Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1906-03-23
MRS DUSTAN'S BODY FOUND
NEAR THE SHORE AT THE LOWER
END OF ROOTS ISLAND.

Morning by James 8. Austin-Dead
woman's Hair Was Frozen TO Cake
of leo Which Kept II from Drifting.
The body of Mrs. William l.. Dustan
of North Craftsbury, who drowned her
self in the Connecticut river last Mon
day. was found Sunday morning near
the shore at the lower end OF Root =
island by James 5. Austin, an employe
of the Brattleboro Cabinet company.
Actuated by the reward of $50 which
was offered for the recovery OF the
body, Mr.. Austin started out early Sun.
day morning TO search the banks OF
the river. Shortly after $ o'clock he
made his grewsomc discovery on the
east shore Of the island near the south
ern extremity. The body lay within a
few feet of the shore in about eight
inches OF water, just at the head Of the
ranids that separate Roots island
from the smaller island opposite the
Central Vermont round house. The hair
of the dead woman was frozen tightly
10 a cake of ice, which had evidently
drifted down the river and lodged on
n large stone. The water at this point
il comparatively swift and IL was ap'
parent from the way in which the body
was held that il became frozen to the
ice at point farther up the river.
Mr.. Austin did not attempt to take
the body from the water, but went at
once 10 the home of Sheriff +. W. Me-
Clure on Williston street and notifed
that officer. Mr.. Mcclure notified I'm.
dertaker Moran and then accompanied
Mr.. Austin TO the spot where the body
lay. II was then taken ashore, and as
soon as possible conveyed to Moran =
undertaking rooms. II is the opinion
of those who participated in the search
last week that the body lay for time
in the deep water just above the Bos'
ton 4 Maine engine house in the rear
of Walnut street, and the condition of
the hair and clothing would seem to
substantiate this theory. When drag
ging the river at this point last week
Monday. Night Watchman Warren
caught something with his graphing
iron but failed to bring it to the sur
face. In all probability the body was
set adrift by one of the charges OF
dynamite, and, at point further
down the river, came TO the surface
and caught on the ice-cake to which 1t
was attached when found. Had Mr..
Austin waited until Sunday afternoon
before making his trip along the shore
of Root S island he would in all proba-
bility have found nothing. for the ice
cake which held the body became dis
lodged and foated down stream before
noon.
William l.. Dustan, husband OF the
dead woman, and her brother, Martin
McCue. were notified of the discovery
Monday morning, and came from North
Craftsbury TO Brattleboro on the early
train Tuesday. They were very CRATE
full to Mr. Austin for what he had done
and paid him the reward at once, ana
also extended their sincere thanks to
the local officers and all Others VINO
participated in the search. The body
was taken to North Craftsbury on the
IL o'clock train Tuesday and funeral
services were held in that town yes
terday afternoon.
A neighbor of the unfortunate wo-
man at North Craftsbury sent the fol-
lowing to the Morrisvile Messenger
last week:
Mrs. William Dustan (before mar
riage Tressa McCue), respected mem
Der of this community, having success
fully finished term in our district
school, left home three weeks ago to
visit friends, her husband meantime
keeping bachelors hall and looking
forward to her return. She was the
daughter of poor Irish parents and had
risen step by step to be one of the
best teachers in our primary schools.
Never having known the comforts and
delights of real home, she had look
ed forward last year to her marriage,
when with the man of her choice she
could realize what the word home
meant. with much before her for which
to live and kind and indulgent hus-
band. The little community here was
greatly shocked on hearing OF the ca
tastrophe of last Monday morning.
The only explanation of this distress
ing act of throwing herself into the
Connecticut at Brattleboro, where she
was visiting a cousin, is sudden at
tack Of insanity. She had called In
doctor to consult him about a severe
headache from which she had suffered
for week. The doctor prescribed en-
tire rest as he found her greatly de-
pressed. a..
1t is thought by her friends that
the headache was the forerunner of the
attack of insanity which drove her
to the river and so from life at the
age of 2S. The afflicted young hus-
band has the sympathy of the entire
community.