In 1802, Spanish commandant Martin Duralde shared the story of a dead elephant carcass swarmed by vultures in southwest Louisiana with Indian agent John Sibley, who passed it on to the American Philosophical Society.
The society published the story in 1809 and has since been associated with the City of Carencro.
Duralde, meanwhile, was a native of France who was serving as commandant of the Spanish post of Opelousas preceding the Louisiana Purchase. The Attakapas Indian tribe also lived in the area, and Duralde spent time learning its language…