Moore, Elveann, Port Gibson, Mississippi, to Archbishop Anthony Blanc, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1853 September 25

Moore announces the decease of their pastor, Father John Andrew Fierabras who died of yellow fever at 2 in the morning of the 21st in Port Gibson. Their pastor by his unobtrusive and amiable Christian spirit won the hearts of all. Both Catholics and Protestants regret his death. The Catholics here are constantly dying without receiving the last sacraments. They did all they could to have a priest for Fierabras' dying hour but without success. Father Richard B. Hardey and Father Stephen H. Montgomery were both sick and the priest from Jackson had just died at Vicksburgh. They sent a dispatch to Father Cyril Delacroix to beg Blanc to send a priest but received no answer. Fierabras died without anyone but her brother-in-law to say the prayers, lay him out, and bury him in unconsecrated ground without a prayer except those of his sorrowing congregation. They will have Masses for him and a funeral service as soon as they get a priest. It would be well to have the affairs of the church looked into. Her brother-in-law, Joseph H. Moore, attended Fierabras day and night during his illness and then put everything under lock and key. Their church was beginning to flourish a little. :: VI-1-f A.L.S. 3pp. 4to.