1926 Gazette reports on lightning killing Sacred Heart senior

The October 9, 1926, edition of The Weekly Gazette reported on the death of a Sacred Heart High senior after being struck by lightning at his home.
Louis Fontenot, 18, was the only son of A.M. Fontenot, “a prosperous planter living a few miles north of Ville Platte,” and his wife, according to the story. He also left behind six sisters
He was struck by lightning about 8:30 p.m. the Monday before the story was published -- which was then on Saturdays -- and was killed instantly.
Sacred Heart High Principal J.D. Lafleur and students viewed the body the day after Fontenot died and the funeral at Sacred Heart Church and the burial took place two days after he was killed.
The 18-year-old “was preparing lessons for the next day when the thunder storm came,” according to the story. He got up from the table he was sitting at and walked to a door leading outside. “At that moment there was a crash of lightning.” His parents were in a different room and called to him but got no answer. “They rushed into the room and found him dead.”
The story stated the lightning was believed to have been attracted to a lightning rod attached above the door. However, the lightning rod was not yet grounded, so the lightning apparently jumped from the rod to Fontenot.
The story described Fontenot as “a proper and good student.”