North Branch democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Pa.) 1854-1867, 1862-12-31
Nelson C.. and Hiram Har-
ding.

Whose recent melancholy demise has car
ried SO much grief and dismay to a very
large circle of relatives, and friends, were born
in Exeter, Luzerne Co., and were the only
sons by his first wife of Mr.. George Harding,
now of Brooklyn, Susq. Co. They acquired
the trade of carpenters with Mr.. Archibald
Banatyne, of Washington Wyo. Co., work
| ing principally in Tunkhannock and are rep
resented to us as adopts in their business, Of
a bold and ardent temperament, and and pos
sessed of that warmth Of personal friendship,
and ardor of family affection, which distin-
gush the name. Their cruel fate has brought
the keenest anguish into many fond hearts,
and host of companions deeply sumpathize
in their bereavement. narrative Of the
tragic events which brought these young
men to their end-NelSon the elder aged Is
and the younger bus % is desired by
many and WILL we doubt not be acceptable
to every reader.
Hiram Harding left this borough in March,
1874, and sailed as ship carpenter to France
Vs.
lowing, Nelson George Harding went to ob
tain work at the South. The brothers met in
New Orleans last Oct, and wrought at their
trade for time. Jan. 25th, Nelson wrote to
friends IN this vicinity full of hopes Of soon
meeting them here-and next day the brothers
took passage in the John Mlnturn, for New
| York. Soon news Of the dreadful storm of
18th Feb. spread over the land. Among
those who perished at Squan beach, New
Jersey, the names of Nelson and Henry
| Harding, Pa" were reported. The alarmed
father and an affectionate brother law, Mr..
James Bunnel, q, of Washington started,
on the I'd inst. to learn the worst. Reach
ing New York on Wednesday, they were
so fortunate as to obtain the aid of Mr. Samp-
son King one of the crew who escaped, and
with whom they went to Keyport in Steam
er, ard thence to the ncghborhood of Squan
IN sleighs. He gave them the following par
tculars
Mr.. King became acquainted with the Har
dings IN the voyage, and was much attached
to them. The affection maifested by the
brothers, was often remarked by the passen-
gers. They represented to him that thy had
seen much of the world were returning home,
to settle down for life; that Hiram had enjoyed
uninterrupted health, but Nelson had been
sometimes i'll. Mr.. X saw Hiram with a sum
in gold which he believed amounted to $500,
and Nelson stated he had nearly as much.
The voyage was prosperous, until the morn
ing of that fatal storm. In the efforts to di-
rect the ship, and to save and comfort the
women and children by every possible means,
even to their own neglect no men on board
were so active andiefficent as were the broth
ers, whose strength and skill were highly
conspicuous. The ship struck within 100
yards of shore, on Sunday morning-within
stones throw-they could converse from
ship to shore. On board, no great danger
was at first feared. One of their boats was
sunk the other reached land with six sea-
men, of whom two attempted to return, but
could get no help. There was no life-boat
on the beach, and the spectators seemed to
make no effort to take ofFthe sufferers, which
it appeared not difficult for them to do. Ar
licles that drifted ashore were removed, and,
as it was afterwards ascertained, pillaged -
yet, the wondering, cold, wrecked crew, were