The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-04-01
A Chapter Of Horrors.
From Rra1ton,
Frozen TO Dcath-A Child Burned 10
Dcath-sad Mortality In that
County-Soyere Weather
River News
SuTToN, ". Va, March q.

@NA't " 49, A'AhANi
TO tie EaitSr Of The Democrat
On Monday, the 11th inst, Miss
Margaret A. Cutlip, daughter of AL
len Cutlip, residing in this county in
locality known as "Crites' Mountain,
left Mr., Rases after dinner, to 60
home with Mrs. John Perkins and her
cousin, Miss Lucinda Cutlip, dis.
lance Of about two miles. The party
concluded to take "ncar cut" As to
n road, there was none, except an oc.
casional blaze upon a tree, and they
never thought of having missed their
way until near night, when they dis
covered that they were utterly lost.
During Monday night it first rained,
and then wound up with about three
inch fall Of snow. Yet by budding
together the party kept from perishiug
At early dawn they resumed their
journey; and notwithstanding the
snow from the ovCrhanging under
growth soon completely saturated their
clothing, they wandered over large
scope OF ground,
During Tuesday, Miss NJ, A Cut.
lip constantly complained of cold and
fatigue and though physically the
most robust looking one Of the party,
required much aid from the others 10
move at all, and about half IN hour
before dark she fell from sheer ex.
haustion. Notwithstanding her pray
ers and entreaties to remain, her
comrnds bid her farewell, saying "tbut
they too would perish ifthoy remained"
When last seen her extremitiCs were
blue and cold, her features having
ceased to culver, and it is supposed
that she died that night. Tho other
two scarcely got out OF hearing of her
cries and groans, when they took shell
ter in hollow chestnut tree, and after
daylight Travelled but a short distance
when Mrs. Perkins came in full view
of her own home, which, through
fright and exhaustion, she would not
have recognized, had not her little dog
ran to meet Der.
On the 18th inst, search was made
for the corpse, which was fond and
transferred to the house of her father,
and on the next day was interrod..
As soon as practicable, Justice Ben.
jamin Hoffman had q Jury Of Inquest
summoned, who, in consequence OF the
absence ofsomc Of the most important
witnesses, had to mako two trips, res.
roctiyCly on tho 10th and 25th inst.
learn from reliable sources that the
house Of John Perrine, of Washington
Township, was burned down on the
10Th, together with every article Of bis
household and kitchen furniture, and
his babe, an infant three months old,
was consumed in the burning house i,
The facts, us related to me, are sub.
stantially as follows: Mr.. Perrine was
absent from home on business, and his
wife had goRO about One.fourth Of q
mile from home 10 sugar camp, leav.
ing her infant in cradle in the house,
in care Of two small children. After
sometime they discovered the house on
FIRE, and Immediately closing tho door
behind them, ran to give the motaer
word. In the meantime Irwin John.
son, a close ncighbor, discovering the
fire, ran TO the burning house, ar.
irving but a minute before the mother.
Mr.. johnson, hearing the shriekiug
and crying of the child, burst open the
door, aud was met by the flames as
they proceeded from within; still hO
heard the child, which occupied the
center Of the floor, AT this dreadful
moment the mother came. and would,
if she had not been promptly rescued,
rushed into tho burning flames to save
her child; but Mr.. johnson, seeing
that no hope for the recovery of the
infant remained, held the poor frantic
mother while the scuthing flames closed
in upon and silcnced the voice Of her
child.
The same authority says that the
good people Of that neighborhOod fully
restored Mr. Perrine'H loss of goods
and cha,tels. But II would appear
that no earthly goods, or anything else
short of the bliss Of Heaven, could give
soIacO or peace to this grief stricken
mother, while she can remember the
voice Of her child in that trying hour
May that God who tcmpers tho wind
to the Shorn lamb be with aud comfort
her.
During tho two weeks preceding
the 18th inst, there were some ten
deaths in this county, mostly 10 Clay
Township, and there being no cpidem.
lc, the mortality is considered fright.
fuI among SO sparse population, en-.