Denton and Haughton Examiner, etc. — 1885-05-30 (Denton, Greater Manchester, England)

TRACI/MT.—A despatch from Penuaylvania, of May 13th, says : 'The full details of the suicide of hire. Hiram ['rants and her determined effort to drown her five children, chow one of the most heroieefforts to save life on the part of her ten-year-old son Harry on record in this section of the State. The mother, who was the wife of a rich farmer and an educated woman, had become melancholy and demented through religious matters. On Monday she wanted her seven children to go with her to a mill dam a mile and a half away to gather flowers. The oldest did not go, their father being away from home. Mrs. Pfautz and her two sons, two daughters, and • babe went to the dam The boy Harry led the way. They not a while near the deep water, when Mrs Mutts asked Harry to pick up a stick near the dam, He stooped to do so, when the mother swiftly and noiselesely rushed up behind him and pushed him in. She then rapidly seized the other three children and tossed them in one by one, and then jumped in herself, babe in arms Harry, an expert ewiminer, quickly got out, and hauled hie brother, aged seven, who had clung to a board, ashore. Harry then jumped in and safely brought his sister, aged nine, ashore. Nothing daunted, he once more plunged in and grasped his mother, who still held the babe. The mother exclaimed she wanted to die, but the boy bravely held on, and begged her not to resist. By almost superhuman effort he succeeded in getting the mother and bile safely out of the eight feet of water to the shore Meanwhile the other children stood speechless on the bank. The next moment Harry dived in for his three.year-ohl sister, who had nook the third time. Harry found the body at the first dive, and brought it no and on to the bank, closely pressing the little one to his breast. He at once commenced rolling the body of the girl , but finally burst into tears when lie realised that his little sister was dead. His mother, 1 ithe stood shivering on the bank with the wet children, implort d Harry to run back to the farm to get a waggon to bring them home. Sus pecting his mother, he implored her not to do anything rash. She promised not to, but the boy concluded to take the three children back with him, leaving the mother and babe alive with the dead child. The three children went home in their set clothes, and there told tie horrified fatter what occurred. He quickly drove to the scene, but there found no one. The moment that Harry and the children had gone the mother seized the dead child and her babe and again leaped into the water and sank to rise no more. The water was drawn from the dam and the bodies recovered. The three , children, who so narrowly escaped death, are I confined to their beds. They were considerably bruised by striking rocks on the bottom of the dam. The wife was formerly a school teacher, but during the past few years became melancholy and finally deranged. GRAND UNITED ORDER OF FREE GARDENERS —The annual movable couferenoe of this Friendly Society was opened on Monday, at Oastieton, near Middleton. The Grand Master, Mr. James Greenhalgb, of Rauasbottom, presided. There were deputies in attendance from the All Saints' Barnsley, Cleveland, Droyleden, Hayfield, Holcombe, Hyde and Newton, Middle. ton Newton Heath and Failsworth, Stockport, and Wilmslow, districts, representing upwards of 5,000 members and more than £20,000 of funds. Mr. William Schofield, of Droylsden, was appointed deputy grand master; Mr. George Cooke, of Stockport, senior warden; and Mr. Walter Ward, of the Wilmslow district, juuior warden. The grand officers reported the efforts made to extend the Order by amalgainatiene with other bodies of Gardeners. lii his opening address the Grand Master congratulated the Order upon its improved position and prospects. Ho entered upon an aualysie of the accounts, and showed that substantial progress had been made during the year. The question of travelling reliefs was introduced by the Barnsley deputies, and after a lengthy discussion an arrangement was arrived at under which relief in thin form may be granted. Several proposed alterations of the general laws were considered. It was decided to held the annual meeting of 1886 in thE Hyde district ; and Mr. Alexander Clayton, of the same district, was elected grand master for the ensuing year. Messrs. A Chappell (Barnsley) and F. Connell (Stockport) were reappointed respectively treasurer sad secretary.