The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-01-22
A Bitter Expcrience-..Seyere Exposure
OF u Lady in the Coolest Weather.
From the Syracuse Journal, January 1T

FROM the Syracuse Journal, January l5th
We hear the details of a bitter personal ex.
perience, which we tilink will bear recital
now, although it occurred fortnight ago.
1t was on the eevereSt day Of this winter, the
terrible cold Wednesday, when it was far
better and more comfortable to be at a warm
tireSide than TO be out Of doors at all. The
experience was by married lady, living in
a ccntrally-located block occupied by families.
Her husband was absent from town; and
ut dusk OF that harsh day, when the wind
was howing fcartully and the mercury
was siuking below zero, she remembered
that some articles Of wearing apparel
from the washing were left hanging on the
rear roof, where the washings We're dried, and
therefore went out to get them. In 50 doing
she became an involuntary exile. The door
by which she passed QUITO the roof was blown
shut by the blast, and when the lady attempt
ed to make her way back through 1t she found
Il closed fast. She appreciated her situation
and the possible results terrified her. All
her efforts TO open the door We're fluitless,
and then she began TO rap rs loud rs she
could with her hands, in the expectation Of
attracting the attention Of the occupants oi
the building. This was continued for some
time without the hopcd-tor results.
VI
and the cold became intense. The unfortu-
nate lady was insuffciently clothed for Ell
counteling such severe exposure. Becoming
chilled through and through, she intermittet
her rappiug upon the closed door with short
walks upon the roof. Her condition was fast
becoming serious. Her limbs were acl in!
with the extreme cold, and her person was
shiyering in the restless gale of wind and
pf IfN1 he yxnr
succeeded by numbness Of hands, feet, anC
face. Losing the use Of hands, she kicked
her feet frantically against the obdurate door
but still there was no heed to her signals
from within. At last, in sheer desperation
the clothes which had called the sufferer into
this difficulty, were by her piled up in the
middle of the roof, and the thought took
possession Of her mind that if she could but
lie down upon them and rest her aching
body and limbs it would be precious relief
No matter if she never arose; she was now
calm and resigned, and wanted rest only.
During this time, which seemed half an
age, as she expressed it, a great many strange
thoughts passed through her mind. She was
glad that she had told lady friend where
her husband had gone, SO that he might be
sent for il she died Many incidents of her
LIE crowded in rapid succession upon he1
memory. The likeness of loved relatives and
friends came up before her. These and other
mental impressions gave way ut length tc
phvsical exhaustion; but before finally sur
rendering to her threatened fate She rallied
once more, and putall her remaining strength
into q last effort to make somebody hear hel
signals for admission by the door which hat
80 cruelty closed upon her. BY happy cir
cumstance the appeal for succor this time wa!
heard.
One of the occupants of the block, while
passing through the hall, thought he hearf
some one rapping, and went to seek out TIT
noise. The opening of another door causec
rushing of the wind, by which the obstinate
door leading to, ,the roof was forced open
The LADY, imprisoned as we have described
thereupon staggered into the hail, and fel
exhausted to the floor. Kind hands raised
her and conveyed her to her rooms, where
ubysician was summoned, and every needed
attention given her critical situation. Hands
feet, aud face were frozen! CONSCIOUSNESS
was for the time suspended.
These effects of exposure to the severcst
weather of this winter were overcome by
proper remedies and restoratives but seye.
ral DAYS elapsed before hands or feet could
be used at all and several unpleasant re.
suits of this severe ordeal are still apparent.
The story Of this bitter experience is en-
tortainingly reluted by the lady herself, who
with round emphasis insists that when she
goes abroad to encounter the storm and cold
of terrible winters night she prefers to be
on terra .fsma instead of on circumscribed
roof five stories up; and also to having some
manner of company rather than solitude in
the fearful predicament we have described
above.