The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1832-04-18
From the Vermont Chronicle.
AWFIIT, CATASTRO puE

nave Just returned from funeral which
presented such scene as I never witnes
seq before; and hope shall never witnes,
again. have just como from the funera
oi three young ladies, whose remains were
all collected into one coffin and deposited
~ one grave. They all were daughters oil
James Kent, ESQ.,, of Piermont, N. II. Their
names were Seva, Polly, and Elsey Jane
.ae eioest - years of age, and the youngest
apou, 10. IheJ were all bright, active, and
uu''aDie girls; much respected where they
were known. The family at home consist-
eu OF tne father, the mother, brother of
nefs' ana three daughters. On the evening
OF the %lst INST, you might have seen them
IN peace and safety, grouped around the
hreSide happy in The company of each
other and of a few friends who had come 10
Visit them. AT the accustomed hour they
retired to their pillows; the parents in a
lower room, and the daughters in a cham
per and there sunk into a state of -repose.
from which they were aroused at al,eut
three O'Clock in the morning, by suffocating
smoke and fierce flames of fire. The back
and upper part Of the house, which was
most remote from the sleeping room of the
parents was at this moment the principal
seat of the condagraton. The father spranp
from his he'd and FASTENED to secure his
daughters. BIT there was only one flight
OF stairs going into the chamber; and these
from the back part of the house, where the
smoke and heat had become intolerable,
He ran to the barn for ladder. While he
was gone the mother heard one of the
daughters, who had probably got to the
foot OF the stairs, cry, Father! Father !! and
one or two piercing screams come down
from a remote chamber, into which the
otter two had fed as Il momentary refuge |
from the pursuing flames. The father was
back in few minutes with his ladder, and |
by help of it Climbed to the window of the !
room where his daughters had slept; rear
ed it up and called them: but he heard no
rotce and il was impossible for him to en-
ter. The dense smoke, urged on by an
preaching flames, was pouring into his face
and he could not tarry. He let the window
,all came down to his wife, and said, sour
children are gone-they are dead-we must
take care of our own lives; and save what
few articles we can" The neighbors were
IN few minutes on the spot: but came too
late to afford any material relief In the
morning the relics Of those unfortunate sis
tiers were collected from the mouldering
rulns:-a few homes or rather cinders of
one, IN the cellar, under the place where
the foot of the chamber stairs had been
and what remained of the other two Law
near together, where they had (perhaps
embracing each other,) fallen down from
he iemote chamber into which they mad
led from their own. The man whom I
as residing in the family most
escaped with his own life, but WINS
utterly unable to afford the least assistance
10 others. The collection of people at the
funeral to-day was very great and solemn.
AT the close of the service the bereaved
father rose, and while bowed down under
The heavy weight which had been laid upon
him, blessed God for the consolation that
he was still allowed to enjoy. He said he
trusted that his three daughters who had
been so suddenly removed from him were
all Of them truly pious, they had often been
united with him in the worship of God on
everlasting alteration ana j69 iRRrsw With tbem. in
throne in heaven. He uttered not muir
muring word; but exhibited the same spir-
it as did Eli of old, who said 1T is the
Lord, let him do MS seemeth him good"
AS warning to others, should say that
the fire which laid this dwelling and one
half of its inmates in ashes. is supposed to
have been communicated from ashes put
into wooden box in shed adjoining the
house. SlLAs MCKEEN.
Bradford, March %.