The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-06-13
AN ARCHBISHOP DEAD
FRANCIS JANssENs, OF NEW Or
LEANS, DIES ABOARD A STEAMER.
The PreIate Was on His Way TO HoI-
land When Seized with Fatal
Attack of Heart Trouble.

NEW ORLEANS. June 12.-News reached
the city this morning of the death of Arch
bishop Francis Janssens, Of the see of New
Orleans, on Thursday morning at $50
O'Clock on board the Cromwell line steamer
Creole, $50 miles from Port Eads. Arch
bishop Janssens had been in bad health for
the past year or so, but his condition had
become aggravated during the past three
or four months While priest at Rich
mond he suffered from heart trouble and
sent to his home in Holland to die,
but he recovered and returned to this coun-
try in better health than ever. Since he
had been in charge of the see of New Or
leans, having been appointed July Y. 1888,
he has labored very hard. He found the
see over $780, 600 in debt, part of which was
a bonded debt of $500 900, and most of which
was held in Paris. He labored unremit-
tingly to reduce this, attending to the
minutest details himself, and the result was
his health gave way again. He was also
afflicted with gastric troubles, which ag-
gravated his sufferings. He went to the
watering places near New Orleans, but
gained no relief and finally, about week
ago, determined to go back to his home in
Holland for few months rest This, how
ever, was not the main object of his visit
10 Europe. He intended to visit Paris and
consult the holders of the bonds of the see
ana make some kind of a compromise with
them, and was confident of successfully &C
complishing it.
The archbishop left on the Creole
wednesday morning, but the excitement
attendant on his departure fatigued him
very much. He was accompanied by Rev.
Joseph Thebault, the chancellor of the do
ceSe, who was his constant companion. He
complained of illness throughout the day
and retired about 1880 o'clock. Half
hour later he sent for the chancellor and
i'm he rot, H. nod
al night until about O'Clock in the morn
ing having two faintaing spells in the
meantime: Then he asked the chancellor
TO hear his confession Immediately after
wards he fell off into a faint and re-
NAMED unconscious for ten or fifteen min
utes. He then grew cold and pleaded to
have his eXtremities rubbed. About 5:45
he realized that the end near, and
asked the chancellor to administer the last
sacrament, which was done. He prayed
and then asked for an indulgence for
happy death, and after few moments
asked to be lifted out of his berth, so he
could kneeI. His request was complied
with. and even then he was almost cold in
death. He knelt by his bedside lifted his
eyes to heaven, and said: Il am ready,
thanks be to God" His head fell over on
his chest and he was unconscious. He was
lifted into the berth and in few moments
was dead
The chancellor began making arrange
ments for the transfer of the body at Key
West, where the captain promised to stop
If no boat was sighted. AT o'clock that
sighted. The body was transferred and
packed in ice. A tug met the boat about
forty miles down the river to-day and an
undertaken began to embalm the body. 1t
was frozen so well he could do nothing
with it after the body was brought here.
The vessel reached here at o'clock this
evening, and the body was taken to the
Ar3hepiscopal palace, where some services
were held, and then it was turned over to
the undertakers. At o'clock tonight the
embalming had been duly concluded.
There was universal mourning at the
death of Archbishop Janssens because he
was a man who had endeared himself to
everybody by his democratic manner and
uniform courtesy to all. Bishop Fitzgerald,
the senior bishop of the see, will take
charge of the affairs of the see until new
archbishop is appointed by Rome. The
funeral viii take place on Wednesday next,
the remains in the meantime lying in state
in St. Marys Church until Tuesday, when
they will be transferred to the cathedral.
Mgr. Janssens was one of the dignitaries
of the church in America. He went to New
Orleans as a priest, became a bishop in
Mississippi and on the death of Archbishop
Leray was appointed in 1888 archbishop of
the New Orleans diocese, one of the largest
and most important in America The hon
ors of the church were bestowed on him
with great ceremony in September, 1888, and
since then his Grace has labored with great
zeal in behalf of the church,