South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-04-25

IL In searching the records or Mel
son county trying TO find something
which would help 10 determine the
/ location OF F-itch's grave. the women
found his will. written in his own
hand. which contained this curious
| observation:
Turbulent Wife, Vexatlous Life.
I know OF nothing so perplexing
and vexatious 10 a man OF feelings
! as a turbulent wife and steamboat
building. I experienced the former
and quit in season, and had been in
my right senses should undoubtedly
treated the latter in the same man
ner: but for one man TO be tossed
with both, he must be looked upon
as the most unfortunate man in this
world.
Miss Lewis laughed and continued:
Tradition has it that Fitch convey
ed a parcel OF land TO Alexander Nc
Gown in consideration Of three meals
day and a pint Of liquor, for the
rest Of his natural life. And that the
whisky was increased TO a quart a
| day. The great editor who acted as
host and escort said that there was
no record OF the transfer OF the
land, but Capt John d. Wickliffe
said he had seen affldavits made by
! his uncle, Gov. Robert Wickliffe TO
the effect that he had prepared such
contract between Fitch and Nc
Gown. There is no record OF how
Fitch died, but he died in Bards-
town in 1898. There is a long story,
handed down from generations that
the inventor of the steamboat took
his own life.
Because of its early settlement
in the wilderness. and because of the
religious colony which composed a
large part OF its population, Bards-
town held a close relation with
/ France during the bloody reign OF
! terror 1t was due 10 this fact. that,
la man, later 10 ascend the throne of
France. was a school teacher in
BardstOwn during his exile.
! Bishop Flaget, who was an exile
during the French revolution. located
at Bardstown and became the first
prelate of that section. 1t will be re-
called that Murat placed a price
upon the head OF Louis Philippe
Due dOrleans, a member OF the
royal house of Bourbon. This heir Ia
! the French throne fled from his ma
/ tive land and found refuge at Bards-
town. where he remained several
years, a close friend and often a
guest of Bishop Flaget This scion
| of the Bourbon dynasty actually
made his livelihood teaching school in
the institution which became St
JOseph's college, one of the Oldest
colleges west Of the Alleghanies
Even King Remembers Friends.
After the revolution failed, Louis
Philippe returned to France and was
elevated to the throne. being known
as the citizen king With a graft
tude rare in princes, he remembered
/ his old friend and protector, Bishop
/ Flaget, who was also his spiritual
adviser while in America, ana pre-
sented Bardstown, through the
/ bishop, many valuable gifts. Some
rare and beautiful vestments en-
broidered by Marie Amelia, wife of
Louis Philippe, who was a daughter
I VI IldnttO l. HE hllb VI Tic LWD
/ Sicilys and Louis Princess Adelaide.
when they were in England, wither
they fled to escape the guillotine,
were sent Bishop Flaget. This work
of the royal fingers was the first of
/ its kind to reach the United States.
And they say there is no romance
and no history in this country"
Laughter Miss Lewis. What would
you call this story L am telling
you?
She continued: THE very Rev.
c. ]. O'Connell, told me of his st.
Joseph's proto-cathedral. The corner
stone was laid by Bishop Flaget in
1916 and consecrated three years
later. The bricks were made on the
spot. The pillars Of the interior and
Of the portico were trees cut from
the surrounding forests and hewn by