The weekly Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1852-1855, 1853-08-25

The SUICIDE o. TIE TWO HoUHc LADIES
AT MAHcHEsrER, n. H.-Miss Catharine b.
Cotton, Of Pownal, Me-, aged %; and Misc
Clara G. Cochran, aged TO-, q native Of New
Boston, but who has lately had home with
a brother, residing in Hopkinton, we have
already stated committed suicide under oe-
culiar circumstances at Manchester, N, H..
last Sunday evening. II Is said that Miss
Cochran had frequently indicated a purpose
to drown herself. Both Of them, Of late.
boarded together, and l:yed in the same
room, and had talked freely of drowning
themselves. Their whole proceedings were
marked by great GOODNESS and deliberation.
Both O fthem lef lett ers TO their friends, an.
nouncing their purpose, and giving direc-
lions in regard TO the settlement Of their af-
fairs. Love was the occasion OF the act
Having arfdhged ell things for the event,
they left their boarding house on Sunday
evening, proceeded hand-in-hand, and with
great apparent cheerfulness, 10 the bridge
crossing the upper canal, leading 10 the
Manchester Mills, stepped together upon the
stone wall Of the canal just above the bridge,
and together lea2ed into the water, and
were drowned before they could be rescued.
Below we insert the letter Of Miss Coch-
ran to her sister at Hopkinton, written Just
before her untimely decease, aud carefully
placedi in her trunk:
MAKcHEsTER, Aug. -, 1853.
Dear Sistsr-I received your letter last
Wednesday, and contrary to your custom,
answered ii the first opportunity. Though
| knew it was having time, and, Of course,
you would have a great deal to do, still | felt
provoked at your silence. You and aunt
Achsah are my only correspondents, but |
now and then answer one Of the many let.
tiers that | receive. II is only 6 o'clock, A.
NJ, and | have began in good season so al
to write to you and to Jesse to-day. Am
glad to hear that Louisa Is with you, for a
little help is better than none. As for my
visiting you, l probably never shall meet
you again in life; ere you receive this letter,
| shall be in the silent realms Of the dead!
Start not, dear Annie, nor sbudder, for what
use can there be in dragging out a weari.
some life, deprived ofall enjoyment! am
only a burden to myself and every one else
who interests themselves in my welfare
Give my love to Joseph, TO Martha, and to
all who care for me, or pretend to. Bury
me in Vermont, by the side of my mother,
and | have money enough to pay all funeral
lNApOhoSSs 4 wv Mio uAdNih OSSg NY
room mate, So, Mrs, Jacobs $l,25, and So
for my board, and there is over SO due me
at Amoskeag's c~ounting-room. II there is
anything left ofmy money after paying my
funeral expenses, which | want to be as
cheap as possible, and paying my debts
send it, together with his letters, (Which you
will find in my pocket,) Ia John H. Sherwin
No. lao Fulton street, New York.
Jesse and Joseph are probably well enough
off already, and if | could aid John by a few
dollars, it might do some good. A copy Of
Shakespeare, which | have lent John Jacobs
| should like to have J.. H. s. have the rest
My clothes and other things, you may divide
as you see fit. And now, goodbye. Mourn
not for me friends. Tell Jesse | would like
to see him once more before / die, but thai
cannot be. Farewell, forever,
CLARAC. COCHRAN.
To Mrs. Ann NJ. Cochran, Hopkinton, N. H
Forward quickly, for it tells of death.
The following was written upon the op
posite sheet of the letter by Miss Cochran
AMI evidently intended for the eye OF hel
lover:
And now, dearest, | must write you a few
lines, though ere you receive them, the hanC
that penned them will be cold in death. d.
not think of me with regret, Tor It's bette
that it should be SO.
"One more uniortuna'e, weary OF breath,
Rashl. importunate, gone to her DEATH"
| forgive all who bave injured me, anC
crave for forgiveness of you, if l have erred
and l know ] have. Be happy and forge
me net. Even if you ever marry, still twill
not be wicked to cast a thoght on me and nj
one would love you the less for it. shall
| hope, be buried in Vermont, by the side 0
my mother. Farewell.
She also enclosed in her letter scraps o
poetry, which no doubt expressed her feel
inns nt tho time of writinu