The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1893-10-18

NOArotDf Jt-s were hioaleA II TUE Napon
river, comparatively small stream, near
Romney, West Va.
Mrs A H. Coffroth, Jr.. and her brother,
resident of Cspon Bridge, W. Va, barely
escaped from the raging torrent with their
lives
The bodies of the victims were recovered
Saturday morning and brought to their
home, from which they were buried Mon
day afternoon. The funeral was one of the
largest and certainly the saddest ever wit
messed in Somerset. The entire town was in
mourning for the two bright lives that had
met with such cruel and tragic ending
STARTLING MESSAGE
Saturday afternoon Charles n. CoAroth
received dispatch from Romney, West Va,
reading:
Have recovered bodies and will bring
them home in the morning.
fSignedl A II. CoFFEoTH, Jr.'
Mr. Cofroth was nonplussed for time
but finally concluded that his brothers fam
lily had met with some fearful accident An
hour afterwards be received a second dis
patch (which should have been the first TO
arrive but was delayed on account OF the
storm of the preceding night and the bad
condition 0fthe telegraph wires giving mea-
ger details of the tragic death Of his sister,
Miss Mae Coffroth, and their niece, Edith.
Friday morning Eiilor A. II. Coifrotb,
Jr., of the Dsaocna', left here accompanied
by his wife, three children and sister, Miss
Mae Coffroth, for the pnrpSse of paying a
visit to Mrs Cofroth's parents, who reside
at Capon Bridge. West Va. In order to
reach CApon Bridge an overland ride of
twenty miles from Romney is required.
The party arrived at Romney about five
o'clock in the afternoon, where they were
met at the railroad station by two of Mrs.
Cofroth's brothers with covered buggies,
Mrs CoifrOth, Miss Mae and little Edith
were placed in the fist vehicle with one of
the brothers, and Mr. Coffroth aud his twin
boy and girl, Ward and Louise, followed in
the second buggy with the other brother.
TIE FATAL ATTEMPT At FoRDISG.
Seven miles from Romney they came 10 a
ford in the CspOn river DIrkness had SIT
in and as rain had been falling incsssantly
throughout the day and the stream-only
few rods wide-appearei to be swollen, Mr.
Coffroth demurred at attempting to cross.
His brothers in-law laughed at his fore5od-
ings and said that there was no d'nger. They
had forded the river hundreds of times and
only that morning had crossed il on their
way to Romney. Finally Mr.. COtfroth re-
luc,an;ly consented, as the only alternative
was TO retrace their steps and spend the
night at Romney. The team hitched to the
wagon in which the lsdies were seated was
the stronger and more gentle Of the two and
t was decided tina. it should cross the river
first. Mr.. Cofrcth remained in the second
wagon holding the horses, while his broth
er in-law went down to the waters edge in
order to see if the first team crossed over in
safety. When the horses came to within
rod Of theopposite bank the current sudden
ly became very strong snd in their effort to
pull the heavy load one OF the traces snap
ped, The next moment the horses became
unmanageable and broke away from the
wagon. The wagon was rocking in the stiff
current and in order to steady il and keep il
upright Mrs. Cofiroih and her brother go;
onto the wheels. Miss Mae remained in the
wagon and was holding up blanket to pro-
tect herself from the rain. The next mo-
mGnt the wagon turned over, throwing all
of its occupants into the torrent. Mrs. Coi-
froth had her little daughter Edith in her
81 fnaF nd h.
frantic mother held her tight in her embrace
as both fioaied on the breast Of the turbG-
lent water. Gradually Mrs. Coiiroth 5
strength began to leave her and finally she
sank beneath the cold waves The child On
her bosom dug its tiny feet into her sides bet
when mother and child reappeared upon the
surface it uttered not a sound-it was dead
but lis mother did not knoW.-Again moth
er and child sunk beneath the waves but
when the mother came to the top this time
her child was not in her arms; she had
been swept from her embrace by the swift
current. The unhappy mother abandoned
hope snG Httering last prayer was waiting
to be carried under the water for the third
time by the Tesistisss current when sudden
ly she felt an obstruction at her head.
Throwing out her hands she caught hold Of
what proved TO be the raat OF a stump and
held FAST to it with all of her remaining
strength. She was faint and weak but in
few seconds she recovered sufficient strength
to call for help. To her surprise her call was
answered and her brother-Who bad been
thrown into the water with her-foated
down by her side and gsaspsd bold of The
same stuHp. The brother was delirious
wi grief and excitement and called repeat!
edly for his sister. lie became calmer pres
emily and recognized that be and his sister
were side by side in the water with death
staring both Of them in the face. In a re-
markably short time after this a farmer ap-
peared upon the bank OF the river. He had
been attracted by the cries for help, and dis
covering Mrs. COfirOth and her brother soon
secured assistance and went TO their relief.
The stump 20 which Mrs. C1froth and her
brother were holding was only few yards
from the shore. bat a swift current was
sweeping between it and the land. and il
wss necessary to extend a long pole 10 the
PeTishing lady and gentleman in order to
rescue them. Mrs COfscoth was first drag
ged ashore and as soon as she reached it she
became unconscious. Her brother was tax
en- out ofthe water as soon as possible there
after and Mrs. CofTfoth was carried to a farm
house near by.
AZ AWFUL SIGHT.
The emotions OF Mrs. Ccfroth's second