Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1846-02-19
MISCELLANY.
PerllonS Adventure in 4 snow prilI.
FEMALE COURAGE, &C.

The Albany Journal relates an amusing
story Of catastrophe which happened to
mail sleigh and its passengers, few weeks
since, and which abundantly proves the force
of the declaration, "alPs we'll that ends well.
The whole account is too long for our col
umns, but we have endeavored materially to
condense it.
It was evening, and the mail sleigh, four
in hand, from BinghamtOn to Utica, drove
away on a ride of fifty miles from Norwich
10 Utica.
The messengers were four in number, three
gentlemen and one lady, called to Utica by
INDISPENSABLE business. They were un-
known to each other, but were destined, as
the sequel showed, to become acquainted by
an unexpected event.
Nothing occurred of moment until about
three O'Clock in the morning, when the SKY
became suddenly overcast, snow fell, ana
Northwester set in, which increasing every
moment, soon blew heavy gale, enveioPlng
at intervals the sleigh and team in cloud
of snow, and driving its sparklingS on the
MESSENGERS who were seated inside OF large
deal box cover, with oilSkin curtains at the
entrance.
1t was soon apparent that the track was
filling up, and had become very heavy, the
movement of the four fine horses was slow
and labored, and the sleigh rolled and its
Joints and knees creaked like those Of a YES
sci in stormy sea.
The moon had now set, and nothing could
be seen of the road but the top rails OF the
fences Nobody spoke word, but all ten
that catastrophe was Ut hand. The team
now bolted, and the driver, first rate fellow,
and fitted for any emergency, requested the
gentlemen to alight, as he was fastin a sn Wv
drift. They were soon out, in four feet OF
snow. The team then started, and after wa
ding some fifty yards the gentlemen resum-
Ell their Eats.
They had proceeded but little farther,
when with bound and a lurch, the sleigh
keeled over and capsized down slope, the
lady being unfortunately undermost. The
thermometer stood at IL degrees below zero,
and all attempts to right the fallen vehicle
were found 10 be impossible the passengers
were bennmbed by the cold, and in an awk-
ward dilemma. A consultation, however,
was held, and it vas resolved to take refuge
in the first habitation that could be reached.
But true to American instinct, sympathy for
the helpless and distressed, the lady was not
overlooked; she was carefully extricated
from the sleigh, and placed in charge of one
of the party, who pledged himself to conduct
her TO place of safety. The driver mount-
ed one fthe wheel-horses, plunged with the
team into the snow, bound to Paris Hill Post
Office, some two miles off, and the two
younger passengers-the whole party being
ignorant of the difficulties to be encountered,
or they would not have separated-started
for the nearest house, supposed to be about
half a mile off; they found it a long one.
The lady and her conductor were now
alone, and the gentleman over his knees in
snow, introduced himself as J. S. Van Rem
Selaer, Of Albany; the lady, in no better
plight, announced herself to be Miss A. r..
OF Norwich, Chenango county.
The prospect around was cherries enough.
The ignorance of Mr.. V. r. Of localities
the darkness, the intense cold, the boundless
waste of deep and trackless snow, the great
distance to the nearest dwelling, and the
certainty that no assistance would come
until day light, full rws hours of, were stern
realities which were to be met and over
come. ,'.'a
10 regain the sleigh was the first sug.
gesion, hut 10 do il was impossible. Its
only entrance was al the top of the box
cover. and that wac above her head. To
climb up the smooth side was impracli |
cable. and encountered as she was with
clothing, and sunk in the snow, to lit |
her up was beyond the power of one man
brSi,ies she recoiled from taking shelter
in that dark, cave fnous hole. TO nd.
vince then. was the only alternative
Mr.. V.R. proposed it to her-she consen.
ted at once. -.4t.f g.. .... -'E'
Forward was the word, and she waded
deep into heavy mass of snow which
lay directly across the road. She trudg-
ed along this road ten rods, and then
sunk down helplessly fixed. Her con.
siucior was ut hand, howeverto encourage
her with his voice, and raised her by the
aid OF his hands. She was soon extrica.
ted and again under way. Another eight
rods were passed, and again she became
fixed, and was again relieved, and again
and again. And such was the progress
until some half an hour had elapsed, and
quarter OF a mile was gone over.
Matters now became serious the lady
was nearly exhausted, she spoke with n
fhitering voice, brenthed hard, and pan.
ted like deer run down by the hounds.
dead stop was now unavoidable.
II was at this crisis that candle shone
from a distant window, announcing the q
arrival Of The other passengers nj The !
most accessible dwelling. Its effect on !
MISS X. was electrical; it terminated her
dropping energies, and she proceeded ,
with renewed strength. One or two
more struggles and the drift passed. The
snow was still knew deep, but the.foo,ing
was firm md even. =
A half hour more brounht them to the ,
house OF Mr.. Simmons, IL miles south of !
Utica. where they were received in the
kindest manner.
AT daylight the driver rallied the
neighbors. whose sturdy arms soon RICH.
tea the "ver'urn, and shortly after break
fast the sleigh drove up. The passengers
resumed their seats. and arrived at Uficn.
some five hours after the usual time. not
inucn worse except the iady's hands, for
the adventure in the snow drift. In the
Combustion S.' OF The overturn she had drop.
PED her gloves from her muff, and stead.
NV refusing to use those If her nro,ao,a.