​The winter Sam Farrell stopped the bullying at the Cargill Lumber Camp

To the Editor:
RE: "Once Upon a Time: Henry Cargill built a swamp empire"

I was reading the story about Henry Cargill and the Greenock Swamp empire and found it quite interesting. It got me thinking I could add some more history to it.

Ben Farrell (my cousin) told me this story back around 1949.

Ben and my uncle, Sam Farrell (1900-1960), went to work in the Cargill Lumber Camp for a winter job (in 1919 or 1920). They stayed in the new camp, No. 3.

Black Jack Macdonald was known by all as the camp bully and beat up many of the men to prove it.

So, it was a few days after Ben and Uncle Sam had started working there. After supper one night, Macdonald came to their table and started nattering at Sam, because they were new in camp.

He kept picking at Sam, and Sam told him to go away and mind his own business two or three times. Macdonald said, “People say you think you’re tough.” Sam said, “I never said that. Go away.”

As Macdonald would not go away, it made Uncle Sam so mad, he jumped up from the table and the fight began. Ben said what a fight! Sam gave Bully Macdonald such a beating - he wouldn’t let Macdonald get up off the floor until he promised not to try that again.

The rest of the men cheered to see the outcome, as they had been severely beaten by Macdonald. There was no more bullying by Macdonald in that camp that winter!

As a side-note: Uncle Sam Farrell and Ben Farrell were cousins and went to the same school on Concession 12, Huron Township. They were both farmers and were good friends.

Lynn Farrell
Kincardine