Gutton, Father Philibert, Waterloo, Louisiana, to Archbishop John Mary Odin, C.M, New Orleans, Louisiana, 1867 April 23

He is sorry to hear that his mother has not received his letters. He wrote on August 15, 1866, New Year's and February 2. Gutton was at Waterloo yesterday intending to go to the city but there was no boat. His trip had the special aim of asking Odin if a collection could not be made in the diocese to aid the victims of the flood. It is the third time. In Grosse Tete and Maringouin the houses themselves were swept away. At Fausse Rivière, that river and the Mississippi join and they were completely flooded. Odin knows that Mr. Poydras is the liquidator of the defunct congregation and that the judge has ordered that everything be turned over to him. The judge says this means everything the Catholics had: the church at Chenal, the land at Fausse Riviére . This declaration causes sorrow to Father Victor Gavard and his parishioners. All three of them do not know what to do. Gavard joins in asking whether Odin cannot come to their aid. The government will make some provision but that is far from replacing even comforting. :: VI-2-m A.L.S. French 6pp. 12mo.