The weekly Thibodaux sentinel. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 1898-1905, 1903-08-15
leral favorite on the coast and

joy and wonder by the entire popula-
ton.
Eagle, was the name of the boat,
but she neither possessed the speed,
or gracefulness of her namesake.
Small farms were cultivated on both
banks of the Bayou from the Mathew
plantation to Thibodaux with two
exceptions, the land purchased by my
father and large tract adjoining
belonging to Nicolas Girod. The
levees were Insignificant IN size, and
were located some distance back from
tku PaS,u 2i,.K.
According to my recollection the
Bayou had no great width, and the
water which pressed against the levees
during the annual rise must have
been Of small volume, otherwise the
country would have been subject to
lnundatiOn. | do not think the levees
We're three feet in height. The rats
and crayiish had an easy time for
their work, and their holes gave an
abundance of seepage water, which
during high wafer kept the rOlds III
bad condition.
b low the Fields farm the settlers
were few, and cultivated the various
ridges found on the bank of the
BAYOU, and the Ievees interfercd but
little with the flow OF water below
LockpOrt.
These over flows were not looked
on us great misfortunes, az the de
posts added greatly TO the filling of
Il deep swamp which lay back of 'hr
Bayou bank; some large and valuable
plantations have been built up by
these annual Overhows. | do not
recall the existence OF any crevasse
above my fathers plantation during
my residence.
There wele four sugar houses on
the left bank below ThibOdaux, horses
being used for working the mills.
Mr. Fields cultivated cane Opposite
the town, and Messrs. LebOeuf and
Pierre Lefevrc, and widow lady
whose name | have forgotten made
sugar. Otaheite, creole and Bourbon
canes were generally cultivated tho
some few planters preferred ribbon
cane, which was more hardy, and
afterward took the place of the others.
At that time l 10 not think there
was mule in the parish, creole ponies
and axen xara- in -a.AnAraL aa--and n
for pleasure vehicles carts were more
often seen than better conveyances
tho some few owned gigs "a two
wheel carriage) very comfortable for
the riders, but hard on the horses
for they We're cumbersome, and only
used when the roads were in IL
condition.
Schools were few, and education
was at low ebb, and the schools
of other States were patronizrd by
those who had tue means to educate
their children.
There was quite number o.
foreigners who had come to this stat
before its purchase by the Un,tcf
States. and were generally meu o
education, and were looked up to h,
the inhabitants, and had great IN
! hucnce. The French language wa
that of the country, and the proceed
ings in court were conducted IN tha
language. Judge Daspt was tn
, parish judge. and Henry +. KnOblocI
was his clerk, and a very ctli len
officer hs was, who Transacted mos
of the business as his principal WI,
beyond middle age. Mr.. jenkins Wa
5 sheriff and the father Of Col. Loui
Bush was clerk of court.
The dwellings of that time ditftrr
greatly from those OF the present day
heavy cypress timber sawed by han'
aud concrete of bayou sand an
J moss placed and secured between tll
e scantling formed the walls Of III
i buildings. There was no saw mil
J. TIE parish, and the whip saw manag
II a.; by two men did the work. Tn
I tinbrrs used Were of such dimension
that they would suffice for buildn
at this time Two houses Of the sam
e size.
y Drlnklng water was taken from ii
T. bayou and settled, and when cool W;
e first rate. At that time ice was new
seen except during very cold wea,h
q in winter. aud not often then.
q Orange trees IN full bearing we
=, seer. at the right season full of gold'
a fruit, and in most yards large peca
a trees were found.
D. Blow guns were in general use
the boys, who were quite exps
a in their use, and it g a matter
le regret that they are no longer Il
y, fashion, as they won'd he handy f
II the dt struc,lOn Of sparrOws.
W Crude spinning wheels and loon
At are no longer seen in the dwelling
1t as store goods are to be bought {
Ut low prices in comparison with VIII
e. was paid at that time.
The young people of the prese