The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1839-02-12
THE AFFLICTING EVENT AT WALLING
FORD.


An obiging correspondent has communicated to
the Editor the following particulars in relation to
the late distressing event at Wa!lingford, briefly al
luded to in our last The writer says he receiv ed
these particulars through the medium OF DIR Fox
the attending physician upon the unfortunate de-
ceased
On Sabbath night, the Goth inst. Morceus Aid,
rich, aged IA years, and his assistant Daniel Rem
iDgton, aged ID years, were employed IN burning q
coapt, situated some 40 or SO rods from tho resi-.
dence Of the father of young Aldrch. The wealth
er being intensely cold there had been constructed
the pit, n small triangular cabin oflogs which
supplied with large quantity of straw, for the
accommodation of the young men-a chimney
made of loose stones and the door formed one side
of the cabin. The doorway was closed by boards
set up on the inside of the cabin, and secured by
laying stone against them. Abraham Call aged
l6 years, of their near neighbours was unfortu-
natey with them.
Alto o'clock young Aldrich went 10 the resi-
dence Of his father, and procured some apples and
potatoes, with which he returned to the cabin
They covered tho potatoes in tho fire, and set
quantity of straw against the door, to guard them
ter.
In this situation, they all, unhapptly, fell asleep.
II is supposed the wind ffeshened, and blew the
straw they had set against the door, which, fall
ing into the fire, communicated the flames to that
which served them for bed
When the young men awoke, their clothes were
al! on fire the cabin filled with smoke and
flames Adrich and Remington burst off the COW
ering from the angle of the cabin opposite the fire.
place, and escaped through the roof enV eloped in
column of flame. Call, IN the endeavor to escape
by the door, attemped,to removethe stone hasecu-
red it; but it heated that his hands stuck to
i,;and in his desperation he broke the door by strls.
ing it with his head, and burst through it into the
open air. Both of his hands were SO burnt that
the skin slipped off from them whole, like glove
One fell near the door, and the other few yards
distant. One OF these is now in possession Of DR.
Fox and was by him shown to the writer n few
hours since. Distracted with pain their clothes
on fire, they ran without definite object for some
minutes screaming in agony, and then made heir
way to the residence of young Aldrich. When
they arrived, they nearly Invested ofclothing;
and they presented a spectacle that no pen has
power to portray. Imagination would fail to pro-
sent the hcartrendng horror of that scene.
Every attention that unwearied benevolence, 81
medical skill could supply, was promptly, and I'M
ceasngy afforded to the sufferers, but without any
sensible mitigation Of their torment.
The vital powers were so far exhausted IN Aldrich
and Remington, that they were unable to respond
10 the most active stimuants and they continued
30 sink until the nigh. of the following Tuesday,
when Adrich expired. Remington breaihed his
last Wednesday evening, In the case of Call
there was slight reaction but his life could only
be prolonged Till Friday night, when he died.
Rutland Herald.