Wilcocke, Samuel Hull. Narrative of Circumstances attending the death of the late Benjamin Frobisher, Esquire a partner of the North West Company of Montreal, ca. 1820. An electronic transcription. MFTP #0019

33 28

"We were embarked in two light canoes for York Factory. July 1. We arrived early in the morning at that fort … with our men all together in a complete hogstye, and forbid to stir out of the fort. July 2d. We are allowed nothing but bad water to drink, and serve[d] very scantily in provisions. July 3d. Our situation is really degrading: is it possible the laws of our country will allow this? We are served with rotten meat. July 4th. Heavy rain[.]" (Here another chasm is supplied from Mr Campbell's narrative) "We were told by Swain" (the clerk in charge) "that he had orders from Williams only to be allowed to walk about in the inside of the fort, and that, if either of us attempted to go beyond the limits prescribed, we should be more closely confined. The place in which was allotted to us was a very small room with four or five cabins or births for beds and filled with dirt and vermin." (the men were confined in the same place) […] "Swain announced to us that we should not be allowed any liquor even by paying for it, and that as to diet, we should be served out of the kitchen, also that we should not be allowed the use of pen, ink or paper without we promised that our writing should be inspected by him: on this condition both Mr Frobisher

[28]

L E G E N D :
 in red , modifications made by the editor(s).
 in lavender , modifications made by the assumed author(s).

View bigger image in JPEG format [ 94k ]