The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1873-02-22
A Sad Incident of the Storm.

=ssa KS =
The Minnesota papers contain a num-
Der or fearful episodes of the late in
tense cold in that region, among which
is this:
Among the many sad incidents which
we have been called upon to chronicle
during the last few days with regard to
the terrible results Of the late storm,
none, perhaps, will excite more sorrow
and sympathy than the story of Mrs.
Mary Townsend, q young married lady
who recently came with her husband
from central New York to take up their
abode in our State.
Just after the holidays the young
couple left this city for a visit to an
uncle of the bride, q gentleman named
MurTy, who resided SEINE five or six
miles from Pennington. Mr.. Townsend
and his wife had occasion to visit Far
mington, and for this purpose a team
attached to a light cutter was furnished
them by Mr.. hurry. They started off,
saying however, that they might not
return until the next day. They did
not attempt to return that night, but
early the next morning they were on
their way back. 1t was very cold, and
the horses were urged on, but suddenly
the wind arose, fine particles of snow
began to fall, and before long the great
storm burst upon them in all its fury.
For Il while the strong animals battlcd
against the elements, but becoming eX-
hausted at last, it was found impossible
to urge them onward. In the mean
time, the violence of the storm i'll
creased. Great drifts were forming
around the sleigh, and it wasimpossible
to distinguish objects scarcely a rod
distant. It was a terrible dilemma to
l., ,1o,n1 -, n,1 4Io hn0r&r Of l0f1, fro
cupants OF the sleigh beat fast with
fear and anxiety. As hours passed on,
with no abatement of the angry storm,
the perils of their situation began to in
crease, and while each e~ndeavOred to
cheer the other, both felt that nothing
but q mysterious interpOsition of Provi-
dencc could save them from the terri
bic fate of freezing to death. At last
night came, but still the fierce winds
howled over and about them, the drifts
grew larger and the temperature colder.
Wrapped in their robes and blankets,
they huddled together at the bottom of
the sleigh, and passed the night in
praying for de~liverance from that awful
situation.
AS soon as daylight appeared, Mr..
Townsend signified his intention of
making an attempt to find assistance if
possible. His wife made fearful re-
monstrances, fearing that he would
meet, with no success and perhaps per
ish with the cold. He cheered her as
best he could, and packing the robes
still closer around her, took one of the
horses, and rode away.
All day the lonely wife waited, he1
heart beating faster with fear as the
tedious hours O on, and her tears
and prayers falling together. Night
came but it did not bring her husband
nor relief. Buried in the folds OF
blankets and buffalOes, she could heal
the wailing of the wild winds as they
swept over the lone prairie all through
the dismal and weary hours. Exhaus-
ted, weary and benumbed, she at last
fell asleep, in which condition she was
found, on the following morning, by a
party who went in search of missing
ones.
She was, after considerable eKertion
aroused, and finding that her exhaustion
was caused by fatigue and hunger, and
that she was not frost bitten, the neigh
bors carried her to the residence of hel
uncle, only q half mile distant. Here
she was provided with every thing
needful for her comfort, but. when upoT
the next day, the body of her husband
was brought home frozen, and stiff and
stark, her grief gave way to the wild
rawlings of insanity. Before this she
had told her uncle an that had hap.
pened up to the time of her falling
asleep. AS soon as possible, physicians
were sent for, but at last ACCOUNTS Mrs
Townsend was failing rapidly, with ne
signs of rational Improvement.