Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-08-28


heretofore reported by telegraph;
A party, consisting of MIR, Ethelbert
Parsons and Miss Lottie G. Philpott,
Mr.. William A. Philpott, jr., and wife,
Miss Hattie Fields, of Buffalo, and MIR.
Charles II. Philpott, started tor the
Cave of the Winds about 5 o'clock.
They chose this time because at no
hour of the day can the rainbow be
seen in such perfection. Arrived at
the cave, they were advised by Mr..
Wright, the lessee Of the cave, to take
guide bat as they were all thoroughly
familiar with the place, and had made
repeated trips through the cave in for
mer years, they declined the profered
assistance, and started down the Bid
die stairway. They followed the usual
pathway until they reached the extreme
eastern end of the railing, when they
clambered out upon the rocks immedl-
ately in front of the cave. VIM Phil
pott and his wife seated themselves on
the rocks, while the other four ventured
out still further, and descended TO
stream which flows down over the rocks
III front and little to the right OF the
cave. Here they remained for some
time. amusing themselves in the water
which brawls over the rocks and rushes
through the crevices with great force.
Finally Miss Lottie went still further
down the river and entered an eddy,
which, however, was partially protected
by encircling boutders. Here she play,
ed in the water, which at this place al
lords an excellnt current bath. and was
soon rejoined by her three other trlends'
Mr.. Parsons entered the water with her,
and while he was getting foothold,
that he might guard against any possi,,
BILE accident, she slipped, He had hold
of her hand, and as she fell he caught
her, and together they were swept into
the current, which bore them down a
bout thirty feet toward the river. Those
on the rocks report that Miss Lottle
was next seen standing up in the water
and leaning against large rock. They
were now in powerful current, and
both seemed to be making endeavors
TO save one another Her position was
the more precarious since the slightest
movement either way would expose her
to the full fury of the water and once
fairly in the full power of the current
all hope of escape would be ended. Mr..
Parsons, from his position, could have
easily saved himself, but thinking that
he could rescue her, he seizcd her ana
tried to reach the rock above them.
Though he battled with the raging cur
rent with that strength which despair
alone can give. they were both swept
from their vantage ground on the rock
and whirled into the maddening Hood
below. Twice they were seen to dis
appear below the surface. By this time
1hey had been carried well out into the
river, and TO their agonized friends Oh
shore they appeared TO be standing on
rocks. about eight rods or so from the
edge of the river. To one acquainted
with the great depth of the river, and
the tremendous force of the under cur
rent, it seemed that they had at last
found place of safety, and might yet De
rescued. But the treacherous current
was rapidly bearing them down the nv
erto the death which was now inevitable.
Parsons made heroic endeavors to reach
the shore with her for whom he had
1isked his life. He was strong SWIM
mer. and was seen floating on his back,
supporting her, and struggling against
the current. All his efforts were OF no
avail the fatal current separated them,
and Miss Lottie, deprived OF the strong
protecting arm that had before uPheid
her, disappeared with hands raised des-
pairinely above her head. Mr. Parsons
must have seen her go under the water
but he still made brave efforts to pre-
serve his own life. From the shore he
was seen struggling i'll an almless way
to keep his head above the water, "A
thick cloud of spray interviewed Tor
moment between the drowning man
and the friends who were powerless 10
lend him aid, and when it disappeared
Parsons was gone, and the cruel river
swept on as though this tragedy had
not been. The spot where they were
last seen is about one third the distance
from the cave to the American Falls;
Miss Philpott was twenty-five years OF
age. and the only daughter OF VIM;
Philpott, an old and highly respected
resident of the Falls. Ethelbert Par
sors, who lost his own life in the heroic
attempt to save that of his companion,
was twenty-nine years Of age, and the
son of Horatio A. Parsons, OF La Sale.
THE GIRLS VINO WN.-The time
has passed when women must be pale
and delicate to be interesting-when she
must be totally ignorant of all practical
knowledge TO be called refined and
highbred-when she must know moth
ing of the current political news OF the
day, or be called masculine or strong
minded. 1t is not a sign of high birth
or refinement to be sickly and ignorant
Those girls who affect anything OF the
kind are behind the times, and must
shake up and air themselves mentally
and physically, or drop under the firm
strides of common sense ideas, and be
crushed into utter msignifcance. In
these days an active rosy-faced girl with
brain quick and clear, warm, light heart,
a temper quickly heated at intended in.
suits or injury, and just as quick to for
o;ve whose feet can run as fast as her