| Title: | E. Cochrane, Canada to K. Finlay, Co Down |
|---|---|
| ID | 647 |
| Collection | Irish Emigration Database |
| File | Cochrane, Ernest/5 |
| Year | 1895 |
| Sender | Cochrane, Ernest |
| Sender Gender | male |
| Sender Occupation | provost sergeant |
| Sender Religion | unknown |
| Origin | Regina, Canada |
| Destination | Co. Down, N.Ireland |
| Recipient | Finlay, Kate |
| Recipient Gender | female |
| Relationship | uncle-niece? |
| Source | T 3504/1/9: Copied by Courtesy of Mr. A.D Finlay |
| Archive | Public Record Office, Northern Ireland |
| Doc. No. | 9103143 |
| Date | 15/02/1895 |
| Partial Date | |
| Doc. Type | EMG |
| Log | Action By Date Document added by S.K., 21:01:1994. |
| Word Count | 561 |
| Genre | |
| Note | |
| Transcript | To: From: The Barracks Regina N.W.T. [North West Territories?] Canada Feb 15th 95 [1895?] My dear Katie You will think it very strange in my not answering your kind note, received a long time back. At the time it came I was doing a lot of travelling, and it was late reaching me. Then I fell ill and have not been free from suffering for many a long month. I had all the symtoms [symptoms?] of cancer in the throat (what father died of) I was in Hospital several times, and had to be put under chloroform frequently. The pain, and the dread of what seemed to be an awful ending made me but a shadow of my former self. I am nearly all right now And the Drs [Doctors?] say I need have no fear of the future. this is why I did not answer your letter or write to [Josie?] I had not the heart, as I was my- self: and fearing the worst for her. Alas poor girl the blow has come: and God help all of you, is what I really feel. Today I got a message from M Mc [?] a nephew of Bessies. I had not written to her for long over a year. The sad news & my own loneliness makes things look dreary out here. We have had a hard winter #PAGE 2 and not any sign of spring yet. At times the glass has marked 80 below the freezing point. And the level plains with no trees & the almost everlasting snow, makes us I think earn our pay dearly. I hope and trust my dear friend's end was peacful [peaceful?] one out of the sadness and blank: there is the bright thought that she is away from trouble & sorrow and reaping Juice [Justice?]. It was thoughtful of dear [Josie?] to think of me. And I will reassure her token of friendship. Tell your mother and father I do feel for them; for them the blow must have been the hardest. All must bow to the inevitable. but oh its hard. If you will allow me I will write you sometime again: and I hope to be, as to health, my old self again. For more than a month I have not tasted solid food. How is John? I often think of him and indeed of albert to [too?]. I am Provost Sergt [Sergeant?] here and have charge of the prisoners Just fancy I will be 10 years in this force, next october: And not an entry in the defaulter the reward of a blameless life. This is a comfort: but it is not all. There is the missing and the want. And yet in these one cannot help thinking, they are most part selfish. There is no use in my trying to say how sorry I am for you all. What words of mine could comfort. Just before I took ill (at least a few months) I was nearly lost in the snow. I had a long #PAGE 3 weary ride & 20 miles from here got snow blind. the old horse knew the way home: but I had to be led away when I got to the Barrack square. My eyesight has suffered a little sheet [?]. A thing I am a little proud of. With my kindest regards for yourself: and all your your [sic] family, believe me my dear Katie yours very sincerely [Ernest Cochrane?] |
