Obituary Record
Ladner, Xavier - April 17, 1901
DROWNED AT LOGTOWN
Xavier Ladner, Well-known Young Man of this City, Falls into Pearl River, Wednesday Afternoon.
While loading a barge of lumber at the Weston mills in Logtown on Wednesday afternoon at about 3 o'clock, Xavier Ladner, a well known young man of this city, was accidentally struck on the chest by a heavy piece of timber and precipitated onto the waters of Pearl river. Not knowing how to swim, and presumably hurt, he immediately sank and rising no more to the surface the presence and efforts of his fellow-workmen could prove of no avail. One of them jump into the water : and diving to the bottom located the body. Coming up again he secured a pole and hook and making a second descent attached it to the body and thus brought it ashore. The body was still warm and showed decided signs of life but the vital spark was no more. Every effort to resucitate life was resorted to, but every hope vanished as soon as a new one appeared, till the physician in attendance declared the body lifeless then all effort, every hope was abandoned.
The news was at once telegraphed to this city and telephoned to relatives about town. It was received like a shock, so sudden and tragic that it scarcely could be accredited.
About two o'clock next morning the remains arrived in Bay St. Louis, dressed for burial and placed on a board, carefully pillowed and well covered. The journey was made in a covered spring wagon, and the darkness of a stormy night made it a slow and tedious one. The party was composed of Messrs. Chadwick. Jules Favre. Walter Carver and Arthur Johnson.
Xavier Ladner on last Christmas eve was twenty-four years of age, a native of Bay St. Louis and son of Mr. Delmas Ladner. Not married, he leaves besides his father three sisters. Mrs. Joseph Favre. Misses Emma and Cecil Ladner, and four brothers. City Treasurer Alcide Ladner and Messrs. Cyrille. Aristide and Sylyan Ladner, and was a cousin to ex-Sheriff F. J. Ladner.
The funeral took place Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock from the family residence on Citizen street, and notwithstanding inclement weather was largely attended. The ceremonies were held at the Catholic church.
Source: Sea Coast Echo 04-20-1901