Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1873-02-06
Two Nights in a Snow Drift
A Dead Husband and a Raw
ing Wife. Ai

ing Wife. Ai
The Minneapolis (Minn.) Times, O
January 16, says: Among the many sac
incidents We have been called upon tC
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 oi
Mrs. Mary Townsend, a young married
lady who recently came with her hus-
band from Central New York to take
up their abode in our State. Just after
the holidays the young couple left this
city for visit to the uncle of the bride
a gentleman named Murray, who re-
sides some five or six miles from Farm
ington. A week ago last Monday, Mr..
Townsend and his wife had occasion 60
go toFarmington, and for this purpose 8
team attached to light cutter was fur
nished them by Mr.. Murray. They
started off, saying, however, that they
might not return until the next day.
They did not attempt to 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 be-
fore long the great storm burst
in all its terrible fury. For while the
strong animals battled against the ele-
ments, but becoming exhausted at last,
ir was found impossible to urge them
onward.
In the meantime, the violence of the
storm increased. Great drifts were FORM
ing around the sleigh, and it was i'm
possible to distinguish objects scarcely
rod distant. 1t was a terrible dilem-
ma to be placed in, and the hearts of
both occupants of the sleigh beat fast
with fear and anxiety. As hours pass
ed on with no abatement of the angry
storm, the perils of their situation be-
gan to increase, and while each endeav-
ored to cheer the other, both felt that
nothing but mysterious interposition
of Providence could save them from the
terrible fate Of freezing to death. At
last night came, but still the fierce winds
blowed 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 tue night in pray
ing for deliverance from that awful
situation.
As soon as daylight appeared Mr..
Townsend signified his intention of ma
king an attempt to find assistance if pos
sible. His wife made fearful remon-
strances, fearing that he would meet
with no success and perhaps perish in
the storm. He cheered her as best as
he could, however, and packing the
robes still closer around her, took one
of the horses and mounting him, drove
away.
All day the lonely wife waited, her
heart beating faster with fear as the |
tedious hours wore on, and tears and |
prayers falling together. Night came
again, but it did not bring her husband
nor relief. Buried in the folds of blan-
kets and buffaloes, she could hear the
wailing of the wild winds as they swept
over the lone prairie all through the
dismal hours. Exhausted, weary and
she at last fell asleep, in
which condition she was found about
10 o'clock on the morning of Thursday,
the 9th inst, by party who were in
search of the missing ones.
She was, after considerable exertion,
aroused and finding that her exhaustion
was caused by fatigue and hunger, and
that she was not frost-5itten, the neigh
bors carried her to the residence of her
uncle, only a half mile distant. Here
she was provided with everything need
ed for her comfort, but when upon the
next day the body of her husband was
brought home frozen stiff and stark.
her grief gave way to the wild rawlings
'f insanity. Before this she had told
her uncle all that had happened up to
'he time of her falling asleep. As soon
Is possible physicians were sent for, bu t /
It last accounts Mrs. Townsend was
ailing rapidly, with no signs of ra-
'aal in J.Jv1m,1..