Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1841-05-19
From the Village Record.
A Thrilling Incident.


The following incident, like many of a SINH
! lar character, occurred during the winter OF
1856; which will long be remembered for the
distress that pervaded the poorer classes of the
community, and deep snow which occasioned
it. A farmer resident about thirty miles dis
tant from Philadelphia, started the morning be-
fore the snow commenced, for market. By the
time he reached village about half way to the
city. it began to snow; but not anticipating so
great storm, he pushed on, and about night
arrived in Philadelphia. Dsposing of his car
90 as soon as possible, in order to start home
early on the morrow, he put up his team at a
hotel till morning. Still it continued showing,
and daylight but appeared to disclose 10 him
the almost utter impossibility of reaching home
| in his-wagon the snow having fallen to the depth
of feet! Meeting with an acquaintance from
the same neighborhood, they concluded to at
temp. it; making the task easier by leaving one
of the wagons behind, and attaching all four of
their horses to the other. In this manner they
succeeded, after the most painful exertions, in
reaching within mile of home Here the
roads forked and they were obliged to separate
Our hero now turned into narrow byway COM
pletely filled with snow to the tops of the fen
ces, with his two tired and jaded horses. Slow
ly he neared his home until wood less than
half mile in length was all that lay between
them. Into this he drove, but the cracking and
falling limbs warned him not to proceed. Bent
on his purpose he still pushed on until large
tree which had fallen across the road, effectual-
ly obstructed his progress. Unfastening his
horses, he rode them back TO a neighbours
house near by and told them his situation
They Immediately placed his horses in warm
stable. and prepared the weary traveller COM
Portable repast This over, and feeling some
what strengthened, he declared his determina-
10 60 home on foot, through snow up TO his
waist In vain his friends remonstrated-in
vain they urged the folly and foolhardiness of
attempting such desperate walk. To go
through the large timber was madness, as the
limbs and whole bodies of trees were continu-
ally giving way under the accumulated weight
of snow. HIS course. must therefore lay in
circuitous path augmenting the distance TO more
than mile. His friends finding it vain to dis
suade, gave him their advice as 20 the best
course to pursue, and bade him 'God speed
Ere he proceeded one third of the distance he
repented heartily of his folly The temporary
strength impaired by his supper soon failed, and
by the time he reached a little eminence with
in sight of home despair had almost seized him.
The sight of his own candle burning cheerfully
through the window, and the thought of his
children depending upon him for support urged
him on. Slowly he toiled, until at length ex-
hausted nature could hold out no longer, and
he sank within so yards of his own door! Oh
God! the agony of that moment To die with
in few yards of his door, 10 hear the merry
laugh of his children, and see the forms of those
he loved passing before the window; to be thus
tanlalized was TOO much for human endurance
In vain he attempted to shout; his voice scarce
louder than whisper was drowned in the noise
Of the elements At last when he had given up
TO die, one of his sons opened the door and
came out. With last effort the unhappy man
raised himself partly up-it was cnough-he
was seen and restored TO his family.
This is a true narrative destitute of colorng
and exhibits one ofthe scenes Of distress and
danger which occurred during the hard winter
of 1876.