The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-05-28


into the vault four five days ago while laboring I'M
der the influence of liquor. Verdct-death by inha-
ling carbonic acid gas
The EdgecOmb Tragedy.
From the Boston Mail, May %
We published few days ago detailed account of
the murder at Edsecsmb, Ne, ola whole family con,
the father, who himself the murderer This horr-
BILE and blood chilling tale is rendered still more revolt
ing to human nature by the following document sign
ed by g. w. Pnkham, and Lydia Pinkham, the au-
hors of the dreadful calamity The day after the bu
rial OF the bodies this paper found concealed be-
tween the back and cover Of old family Bible be-
longing to Pinkham. A gentleman of this city, who
was in Edgecomb at the time obtained permission from
relative Of Mrs. Pinkham to have it published and
to our readers entire correcting only the
spelling and punctuation 1t is another sad example
OF Miller fanatcism. which deusion was no doubt the
cause of his insanity
TINS THE WonLp REAp.-The time will
soon come when | shall be numbered among the dead;
and feel it my boundcn duty to my family of chill
dren now in a measure free from the contamination
of the snf illness of mankind to answer the vision OF
the great and good often revealed to me- to bring
To an end their existence And my beloved spouse
Lydia Pinkham having lived so long in this wicked
world and tired Of seeing the sinfulness of our fellow
creatures, awfuy exhibited have resolved seriously
and soemny to draw the curtain of mortality on
gospel millennium it will come, and we shall all
enjoy it with exceeding great JOY We have nothing
more to live for-our worlds goods what are they =
Our farm and money give happiness, for this
worlds greatness has crumbled into DUST pleasure is
bubble and the bright well spring of living water is
hereafter
About two years ago dreamed, and like Joseph.
told it unto my brethren, and they hated me yet the
more; and have dreamed yet another and anotner
dream but dared not tell my kindred, for fear they
would mock me; but my dear spouse aud myself sang
the praises OF our Father in secret, being unwiilng
like Esau. to sell the hrth-rght which that vi
sion revealed for Of pottage, to regae our
friends and the wicked world with the great tidngs
when they sinners would at any time act like the Mi
dante merchant men, and sell Joseph to the lsh-
maetes for twenty pieces of silver
My first dream was in this way-I thought was at
was very sultry much that could scarcely bear
the heat The sun was blood-red and looked ike
large ball OF melting "copper" presently piece fell from
it, and watched it 90 through the air; and all at
once fell as far in front Of me as could possibly see
smoke arose-and this followed by a large black
cloud. And presently it began to rain: and it in
creased more and more till came in torrents and
tempest; and saw the water drive in heavy rolling
waves, directly towards me- could see the water ad
vancng, an inch at time till it got ut mile distant
from and then it stopped But the rolled on
high hills and mountains and looked black and aw-
full On the other side Of the lake, the land was dry
and covered with beautiful plants and grain fields and
pleasant farm houses and the sun shonc brightly as
and women, dressed in milkwhite robes, were at
work. and all about them contentment and happi-
ness. And this thought was the new Jerusalem; and
thought that, they at work, star arose in
the east and out of it there came dove, with these
words in his mouth: 'The Millennium is come And
looked around, and far distant behind as the new
world before me- there was calm pleasant place
harbor with ships and farms with produce there
SOW wicked men at work; and there were stores and
workshops, and men, women and children uttered
wickedness, and every manner of sin met my eyes
And saw my own farm, and many hired men at work
and being dressed in silk and vain ornaments came
along, and knew he the evil one-the devil who
he may devour And Satan smiled upon me; and
pointing to large mansion house with one hand.
he held out the other, filed with gold and seemed
to tell to among the people and
take the gold and buy the large house
looked at the devil Cor moment not knowing
what to do, when heard loud noise like thunder
and turned my back upon the devil and again looked
1t the lake and the rolled high and one wave
came beyond the high water mark and the whole body
Of water rushed onward Then the water still near
er to me, but the beings the other side of still
worked happily together, and looked cheerful And
there loud voice that said Come and presently
my wife standing just on the other side of the
lake. and she beckoned me. l turned around, and
back and by the side Of my wife stood my babe, and
my daughter Adene, and they all smiled and beckoned
me to come. But | turned my back, and there still
appeared Satan and in his hand the gold had increased
in uantty and the manfon he pointed mt had grown
to enormous size. Again heard awful sound.
and turned about suddenly and the lake looked black
and angry and the awful waves rolled again beyond
the water mark aud the whole body ofwater came still
to and soon as the clouds had disappear
cd looked on the other side Of the lake and there
saw my boys Edwin John and Washington, and my
whole family sang hallelujah. and with outstretched
shall comeoh, how shall escape the temptations of
the devil, and fee the wrath to come. Then there
| came sound from the lake, and upon cloud that
suddenly from the water, written these
words" Look back and you time; here Is eternity
and yonder is life everlastingthese the waars Of
death" and upon hearing these words awoke Still ]
could not get the words from my mind, and sat and
wept, and tasted and prayed. What was to he done
takedto my wife, and learned that she had had the
same vision, and heard the words. and saw the
sights but didn't tell the world for fear of SCOT
fers but like the Psamist knew that our enemies
would swallow us up, for they were many, ana they
fight against So considered what best to be
done and often talked Of in secret Some months
| after this dreamed the same dream again. and the
| lake looked black and angry. The devil tempted me
| gold. worldly
dark waters Of the lake hurried down upon me like a
cataract, and that could clearly the
waves, and knew that before many more waves would
RISE the waters would swallow me up entirely. So we
talked again in private Saul died for his
David made burn sacrifices and peace offerings, and
| Elijah made sacrfces and We interpreted the vision
that should do the same, for tired Of the
world and the temptations of the evil one. And then
came to the conclusion to make our peace with all
and that should first destroy wife and my daughter
and babe according to the vision and then destroy
and then myself being the last to pass the
lake before it rolled its upon Saans dark king
dom. SO one day in October four years ago. we all
made our peace and got Ratchet and raised It over
| the head Of my wife, when my arm suddenly fell
| for a vision, and there appeared chariot of
fire and horse Of fire. galloping through cloud OF
smoke and it said stop and the lake appeared again in
view, but this time the waters were calm, and laid
down the Ratchet and silently we thought of the
ferrous warning Years days, and months have passed
until last month when dreamed and saw the self sane
things, and the lake looked dreadful, and the
rolled as high as any mountain and the waters came
| near my feet and then stopped; the time is come
thought l. for knew that another wave would swallow
up all things earthly told my wife of this warning
and the time and end Of all things set apart and
we concluded to die with the children We sat dow n
for two nights and made plans and wrote this
count my wife and daughter and babe to die first
then all by the and myself will die with
the that has been prepared SO wish all fare
well.
will that my dear wife and all my dear children
safely free from the bonds Of this wicked world and
the other side Of the lake then will instantly
follow them and the vision will be fulfilled SO wish
all farewell for when daylight again appears shalt
DO in that land where traveller returns We want
clothes destroyed and my wife wishes her beads
kept her neck, and both want our bodies laid to
gether in the tomb. Signed, q w PISKHAM,
LYDIA PINRHAM
IMPORTANT FROM YUcATAS.-INTERvENroy OF
| THE BRrrIsu-Accounts from lucatan, received