Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1853-02-26
COLD FRIDAY.

HaleSman, lSlU was DAY The Intense cold
ness Of which will be long remembered by
those who experienced its rigor. Those who
were not out Of doors, but had reached an
age rendering them capable of retaining inn
pressons then received, have, doubtless,
recollection Of occurrences taken place around
them. The evening previous was as mild
as those we have been favored with in such
numbers this winter; but in the night the
wind changed, the air suddenly became cold,
and the mercury in less than l6 hours de-
cended 10 l3 degrees below zero A bois.
ferrous wind prevailed, by which trees and in
some cases, houses we're blown down, and
the day became memorable in New England
as "The Cold Friday.n Here in Concord, |
so near as our recollection serves, there was
very little going from place 10 place. Far
mers piled on The wood, and attended 10 their
cattle, and that was all for he day. In lhi.
village, such as went TO the neiehbors OF 10
a store, upon crrands which could be defer.
ed, sped over the ground like squirrels, and
were fur,unate if they returned with no flesh
frozen by the intensity Of the frost.
Ftom Vol V. of the New Hampshire His.
,oricaI Soce,y's Collections, the following ac.
count is taken of an occurrence on iha, day
in the town of Sanborn,on:
"On Friday morning, the 10Th OF January,
Mr.. jeremiah Ellsworth, OF Sanbornton, find
ing the cold very severe, rose about an hour
before sunrise. II was but short time be-
fore some part Of his house was burst in by
the wind. Being apprehensive that the whole
house would 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 Gel
Ter, leaving The other two children in bed
Her husband undertook TO 90 TO the nearest
neighbor, which was in a north direction, for
assistance, but The wind was so strong against
him that he found it timpracticable. He then
set ou, for Mr. David Browns, the neares,
hnuse in another direction, at the distance oi
a quarter of a mile. He reached there about
SUNRISE his feet being considerably frozen
and so overcome by the cold, that both he
and Mr.. Brown though, i, too hazardous for
him 10 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 al the house, he found
Mrs. Ellsworth and one child in the celia r.
and the other children in bed, their clorhe:
having been blown away by The wind, 80 thai
they could not be d,essed. Mr.. Brown pu
bed into the sleigh, and placed the three
children upon it, and covered them with The
bed clothes Mrs, E also got into the sleigh
they had proceeded only six or eight rod:
before the sleigh was blown over, and the
children, bed and covering were scattered
by the wind. Mrs. Ellsworth held the the
horse, while Mr.. Brown collected the children
and bed and placed them in the sleigh again
She then concluded TO walk, but before she
reached Mr.. Browns house, she was so be
numbed by the cold that she sunk down IL
The ground finding it impossible TO walk any
further. At frs, she concluded she mus
perish, but stimulated by hope Of escape
she made another effort by crawling on he
. hands and knees, in which manner sht
reached her husband, bu, so altered in he
looks that he did not at first know her. Hi.
anxiety for his children led him twice 10 con
clude 10 go 10 their assistance; bnt the earn
est importuniies Of his wife, who supposed
he would perish, and that she should sur
vve but short time, prevented him.
Nr. Brown having placed The children il
the sleigh second time, had proceeded bu
few rods when the sleigh was blown owe
and torn to pieces aud the children drive
TO some distance. He then collected lher
once more, laid Them on the bed aud covere
them; and then called for help, but 10 n
purpose. Knowing that the children nu.
soon perish in that situation, and bein
pierced 10 the heart by their dslressiu
shrieks, lie wrapped then all in coverle
+, and attempted TO carry them on his shonlde
j but was soon blown down, and the chlldre
separated from him by the violence of tn
wind, Finding i, impossible 10 carry lher
all, he left the youngest, the one who hal
pcned 10 be dressed, placing il by the side
a large log. He then attempted 10 carry III
other two, but was soon stopped as before
e He then took them one under each arm, vii
S no other clothing than their shirts, and
e this way, though blown down every few rod
d he arrived al his house, after being abse
Y about two hours. The children, lhoue
e frozen stiff, were alive, bat died within fe
q minutes. Mr.. Browns hands and feet we
e badly frozen, and he was so much chile
i and exhausted as TO be unable 10 return f
$, the child left behind
The wind continued its severity, and I
neiahbor called until the afternoon, whe
y there was every reason to believe The en-
rs Jeff was dead Towaids sunset, physlcia
A. and some other neighbors having arrived
le several of whom went in search oi The olh'
al child, which was found and brought in dea'
T. The live. OF The parents were saved, but The
,e were left childess.
le Mr.. Brown, we are informed by genil'
mand OF Sanbornton, lived until few yea
frn,n iha pHpcfs