Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1886-12-22
TRADED IN HUMAN ASHES.
Strange Sequel to the East Rio Hor-

rOr.
QUEBEC. Dec. 16.-The terrible holo-
caust on the line of the Chicago, Mil
waukee & ST. Paul railroad, which oc-
CURED at East Rio, Wis, On the night OF
the 9th of October last, is still fresh in
the minds of newspaper readers HE
victims included three French-Canadians
rom the vicinity of Quebec, who had
been EMPLOYED for the last five years in
he brick-yards and pineries of Illinois
and Wisconsin Frank Gagnon was a
son,of Adol phe Gagnon, farmer of Eboule-
ments, in the province OF Quebec, while
Ouesime Dubuc and Joseph Ptante were
sons OF farmers at ST Raymond. about
thirty miles from this city All three
were from q to % years of age, and lett
Chicago by the ill-fated train on the night
OF the 9th OF October.
Immediately upon receipt of the tele-
graphic report of the catastrophe IN Chs
cago, Pierre CIoutier, an Influential mem.
Der of the French-Canadian colony In
that city, started out on special to Rio
He knew that Gagnon, Dubuc and Plante
had taken passage on the train III question,
had, no doubt, from the list OF killed
described in the dispatch from Rio, that
they were among the number, and felt
sure that be could strike oil. After great
difficulty he succeeded in identifying the
charled remains of his three coulpatriots
aud in recovering their baggage checks
Gaguon's number was 1899, Dubuc's
Las, and Plante's Joy He engaged
counsel to attend to the Interests of the
victims representatives at the inquest,
which resulted in verdict of criminal
neglect against the employees OF the rail-
way company. Cloutier took from the
coroner in exchange for his receipt there
for the bodies of the three Canadians and
their personal effects and baggage. The
remains he took to Chicago and inferred
in a Catholic cemetery. The letters
which ne discovered in the baggage OF
the deceased enabled him to ascertain
the names and residences Of their rela-
tiveS. He came Immediately to Quebec,
armed with letters from the priest in
Chicago TO the cures of Eboulemeuts and
ST. Ra, mond, and on his arrival in those
parishes communicated to the families OF
The victims the first intimatioG they had
received OF their bereavement.
Realizing the fact that out for Cloutier's
invention they might have remained
forever in ignorance of their relatives
fate. the surviving members of their
families were profuse in their gratitude.
and on learning that there was pro spect
of recovering damages from the railway
company they were only too glad to give
Cloutier the necessary powers or attorney,
authorizing him to adjust their claims.
and agreeing TO accept half the net pro-
ceeds OF any amounts he might recover
on thei. account Returning to Chicago,
Cloutier had little difficulty in settling
With the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul
railway for the payment of $4,000 to the
legal heirs of each of the French-Canadian
victims, thus netting himself the neat
profit of 81, 500
Clouter is carpenter and builder,
residing at 606 Forty-third street, and is
81 years of age. He was born at Lorette,
near Quebec, but went west when years
of age. He can neither read nor write.
He has jus: arrived here on his second
visit in connection with this matter, and
is now engaged in settling with the
families of the three deceased Canadians.