Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1867-02-08
The Cold Friday of 1910.

January 10, 1910 was day the in
tense coldness of which will long bt
remembered by those who experienc
ed its rigor. The evening previous
was mild, but in the night the wind
changed and the mercury in less than
l6 hours descended to 13 degrees be-
low zero. A boiSterous wind prevail
ed, by which trees, and in some cases
houses were blown down, and the
day became memorable in New Eng
land as "The Cold Friday" Here in
Concord, farmers piled on the wood
and attended to their cattle, and that
was about all for the day. From Vol
V. of the N.H.Historical Collections,
the following is taken of an occurrence
on that day in the town of Sanborn-
ton
"On Friday morning, the 18th of
January, Mr.. Jeremiah Ellsworth, of
Sanbornton, finding the cold very Sc
we're, rose about an hour before sun
rise. 1t was but short time before
some part of his 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
f., with her Youngest child, whom she
had dressed, went into the cellar,
leaving the other two children in bed.
Mr.. E. undertook to 90 to the nearest
nelghbor, which was in a northern di-
rection, for help. but the wind was so
strong against him that he found it
impracticable. He then set out for
Mr.. David Browns, the nearest house
in another direction, at the distance
OF One-fourth of mile He reached
there about sunrise, his feet consider
ably frozen, and he so overcome by
the cold, that he and Mr.. B. thought
it too hazardous for him to RETURN
But Mr.. B. went with his horse and
sleigh with all possible speed to save
the woman and her children from i'm
pending destruction. When he arriv-
ed at the honse, he found Mrs E. and
one child in the cellar, and the other
children in bed, their clothes having
been blown away by the wind, so that
they could not be dressed. Mr. B.
put bed into the sleigh, and placed
the three children upon it, and cover
ed them with their bed-clothes. Mrs.
E. also got into the sleigh. They had
gone only six or eight rods before the
sleigh was blown over, and the chill
dren, bed and covering, scattered by
the wind. Mrs. E. held the horse,
while Mr.. B. collected the children
and bed, and placed them in the sleigh
again. She then concluded to walk.
but before she reached MIR. BS. she
was so benumbed by the cold that she
sank down to the ground, finding 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 ae did
not 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 should survive but short time,
prevented him. Mr. B. having placed
the children in the sleigh a I'd time,
had gone but a few rods, when the
sleigh was blown over and torn to
pieces, and the children driven to
some distance. He then collected
them once more. laid them on the bed
and covered them, and them called
for help, but to no purpose. Knowing
that the children must soon perish III
that situation, and being pierced to
the heart by their distressing shrieks,
he wrapped them all in a coverlet,and
attempted to carry them on his shOul-
der, but was soon blown down, and
the children separated from him by
the violence of the wind. Finding ii
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 took one
under 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 within few minutes. Mr.
BIS hands and feet were badly frozen
and he was so much chilled and ex
hausted as to be unable to return fol
the child left behind. The wind con
tinued its severity, and no neighbol
, called until the afternoon, when there
was every reason to believe the chile
left was dead. Towards sunset ;
, physician and other neighbors havin;
arrived, several of whom went il
search of the other child, which wa
found and brought in dead. The live
of the parents were saved, but the.
!, were left childless.
Mr.. Brown lived until few year
ago, but never recovered from the e
: fects of that day. He became neal
: ly or quite blind, and continued thu
as long as he lived.-N.H. Statesman
February, 1858.
3 UNIvERsALIsTs.- In the Universe
y list Register for 1867, we find the 70