Whitehorse lost one of its oldest and highly respected residents this week in the death of Mr. Antoine Cyr, which took place at his home here at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning in his 75th year. He and his brother Mike arrived in the Yukon during the hectic days of '98 from Bangor, Maine. Together they operated the horse tramway system, with its wooden rails, etc., on the west side of Whitehorse Rapids and on various occasions during that period piloted heavily-laden scows through its raging waters.
In those early days the original townsite was located on the east side of the river on the flats opposite where the present post office stands. But when the construction of the W. P. & Y. R. was undertaken the townsite was transferred to its present location and the first train from Skagway arrived in Whitehorse in June 1900. With the coming of the railroad river portage became practically non est, so the brothers moved their business to the town of Whitehorse. Mr. Mike Cyr died in 1933 after which date
Antoine operated on iis own account up to the last year or two when he retired from active participation in his busness due to ill health.
On November 11, 1918 (Armistice Day) he was married Mrs. M. A. Arbour of Montreal in the Sacred Heart Church here, in the construction of which he took an active interest and played a major part. The Rev. Father Rivet officiated at the ceremony.
Sometime ago Mr. and Mrs. Cyr made an extended trip to New Brunswick and Montreal for the benefit of Mr. Cyr's health. But after an absence of several months they returned to their home in Whitehorse where they had raised their family and spent so many
happy years together.
Before a large congregation of friends and old-timers throughout the distrct Requiem Mass was celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church at 9 o'clock this morning, interment taking place in the local cemetery. The pallbearers were P. Chausse, Martin Berrigan, C. C. Gleason, D. McIsaac, Gene Jacquot and W. T. Murphy. The floral tributes were a silent token to the high regard in which the deceased was held throughout this community.
Deceased leaves to mourn his loss his widow, four sons and three
daughters. The sons are Wilbrud, Laurent, Lomer and Paul of whom only Laurent is at present in Whitehorse. The daughters are Aline (Mrs. W. Taylor), Gloria, who resides at home but is at present in California on her vacation, and Lily (Mrs. Roy Newton) to all of
whom sincerest sympathy is extended in their great bereavement.
