Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1853-08-31
MISC ELL A N Y.
Love, Desperation and Death.

We announced briefly in our telegraph column
some days since the suicide by drowning at Man
chester, n. H., of two young women, Miss Cath
arine b. Cotton, aged twenty-five, aud Miss Cla-
ra G. Cochran, aged nineteen From letters left
by both the unfortunate girls as well as from in
cidens of their history known to their friends, it
appears that their suicide was the result of disap
pointments in affairs of the heart and the carrying
out of an avowed purpose for which the prepara-
tions were openly and deliberately made. The
Manchester Mirror derives from an intimate ac-
quantance the following statement which may in
terest some of our readers - BaHi finer. Of 23rd
Everything throwing light upon the last hours
of Miss Cotton and Miss Cochran, or tending 10
show what contributed to their melancholy fate
last Sunday evening, is read by this community
with great avidity. A thousand and one stories
are af1oat, most of them having 10 foundation in
fact calculated in part to nure the feelings Of the
friends of the two unfortunate females whose sud
den deliberate self possessed act of taking their
own lives, has caused such a sensation i'll our
midst.
''We proceed to lay before our readers 4 state
ment made by Miss Davis to us, in the presence
of two other ladies, one of whom was also 4 room
mate ofNIss Cotton and Miss Cochran and all three
of whom saw them when they committed the ia
tai deed.
Miss Davis first became acquainted with Miss
Cotton two years ago at Biddelord, Me-, where
they were both at work in the mills. She be-
came intimate with her. Soon after their acquain-
tance commenced, young man IN Biddetord be-
gan to show Miss Cotton many attentions, and In
time became her acknowledged lover. An en-
gagement took place and the time was set for their
marriage Miss Cotton went home to Pownal,
Me, to make preparations for the marriage, got
ready, and returned to Biddeiord one week before
the day appointed for the nuptal ceremony when
she was informed by her lover that he had chang
EN- his mind, and concluded not to marry. This
event took place 4 year ago last June. Miss
Cotton stayed at Biddef0rd few weeks longer,
but after she was abandoned by one upon whom
all her affections were placed, it was to her like
deserted home, and she left aud went to Lowell,
where she stayed few weeks and went to Law
renee. She stayed at that place but short time
and came to Manchester. But here, as at all 9th
er places where she lived, since the silver cord of
her existence was broken she could think of moth
inc but sorrow clouds and thick darkness were
continually about her.
''She went to Lynn, hoping that change of
occupation might bring relief to her mental sor-
row. But wounded affection caused by the dccep-
ton of lover almost at the bridal hour, cannot
be healed by mere worldly cares, or by diverting
the mind by travel About seven weeks ago she
returned to Manchester, unable to be contented
anywhere, and then for the first time, became &C
quaiuted with Miss Cochran. Possessed of kind
ly feelings upon one subject, they soon became
quite intim ,te.
''Mss Cochran in early life became strongly
attached to young man with whom she went to
school They have not seen each other since but
for some six years up to last March. they kept up
regular and alectionate correspondence, beget-
ting in her mind the belief that he was her lover.
and would be her husband. 1t MAY be that he
considered them merely letters of friendship, and
had no idea Of ever marrying her.
"I.ast March he wrote to her. saying that she
need not write to him again till she received an
other letter from him. She did write several let
tiers, from which no response came and from the
moment that the full conviction flashed upon her
mind that she was abandoned, her life has been
desolate. 'EIope deferred maketh the heart sad, ,
and dreary, dreamy and almost unreal, have been
the hours since that conviction flashed upon her
mind. Her tears were more bitter than those shed
for the dead and yet not 50 consoling.
"With minds in such sorrowng state, three
weeks ago Sunday, Miss Cotton and Miss Coch-
ran remarked to their room mate, Miss Davis, in
three weeks from to-day we shall die. After that
they frequently remarked that they should drown
themselves-they could not bear the pain of liv-
ing. Of course their remarks were not taken in
earnest. Miss Cotton had told Miss Davis that
several times, once at Lowell she had been on the
bank ot the river to drown herself, but her cour-
age failed her. The week before the fatal Decd
they did not mention the subject to any one, and
seemed to act as if they had forgotten it, On Sun
day one said to the other, Il did not speak of our
drowning during the week. because wanted to
leave your mind uninluenced by anything might
say The other responded. For the same rea-
son have been silent about it, Miss Cochran
worked on dress till late hour on Saturday
evening, and on Sunday they both appeared as u
sual till nearly noon, when they began to pack
their trunks.
''After dinner they devoted most of their time
in writing ett"rsand giving directions about their
affairs, seeming all the time to be in so good spr
its that no serious apprehensions were felt by
Miss Davis, Or others who had had intimations of
what they had said and done. They ate hearty
supper and appeared in pleased state of mind till
they went up stairs for the last time Then, when
they were joked about their talk of drowning