Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1837-03-28
Tsr- rae Mad. Go Ds-eerai
Tug LATE STAGE ACCIDENT,


Mf Editor IS there ere various 'iu'ics aaosi
~ rcsArd to d.. di.ifer.iug sisrr accident 0heh
isp9cned on ibc morning q The i4'h ius' Whie
eto.sing Cold River, sui msuy e them te'ur w'de
from ,Lo truth. ,nkc the liberty 10 rAe be'o~
supple statement 81 facts. uhict YOU are OF hso"Y
10 nahli,h fyod 1eem rfoper.
m walpoe. * u. on tie mutnng aforesaid
~ company viii f,'ar passengers three iades sud
one gentleman. The isdlc. snd myself were sca-
ted insidc ihe .isge lie gentleman tnok his seat
on the outside with the driver. The names ~ he
ladies we're, Mr. Dhnham. Mrs CLcsley aud Nlss
Tsskei The Rutisnd stage aud al "caira' FOL
lo0 81 N the rear. Wien We came 10 Cold River
The driver drew on. and proceeded upon The bridge
on slow walk. ~ this ti0e The ice IA Cola H
yer appeared broken AID vas moving down stream
tery gently, without any apparent eomm"ion.
The s,resm however bnrcaTed murh swollen.
when 40 were \ par, of the way across the bridge
IL fell about ten feet, and nearly all together
that the stage kept its erect position al we began
to move downward but Immediately the stage
rolled up stream upon its side. A. the stage rol
led Mrs Chescy and Miss Toskcl Tell partly iiirnu
The lower side, and were nearly rndcr water
With rrca, cxertion drew thou on, aud all of
rs stood with our heads out Of the upper SIDE OF
M, stage. | saw the diver ard the outside pas
seneer on the opposite shore, having escaped bs
way of the horses and the floating bridge. The
waller in the Connecticut had not risen IN con-
re onence Of which the accumulated water IN Cold
River caused quite fail as il entered the Cornec-
! lcnt. When we arrived nj this GtH the stage roll
/ led and it was with great exeriion that we could
keep above the water and ice. succeeded N
getting on the top Of the stage and caught hold
/ Of Mrs Dunhnm. she being nearest 10 nae. AT
this instant, the stage, being driven with tremendc'
Gus force struck the ice in the Connecticut aud
a, the sane time the ice from Cold River stove
! the stage to atoms. Mrs ID. and myself were
thrown upon the loose ice, she being enclosed to
her middle and also one OF my feet fast 10 the lee
The other two ladies' had disappeared AID never
saw .hem more The only words spoken by Mrs
u. were. "Do puH me out, ~ which were uttered
with an earnestness and manner never shall for
get. nude many attempts to extricatc her from
her horrible situation. but all in vain at every
movement, of the ice she was drawn still lover
down ill nothing remained above but her head and
one arm | think she must have been crushed
instantly by the ice, she died apparently with
ont a struggle. remained by her till !iie had
become extinct. We were at this time about three
fourihs of the way across Connecticut RIVER
Knowing ! could render her no further assistance
j then sought my own safety by making my way
as best could to the Vermont shore, which was
accomplished with small difficulty as the broker
ice tun,oed and rolled, and the water surged mos
feurfnlly.
! would here remark that report says ! KEEP
my trunk under my during the whole fearf''
scene and that, had thrown away my trunk,
might have s-ved some Of the lives of my nnfofiu
+ nate companions = This report is ns ungenerou'
as !; is false ] did not have my trnnk ne'the
did think oft ill after left Mrs ID. howev
y or c,,,d il nm nv way TO the Vermont shore.
walked to Bellows Falls in very exhaus'less state
where received from Mr. Hall that kindness ont
attention which will ever be remembered viii
l. gratitude.
CHAPMAN SWAIN.
p,,,o, March 1877