Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1875-07-01
SUICIDE.
Onesime ROndeau Commits Sui
eide by Drowning.

The boys of the Old Iron Brigade,
and particularly of the Old Seventh
Regiment, will read the following &C
count of the untimely death of an old
companion, with deal of sorroWfuf
interest. We clip the article from the
Stevens Point Journal. III our last
issue we alluded to his deeease briefly,
not having obtained at that date any
detailed intelligence OF Che sad calam-
ity. It has been inti1hated that foul
play attaches to his taking off, but
undoubtedly it is clear case of sui
eide.
The body of Onesime Eondeau was
found by two Of the Maddy boys and
James Sager, at che of Robinson piers,
just below Bliss island, last Sunday
Policeman Wheefock was soon after
wards notified Of the fact, and pro-
ceeding to the place. fastened line to
the body and towed it to The west bank
where it WTas made fast Subsequent
ly. coroner's jury was summoned,
and ah inquest taken over the remains
before Esquire Bliss The facts
brought out at Che inquest were, in
brief, these: Roiideau left his home,
winch is on Prairie Street, in this city,
at about 10 o'clock in the forenoon of
"Wednesday. May Goth. Just before
starting, he told his wife that he was
going to drown himself. He then
went up town, and she never saw him
again alive, but heard that lie was seer
by some one in the city at two O'clock
in the afternoon In regard to the
latter point, however, no teStimbny
was elected. Mr. Seaman, aneighbor
of Nr Rondeau's, testified that Mr..
and Mrs. R. were in tho habit Of quar-
reling frequently, and he was informed
by his wife that they had some words
The morning Rondeau went away
Except some formal testimony, usual
in such cases, these were the only facts
brought out, and the jury returned al
verdict that the deceased had come to
to his death by his own act. From an
officer, however, who had talk with
Mrs. Rondeau, we learn that she gives
the following particulars in regard to
their parting on that fatal morning |
She says Rondeau was working in the
garden. At about ten o'clock he came
in, handed her his pocket-book, and
said he was going to drown himself.
At first she refused to take it, and
made an attempt to quiet him down,
and even followed him to the door and
tried to restrain him from leav ing, but
without success. His mind seems to
have been made up, and how we'll he
executed his purpose is now we'll
known.
OneSime Rondeau was a Frenchman
and at the time Of his death was lit
tie upwards of forty years of age. He
formerly lived in the town of Buena
Vista, but moved to this city last fall.
He served all through the war, and
with the glorious cid Seventh regiment
partook of all the vicisitud,s and
glories of the Iron Brigade. He was
formerly Color Sergeant Of that regi-
ment. and as such held the old flag
aloft over many hotIy contested field
Those who knew him in the army all
agree that he was one Of the bravest of
the brave. In 1862 he was given
commission, aud when mustered out
held the rank of First Lieutenant.
For gaiiantry in one of the battle
Immediately preceding the surrender
of Lee, he was especially commended
by his regimental commander, in a
special order. But though Onesime
Rondeau could face death at the can
non S mouth, the SHELTON which was
constantly stalking through his home
was more than he could stand. |
Whether this skeleton was the creature
Of his own brain. it is not for us to
say. but that there was one there
one that finally impeAed him to drown
himself and his earthly trouble to-
gether beneath the waters Of the river
does not seem to admit of a.doubt.
The deceased leaves bnt enc child,
bright lite boy of about seven
years.