The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-01-23
A TERRIBLE INCIDENT.
Two Nights In n Snow Drift-A Dead
Husband and n Raving Wife.

| Two NigntStn n snow Drit-A Deau
Husband and Raving Wife.
From the Minneapolis Times, January l6.I
Among the many sad incidents we
have been called upon to chronicle dur
ing the last few days, with regard 10
the terrible results of the late storm,
none perhaps will excite more sorrow
and sympathy than the story Of Mrs.
Mary Townsend, young married lady
who recently came with her husband
from Central New York to take up their
abode in our State.
just alter the holidays The young
couple left this city for a visit to the
uncle Of the bride, a gentleman named
Murray, who resides some fire or six
miles from Pennington. A week ago
last Monday Mr.. Townsend and his
wife had occasion to visit Pennington,
and for this purpose a team at.achei 10
a light cutter was furnished them by
Mr.. Murray. They started of, saying,
however, that they might not return
until the next day. They did not a.
tempt 10 return that night, but early on
Tuesday 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 s,or"
I'm rpt -uysr6 vt ~--..:"r, out uecCm'ng e8-
hausted, it was found impossible to urge
them onward. In the meantime. the
violence OF the storm increased. Great
drifts were forming around the sleigh,
and it was impossible to distinguish
objects scarcely rod distant. II was
terrible dilemma to be placed in, and
the hearts OF both occupants OF the
sleigh beat last with fear and anxiety
As hours passed on, with no abatement
OF the angry storm, the perIls OF the
situation began to increase, and while
they endeavored to cheer each other,
both felt that nothing but a mysterious
inte1position of Providence could save
them from the terrible fate OF freezing
to death. At last night came, but the
fierce winds howled over and about
them, the drifts grew larger and the
temperature colder. Wrappedin their
robes and blankets, they huddled to-
gether at the bottom OF the sleigh, and
passed the night in praying for dellver-
ance from that awful situation.
As soou as daylight appeared, Mr..
Townsend signifed biz intentin o.
making an attempt to find assistance II
possible. His wife made tearf'l re.
monstrances, fearing that he would
meet with no success and pernsp. per-
ish with the cod. He cheered hr as
best he could, however, and pa6iug
the robes still closer around hertook
one of the horses, and, mountlnghlD,
rode away.
All dsy the lonely wife waited, her
heart beating faster with fear the
tedious hours wore on, and tearssnd
PRAYERS falling together. Night ONE
again, but it did not bring her husband
nor relief. Buried in the fold OF
blankets and bufaloes, she could ear
the wailing Of the wild Winds as ney
; swep; over the lone prs;l all thugh
the dismal hours. Exhausted. vary
and benumbed, she at last, fell shep
10 which condition che was foundstouf
! 10 o'clock on the morning OF Thusday,
! the 9th inst, by party who wre 10
,, , search Of missing ones.
j She was, after considerable exrtion,
aroused, and finding that her enaus
u ton was caused by fatigue and hnger.
and that she was not frost bite. the
:, ueighb bors carried her to the rseleuce
j OF her uncle, only half mile dtant
e Here she was provided with everything
needful for her comfort, hut whempon
: the next day the body OF her huband
u was brought home frozen and ctr and
stark, her grief gave vav.to To wild
o rawlings OF insanity. Before tn she
= had told her uncle all that hshsp-
-! pened up TO the time OF her ,lling
a asleep. As soon as possible physians
were sent for, but at last accountants
u Townsend vas failing rapidly, wh nc
signs oil rational Improvement