Church  and families

The consequences

THE BOSSES ARE FRIGHTENED, DEMANDING THAT THE ARMY BE SENT IN.
IMPOSSIBLE.
THE SEA IS FROZEN AND THE TRAIN GOES NO FURTHER THAN MATAPEDIA.

Communication with the governments is by the electric telegraph.Donations start coming in from all over, even from New York, but too little to change the situation.The relief committee is overwhelmed.
THE BOURGEOISIE FEARS AN ESCALATION.
Bottles of alcohol have been stored in the government offices before the rebellion, confirming what they anticipated. Several Channel Islanders are sworn in as deputies to Sheriff Sheppard of New Carlisle.

17th February
People from Paspébiac and St-Godefroi gather again on the fishing bank. Eleven armed officers of the law are also present. The Mayor reads out the riot act and requires that the crowd disperse.
He also promises to distribute flour, lard, tea and molasses to all of them.
The crowd complies while warning the authorities not to try and arrest any of them.

The repression

18th February
In Paspébiac, there is a feeling that another riot is brewing.
“Another riot, in the current state of unrest, would be worse than the first.”
Le Courrier du Canada (Québec).
The newspaper demands that the leaders be arrested and punished. If not, there will be another crisis.
It does not suggest calling in the army, but rather more law enforcement officers (from outside the area). Food is distributed peacefully at St-Godefroi.

19th February
“… if we had made an example of the leaders of the riot, we would not have to fear renewed trouble.” Le Nouvelliste (Trois-Rivières).
Following an official complaint registered by Edward Hue, agent of Le Boutillier Brothers in Paspébiac, Judge Ménalque Tremblay issues the warrants of arrest.
Ménalque Tremblay is the same justice involved in laying charges against some twenty fishermen during the rebellion in Rivière-au-Renard (Fox River) in 1909.
Ménalque Tremblay draws up the charges.Sheriff Sheppard of New Carlisle orders the arrest of:
Élisé Delarosbil,
Narcisse Albert,
Abel Chapados,
Édouard Delarosbil,
James Blais,
Salomon Delarosbil.
Le Monde (Montréal) suggests that it would be better to provide funds in direct relief rather than calling in the army which would be much more costly.
The same day, the clerk, Henry Berry, is arrested.


20 février
Berry’s alleged accomplices are also arrested: Oswald Duguay, Hilaire Duguay and Placide Aspirot, all three are fishermen. ...

24th February
Edward Hue and Helier Carré file an official charge of theft against the four accused.

26th February
Abel Chapados and the two Delarosbils are released on bail:
$100 for the first and $50 for each of the others.

27th February
Another six fishermen arrested a few days earlier, are also released on $50 bail each:
Théophile Duguay,
John Duguay,
Samuel Loisel
Louis Huard,
Aimé Denys
et Guillaume Denys.

March and April
PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY.
Relief comes dribbling in while they wait for the fishing season to resume.
THE PARISH PRIESTS FEAR ANOTHER RIOT.

14th April
The creditors of Robin and Le Boutillier decide to take control of the businesses.

25th June
Henry Berry is released on a $400 bail. He continues to plead not guilty.

25th October
The six accused, now out on bail, and who initially pled not guilty, accept to plead guilty on charges of break-in and theft in the warehouse.
Put differently, plead guilty and expect lighter sentences.
Henry Berry and his alleged accomplices are found not guilty.

26th October
Judge J.E. Larue, in the presence of crown prosecutor, Charles Darveau and defence attorney, L.E. Danou, all from outside of the region, reads the sentences:

TWO YEARS JAIL FOR RIOTING AND RANSACKING:
Narcisse Albert, Abel Chapados, Edouard Delarosbil, Élisé Delarosbil.

SIX MONTHS HARD LABOUR: James (Jacques) Blais.

TWO MONTHS JAIL WITHOUT HARD LABOUR: Salomon Delarosbil.

After long months of incarceration in St-Vincent-de-Paul prison, the four convicted are pardoned.
They served 8 to 20 months.
Freed, even at home, they endure public shaming and are seen as criminals:
“The proof is that they pled guilty”.
The bishop and the parish priests condemn the rioters and require that the population submit to the law.
All those accused of ‘stealing flour’ signed their names with an X, except for Henry Berry.

THE RESPONSE FROM JERSEY
Confirming the long-term social exclusion that the ‘guilty ones’ will be subjected to:
"16th November, Rioters - we were glad to see that they had been punished. They should have all had Penitentiary the lease 2 years and the others 5/6 years, you do not give us their names - (do so in your next) - this will certainly have a good effect on the other rowdys and will quiet them for the future - we see some of them have come forward and pay for what flour to stolen." (Original errors preserved). Moses James Gibaut, Judge Commissioner of the bankruptcy of the Jersey Mercantile Union Bank.

HERE, IN PASPÉBIAC,
the rebellions of Paspébiac in 1886 and of Rivière-au-Renard (Fox River) in 1909 cause a profound change in the relationship of the fishing companies with their fishermen and employees

THE 1886 REBELLION CONTRIBUTED TO BUILDING THE IDENTITY OF THE PASPÉYAS AND THE SOLIDARITY THAT UNITES THEM.

IN THE HISTORY OF THE GASPÉSIE, 1886 IS MOST CERTAINLY A PIVOTAL YEAR.

After this, the fishery begins its long decline. Population growth is stalled,
AND COD STOCKS DIMINISH PROGRESSIVELY.
IN 1992, THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT IMPOSES A MORATORIUM ON ALL COD FISHING.

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