Joseph C. Gibbs, Esq, for
merly of this place, but OF late years
resident of Lake Charles, in the parish
of Cacasieu. We are reliably Informed
that while bird hunting in the parish of
Cameron, in company with A. 7. PuJo,
ESQ, and Mr. Sandwich, the former an
attorney at Lake Charles, and the latter
resident of Cameron parish, the acct
dent occurred. The three were togeth-
err and all on horse back. 1t was about
3 o'clock D. M, they had ceased to hunt
snipe and went to a locality where 1t
was thought they might bag some
ducks They stopped to change the car
tridges-all three sitting near each 9th
err on their horses. Mr.. Pujo changed
his cartridge-used a breecl-loadlng
gun-and forcing the barrels down IN
the knuckle of the breech, both barrels
exploded, lodging the contents ID the
right side of the unfortunate Gibbs, who
| fell from his horse instantly. Ills COM
panions raised him to his feet and as
soon as possible placed him on board
the tug, and left for Lake Charles.
Gibbs was perfectly rational until with
in a very few minutes of his death which
occurred at o'clock y. M, and about
| two hours before reaching Lake Charles
| He spoke of the accident-saying 1t was
purely an accident, and requested Mr.
Puio not to let it disturb his mind. or,
destroy the happiness of his life. He
fully exonerated him from all blame.
Jos. c. Gibbs was born in Opelousas,
La, Feb. 14th, 1856, and was thirty-tour
wears, eight months and nineteen days
old when he died. He was the only sur
viving son of Joseph Gibbs, who has
| lived and Been most useful and exem-
plary citizen among Us for full half
century, and who still lives, with Mrs.
Leonce Little, Il surviving sister OF the
deceased, to mourn the sad and sudden
death of noble son and brother.
The deceased passed all the years OF
his youth and boyhood in Opelousas,
and by his uprightness and uniformly
moral and courteous life, made friend
of every associate and acquaintance
On arriving at the age of majority he
devoted himself to study of the law
and in due time was licensed to prac-
tice.
His methodical mind and systematic
habits soon made it apparent that, he
was destined to distinction. The ban
was crowded in Opelousas and he re-
solved to locate in Lake Charles. He
made his mark from the beginning, and
on the occurrence of a vacancy IN the
office of District Attorney by the death
of Kearny, Gov. S. d. McEnery gave
him the appointment to fill that va
cancy, in the judicial district composed
of the parishes of Calcasieu and Gamer
on His efficiency in the office gained
him popularity, and he was elected It
the office by the people at the genera
election of April, 1888.
Perhaps no one who has occupied the
Office in that District who has given st
much satisfaction to the lovers of law
and order, and proven such a terror t
evil doors.
He had great self-possession undo
the most exciting circumstances, ant
was thus enabled to keep his thought
together, and his objective points clear
ly in constant view. He possessed fin
,, analytical faculties-and always state'
his case with clearness. Although bu
few years at the bar, and brought II
contact with some of the most expe
rienced and strongest minds of TIL
State, he steadily won laurels in the FIRE
) auent forensic digladiations in whicI
he was engaged; and it had becom
openly avowed that, at the approaching
election his promotion to the Bench wa
almost assured.
A delegation left here with the fathe
and sister, as soon as it was possible, It
be with the remains and ACCOMPANY.
to Opelousas for burial. The family o
the deceased and the community here
acknowledge the courtesy and grea
kindness of the officers and managers o
the railroads in furnishing extra facili
ties, in transporting the remains ant
the delegations that escorted them t.
> this place. They arrived at the depo
! at 9:20, a. M, where they were met b.
the Opelousas Hook & Ladder and Fir
> Companies, the members of the Bal
q and other officials, and by the citizen
s en- masse. The Knights of Pythias wer
{ also on hand-a lodge having escorte
L the remains here from Lake Charles
' The remains were taken to the old fam
r lilly residence on Bellevue street, wher
" the body lay in state until 8 p. NJ, whe
! it was conveyed to the Episcopa
. Church. Here the funeral services wer
t performed by the Rev. Mr.. Kramer
: From here they were taken to the Prot
estant Cemetery headed by the LAX
. Charles Brass Band, and followed by
r very large procession. They were lai'
, to rest on Friday, Dec. 9Th, after til
, most solemn religious and fraterna
rights were gone through with
The death of this exemplary and dis
tinguished young, and rapidly rising
) man, is deeply felt and lamented by all
, as a public calamity. His death ha
thrown a dark cloud over this commu
nifty, where he enjoyed an untarnishe'