Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1853-02-22

COLD FRIDAY IN l8I0.-The 10Th of January
1910, is memorable as the "cold Friday" The
evening previous was very mild, but during the
night the temperature suddenly changed and in
less than 10 hours, the mercury descended to l3
below zero. a violent wind prevailed during the
day, which leyelled trees and Frustrated houses
The 9th volume of the Collections of the New
Hampshire Historical Society contains the follow
ing account of sad occurrence which transpired
on that day, in the town of Sanbornton:-
ION Friday morning the 18th of January, Mrs
jeremiah Ellsworth of Sanbornton, finding the
cold very severe, rose about an hour before sunrise
1t was but a short time before some part of the
house was burst in by the wind, Being aDprehen-
siye that the whole house would soon be demolish-
ed 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 leay-
ing the other two children in bed. Her husband
undertook to go to the nearest neighbor, which
was in north direction, for assistance but this
wind was so strong against him that he fos7nd Il
impracticable. He then set outzeg,r Nv Md
Browns the nearest house il another direction.
at the distance OF 3, carter of mile He reach
eu there ABOUT Sunrise, his feet being considerably
iIoHeh; ah1he so overcome by the cold, that both
ne ane Mr. Brown thought it too hazardous for
MIN to return. But Mr.. Brown went with his
horse and sleigh with all possible speed to save
the woman end her children from impending des-
truction.
When he arrived at the house he found Mrs
children in bed, their clothes having been blown
away by the wind SO that they could not be dress
ed Mr.. Brown put bed in the sleigh, and placed
the three children upon it, and covered them with
the bed clothes. Mrs. E. also gotinto the sleigh
They had proceeded only six OF eight rods before
the sleigh was blown over, and the children, bed
and covering were scattered by the wind Mrs
Ellsworth held the horse, while Mr. Brown col
lected the children and placed them in the sleigh
again. She then concluded to walk but before
10 rnap hpd Mr. p.1yr,1e hon cl,,
numbed by the cold that she sunk down to the
ground, finding it impossible to walk any further
At first she concluded that she must perish, but
stimulated by hope of escape, she made another
ettord 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 anxiety for his children led him twice
to conclude to go to their assistance but the ear
nest opportunities of his wife, who supposed he
would PERISH and that she would survive but
short time, prevented him.
Mr.. Brown having placed the children in the
sleigh second time, had proceeded but few rods
when the sleigh was blown over and torn to Dieees
and the children driven to some distance, He
then collected them once more, laid them on the
bed and covered them; and then called for helm
but to no purpose. Knowing that the children
must soon perish in that situation, and being
pierced to the heart by their distressing shrieks
he wrapped them all In coverlet, and attempted
to carry them on his shoulder, but was soon blown
UOmh, anu the cnllufen separated from nm 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
large log. He then attempted to carry the other
two, but was soon stopped as before. He then
took them oneunder each arm, with no other cloth.
ing than their shirts, and in this way, though
blown down every few rods he arrived at his house
after being absent about two hours, The chill.
dren, though frozen stiff were alive, but died with
in few minutes. Mr. Browns hands and feet
were badly frozen, and he was so much chilled and
exhausted as to be Enabled to return for the child
left behind
The wind continued its severity, and no neigh
Dor called until the afternoon, when there was
every reason to believe the child was dead To-
wards sunset physician and some other neighbors
having 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.
Mr. Brown, lived until few years ago, but
never recovered from the effects of that day. He
became nearly or quite blind and continued thus
as long as he lived.