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

64 59

"Nov. 8th. We at last crossed … Nov 9. Made a good day on the lake. Nov. 10. Nov. 11. Encamped at the portage. Nov 12. Encamped." Here all his forces seem to have been exhausted and though, for eight days longer, he kept journeying on through the woods, morasses, and desolate places of the wilderness, he was scarcely conscious of his own existence. His left foot became worse, the flesh was entirely torn off it and the bone and sinews were exposed to view. Every night he lay down with a strong fever upon him, and appeared not only exhausted, but beside himself. Constantly too did he complain of his head and of the fatal blow he had endured to which he throughout attributed his inability to contend with the hardships and miseries, which he otherwise thought himself adequate compt to support overcome. His men, […] have nevertheless, expressed their astonishment at the extraordinary vigour with which he by starts starts exerted himself. Frequently having to wade through an unconnected chaos of water, ice, mire, and snow, up to their middles and higher, Mr Frobisher would often sometimes lead the way, when they themselves hesitated and shrunk from the exertion. Their only food was at length their dressed orignal skin, which they cut, and boiled at night, sometimes, but very seldom, with the addition of some tripe de

[59]

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 [ 96k ]