Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-03-24
WINCHESTER, (VA.) March 10

III. AL 3.
Most .Heianchoiy Euent.-Never have we bcc,
called on to record an event truly Inelancholv-
one which has produced so strong, soul-stirrng
sensation IN our townas that which now becomes
our uuty TO relate. The aInlable, the hirhnindeJ
the intelligent Doctor Stephens r. Beatty is no more,
He fell in the prime Of life, in the commencement of
career which gave promise of unsurpassed useful
ness and he fell by bis hand! Eut let us calm
our feelings, and relate as well ns we nre ablo tho
particulars of this heart rendirg deed.
DIR. Beatty returned to Winchester in December
ast aer an absence OF some months in the State Of
New York and the District of Columbia He had
been severely affected with dispepsia and had mr.
sued for some time very abstemious regimen. by
which his bodily frame was exceedingly reduced
We have been told that for half wear he had moi
tasted meat but that he had confined himself solely
to farnaceous articles, and those in exceeding small
quantities. About the middle of February he be.
came suddenly alarmed at his extreme st6acjation
and the continuance of the disease, and resolved IN
use more nutrlcous diet: yet such was the state of
his stomach, arising from long abstinence that the
change produced translation of the excitement To
the brain, causing perfect frenzy and confnnp him
to that bed which at length Witnessed his dssoII,ian
For the first two weeks his life hung upon the slon
derest thread But by the skill Of his physicians and
the great care of bis attendants the rigor of his dis
case was abated, and his body began TO assume
heaithful tone. For two weeks before his death
save on the day immediately preceding that event. he
mao nao no intervals OF deliTum, and his fathers
family were congratulating themselves upon the sure
prospect OF his recovery. But how vain re all earth
ly calculntions-how dclusive all the most warmly
cherished hopes ofhappncss which rest on sublunary
objects. Although DR. d. was evidently recoverino.
yet 1t was deemed proper that some attendant should
always be with him; and this caution had been faith
iuly observed until the fatal morning Of "Wednesday
last.
During the night, his father and little bow This
grandson about eight years od hadslcpt in the room
with him, and he had rested sonndly, and had given
no indications OF alienation of mnd.-A little after
Gay oresk ms miner arose TO go to market leaving
the child TO stay IN the until his return Almost
after he went out DR.. b. requested the
child 10 hand his trunk TO him, saying nc wanted
to get n book from it, The child did 50. and obser
we'd his uncle to take from it what he thought was n
book, open it, take out something and nut tho boo
back. tie then directed him to return the trunk 10
its place, and laid down as ifto sleep On his faith
ers return from market, he looked into the room,
saw his son lying tranquil, and directed no noise to
be made lest he be disturbed. All! how useless was
mat csutioD Not all the thunder of earth conld
nave disturbed him IN that sleep-a sleep only tn be
broken by the trump Of the arcanglo Shortly after
"oios ms sister went to bis bedside spoke to him
al" 'ecc.yn2 no answer became alarmed, and upen