Page:Accidents and disasters on land.pdf/16

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.

16

from Whitby market. Christopher Swales, a blacksmith in Goatland, about ten miles from Whitby, on his return called upon his son at Sleights, who seeing his father determined to proceed on his journey, undertook to accompany him over the most difficult part of the road. Having travelled a few miles, the old man grew so faint, that his son was under the necessity of taking him upon his back. After encountering they greatest difficulties, the reached the end of their journey, but not before the father had suffered so severely from the cold and fatigue, that he expired almost immediately on entering the house. The son was also reduced to such a state of weakness, by the exertions he had been compelled to make, that his recovery was for some time doubtful. Another sufferer from the severity of the storm was a young woman of the name of Sellers, likewise a resident in Goatland. The most pressing entreaties of her friends at Whitby could not prevail with her to stay the night; her constant reply being that if she did not go home, her mother would conclude that something had happened to her. On the evening of the 18th, she was found sitting upon the snow on the moor, with her horse standing by her, and the bridle in her hand, nearly frozen to death; but on being taken to a farm-house, she soon recovered. She must have been exposed to the severe storm not less than 30 hours. A farmer of Liverton, called Reuben Roger, also returning from Whitby, lost his life near Scalingdam, from the