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

"Ay,' replied Mr.. Thomas, "if you
and the devil sin together, you and the
devil will be punished together.
An Unavailing Struggle for Life.
Mrs. Davidson, one of the sufferers of
the terrible earthquakes of August 18th,
died in Valparaiso ON the 10Th inst. Her
escape was perfect miracle, and after
innumerable escapes and sufferings, she
has at last given up to the shock upon
her nervous system. She was a wealthy
widow lady, living in africa with her on
ly son, and after the first heavy shock,
her son, II fine, estimable young man,
rushed home, through the falling ruins,
to find his mother partially buried under
the beams and timbers Of her falling
house. After frantic efforts to extricate
her, and being unable to do so alone and
unaided, he vainly tried to find some one
to help him release her; but at such
time help from others is almost impossi-
BILE, every one seeking their own and their
friends safety.
At last he found some kind gentle
men, and by their aid, and after incredi-
BILE labor. his mother was released from
the falling ruins, but so bruised and in
jured that she was nearly unconscious
and totally unable to stand or rise.
While seeking again for some person
to aid him in removing her to greater
place of safety-as the second shock had
compelled the kind men helping him to
flee to secure the safety of their own
families-he was obliged to wander to
some distant part of the town, and as he
was returning with help the cruel sea
came in, and he saw his mother washed
out to sea before his very eyes, clinging
to door upon which he had laid her.
But as she lay extended upon it, it kept
her ahoat, and after two hours she was
washed ashore upon a small island
Here she lost all consciousness, but re-
covered her senses to find herself again
foated off to sea, after about an hours
refuge on the islaud
Her son had miraculously kept her in
sight, watching her tossing among the
breakers, even amid the commissions
around him, and he now succeeded in
getting boat sent off to her from the
Peruvian corvette America. s
By the time the boat had picked her
up another tidal wave had filled the boat
half full of water, and there was great
danger of being swamped. Mrs. David
son had been in the water nearly nine
hours, and the men finding the sea rum
ming SO high, said they could not return
to the ship, and, as their only salvation,
put the boat out to sea and waited and
watched for the daylight
AT six o'clock the next morning they
landed at africa, to find the corvette
ashore and the whole place in ruins
They brought Mrs. Davidson ashore,
however, and for three days longer she
lay exposed to the scorching sun and the
cold night dews, without any shelter of
covering, except small blanket that
her son secured for her.
Her property was all destroyed, and
yet this brave woman kept up, and was
cheerful and confident. Her son made
an unavailing effort to get her to Valpa-
raiso, by the first mail steamer, but in
the rush and flight Of the fleeing people
it was an impossibility.
AT last, on the 9th of September, she
reached Valparaiso by the steamer Es-
meralda, and every care and attention
were bestowed upon the unfortunate la
dy. But she sank under the shock and
attendant suffering, and died on the 10Th,
as above stated.
If any son deserves eulogy, young Da-
wilson does. So attached was he to his
mother that many predict he will not
long survive her. 1t seems hardly cred
ible that frail woman could endure
such suffering Valparaiso Cor. N. Y.
Times
WHAT MAYOR HARPER DID.-The
Reverend Doctor Blank, one of the great
est bores of the country, once told little
anecdote of Mr.. James Harper. "I
asked the mayor" said Mr.. Blank, "what
he did. / said to him, know that Mr..
John Harper attends to his business Mr..
Wesley Harper looks after the literary
correspondence Mr.. Fletcher Harper
receives authors and looks after new
books and agazines-but you, Mr.. Har--
per, have never been able to discover
what you do" "I will tell you," an
swered the mayor in whisper. "but YOU