The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1853-02-24


COLD FEiDAT--IsIO.--From Vol. v. Of
the New Hampshire Historical society,s
Collections the following account is taken
of an occurrence on that day in the town OF
S~anbornton:
On Friday morning, the 18th Of Januarv
Mr.. Jeremiah Ellsworth, of Sanbornton,
finding the cold very severe, rose about an
hour before sunrise. 1t was but a short
time before som part ofhis house was burst
in by the wind. Being apprehensive that
the whole house would soon be demolished
and that the lives Of the family were in great
jeopardy Mrs. Ellsworth, with her Youngest
child, whom she had dressed, went into the
cellar, leaving the other two children In bed.
Her husband attempted to go to the nearest
n~eighbor, which was in q north direction.
at the distance OF a quarter Of q mile. He
reached there about sunrise, his feet being
considerable frozen, and he so overcome by
the cold, that both he and Mr.. Brown
thought it too hazardous for him to RETURN
But Mr.. Brown went with his horse and
sleigh with all possible speed, to save the
woman and her children from impending
destruction. When he arrived at the house,
he found Mrs. Ellsworth and one child in
the cellar, and the other children in bed,
their clothes having been blown way by
the wind, so they could not be dressed
DIR. Brown put a bed into the sleigh, and
placed the three children upon It, and COW
cred them with the bed clothes. Mrs. E.,
also got into the sleigh. They had proceed
ed only six or eight rods before the sleigh
was blown over, and the children, bed and
covering, were scattered to the wind. Mrs.
Ellsworth held the horse while Mr. Brown
collected the children and bed, and placed
them in the sleigh again. She then conclu-
ded to walk, but before she reached Mr..
Browns house, she was so benumbed by the
cold, that she sunk down to the ground, find
ing it impossible to walk any further. At
first she concluded she must perish, but
stimulated by a hope of escape, she made
another effort by crawling on her hands
and knees, in which manner she reached
her husband, but SO altered in her looks
that he did not at first know her. His INK
iety for his children led him twice to con-
clude to go to their assistance; but the
earnest opportunities of his wife, who sup
posed he would perish, and that she should
survive but a short time, prevented him.
Mr.. Brown having placed the children in the
sleighs a second time, had proceeded but a
few rods when the sleigh was blown over
and torn to pieces, and the children drive en-
to SOM distance. He then collected them
once more, laid them on the bed and cover
ed them; and then called for help, but to no
purpose. Knowing that the children must
soon perish in that situation, and being pier
ced to the heart by their distressing shrieks,
he wrapped them all in a c~overlet, and at
temptea to carry them on his shoulder, but
was soon blown down, and the children sep
arated from him by the violence Of the wind.
Finding it impossible to carry them all, he
left the youngest the one who happened to
be dressed, placing it by the side Of a large
log. He then attempted to carry the other
two, but was stopped as before. He then
took them, one under each arm, with no 9TH
er clothing than their shirts and in this way,
though blown every few rods, he arrived at
his house, after being absent about two
hours. The children though frozen stiff,
were alive, but died within a few minutes.
Mr.. Browns hands and feet were badly fro
zen, and he was so much chilled and ex-.
hausted as to be unable TO return for. the
child left behind.
The wind continued its severity, and no
~neighbor called until the afternoon, when
there was every reason to believe the child
left was dead. Towards sunset, a physician
and some other neighbors arrived, several
of whom went in search of the other child,
which was found and brought in dead. The
lives Of the parents were saved, but they
were left childless.
MFR. Brown, we are informed BY a gentle
man Of Sa%nbornton, lived until a few years
ago, but never recovered from the effects
of the cold that day, lie became nearly or
quite blind, and Continued thus 30 long as he
lived: