Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-04-02

The PEAcaIAM VICTIMs.-We have al
ready noticed the deplorable deaths of
an aged woman, her daughter, and her
grandson, tin the snow, son the mountain
road in Peacham, VT, ON the night of
March 4th, 1859. The facts of the case
were essentially as follows: A widow,
aged "a years, and an unmarried daugh-
ter, aged 50, by the name of Emmons,
and child of another daughter, aged
years--yery poor, but SO far as appears,
guiltless of all else, were ordered out of
the town where they We're living, few
miles from Peacham, probably to save
that town the expense of supporting
them. They started on the morning of
the 4th of March, to go, on foot, to an
adjoining town, over the mountain, where
a relative had offered them a home
The roads were very deep with snow,
and travelling in any way was difficult
In the afternoon they were overtaken by
Peacham man, going up the mountain.
They begged the privilege of riding. He
could not carry all Of them, but offered
to take the old woman she, however,
was unwilling to be separated from the
others, and so the man went on. This
was at about 2 P. NJ, and the sun was
then shining. Soon after, they reached
cottage at the very foot of the noun
tain, where they stopped and rested, and
begged for the privilege even of sitting
by the Preside during the night This
was refused them, and they again start
ed up the mountain. Allalong up marks
were left, where the aged woman had sat
in the snow to rest. While ascending, a
violent STERN overlook them, and was
raging fercely when they reached the
last house ON the height. This was pass
ed by the travellers without calling, the
man of the house having met them in
the woods and forbidden them to call
1t was now o'clock. The next two
miles seem to have cost the poor family
some three hours of painful toll, and
when within about half mile of the
next house, the old mother appears to
have sunk down and died. The dauph-
ter and the grandchild struggled on UNI
til they reached a fence, near house in
which light was burning. Here they
both rested for time; and then the lad
made straight for the light, and had
reached it within twelve or fifteen feet,
when, with an expiring cry for help, he
fell. The cry was heard; bat in the ra-
ging storm was not supposed to be the
call of human being. So nothing was
done until morning, when the child, first
then the daughter, and finally the old
mother were found where they sank down
and died, within sight of aid.
Thesedetails are derived from the ser.
mon preached at the funeral of the VIC
Tins at Peacham by Rev. p. B. Fisk, and
published in the St. Johnsbury Caledo-
MAN, at the request of the town authori-
ties.
Mr.. Fisk exonerates from blame. the
man who overlook the family on the
mountain road. He says that it would
have been impossible for horse to have
dragged them up the hill, as the roads
were so deep with snow that horses were
scarcely taken out at all. The two per.
sons who refused the travellers shelter
on the mountain, are scarcely recognized
as citizens of Peacham. One is an igno-
rant foreigner, and the other is but little
known in the town. The only excuse or
palliation for their inhumanity is found
in the plea that they are haunted and i'm
posed upon often by vagabond travellers.
But great Indignation Is felt in Peacham