News Letter Excerpts

Story by Larry Haag

Elzear Goulet was born 18 November, 1836 in St. Boniface, second son of Alexis Goulet and Josephte Severight. Alexis was the descendant of a line of voyageurs. Elzear followed in their spirit, roaming western Canada to hunt and trade. Elzear married Helene Jerome on 3 August 1859. Helene was the niece of Josep Rolette, she was the only child of Baptiste Jerome and Josephte Courchene, born 7 June 1844. Her father died while she was very young and she was then raised by her aunt Angelique Jerome, wife of Joseph Rolette. Helene lived in Pembina, but was educated by the Grey Nuns in St. Boniface.

The Goulets through various marriage alliances formed the center of a strong influence in the Red River area. Through marriage they were related to families such as Lagimodiere, Genthon, Jerome, McDougall, McDermot and Bannatyne. They connected with both the political and economic elite of the settlement on both the French and English sides. Two brothers would hold political positions, Maxime Goulet would eventually become a member of the Manitoba legislature and Roger would hold important posts within the government. Elzear worked for his brother Roger, who had the contract to courier mail at Pembina, while Joe Rolette was the postmaster. Elzear was the mail carrier between Pembina and the Red River settlement. He traveled this trail many, many times while covering his route. He lived in Pembina and all six of his children were born there and where he became an American citizen. Goulet traveled on horseback in summer and by dogsled in winter for a round-trip between Fort Garry and Pembina that took between three and four days, for which he was paid twenty-five shillings. He carried out his duties as a mail carrier for almost ten years before the troubles of 1869 began.

By October 1869, La Barriere had been erected on the LaSalle River and Goulet's deliveries were now being stopped. From October through to January, Goulet apparently had not taken part in the problems at Fort Garry. Sometime in late January, the people of Pembina offered Riel their support in the defence of their Metis rights. The status of the Goulet name meant Elzear was made one of captains who served under Ambroise Lepine, Riel's adjutant general, joining other captains such as Joseph Delorme, Francois Poitras, Michel Dumas Jr. and Andre Nault. Goulet soon became Lepine's right hand man. Elzear and Thomas Scott were unknown to each other in October 1869, but by March of the following year fate was to send them both to their deaths. Elzear was one of seven councillors called upon on the evening of march 3rd to decide the fate of Scott. In addition to Elzear, the members of the council were Janvier Ritchot, Andre Nault, Baptiste Lepine, Elzear Lagimodiere, and Joseph Delorme, with Ambroise Lepine presiding over it. The result being Scott was to be executed the following day. The firing squad had preformed its duty, with Francois Guillmette administered the final shot to the head.

Little is known about Goulet between March and September of 1870, but he was discharged form the Provisional Government services in April of that year. One document suggests he may have been carrying the mail again. Riel's letter to Bishop Tache asks for his response through Elzear. As with Scott's death, the facts of Goulet's death do not agree. On 13 September 1870, he was chased by a mob of Orangeman sympathizers through he streets of Winnipeg, crying for blood. Although Goulet had a pistol on him, he chose not to use it. When he neared the banks of the Red River, he jumped in, attempting to swim to the other side, hoping to evade the mob. They pelted him with stones, whether to kill him or not is unknown, but one did manage to strike him on the head, losing consciousness, he drowned. The body was recovered the following day. This happened in broad daylight, with numerous witnesses, but no one was ever charged with his death.