Fort Vancouver Historic Structures Report

Furnishings

No direct evidence concerning the furniture or fittings in the Jail has yet been found, except that, as has been seen, it is known that there was no stove or fireplace.

Because rough wooden bunks, without springs or mattresses, were standard at Fort Vancouver, it is probable that twelve or fourteen, in double tiers, were ranged against the walls. Undoubtedly a single blanket would have been considered sufficient bedding.

In theory neither Chief Factor McLoughlin nor Chief Factor Douglas believed in treating prisoners harshly--in fact they had orders from the Governor and Committee in London not to do so--but what was then considered normal would now be branded as cruel and unusual. In 1838, for instance, when Douglas sent two mutineers to Fort Nisqually for detainment, he reminded the man in charge that the prisoners were "entitled by law to bread and water daily." [24] It may be imagined that the facilities provided by McLoughlin for the supposed murderers of his son were not elaborate.

A few benches, a couple of water buckets, several tin plates and cups, two or three slop buckets, and perhaps one or two washbasins might have constituted the remaining furnishings. Because McLoughlin feared that prisoners would set fire to the building, there most likely was not a candlestick or other means of lighting.