Martinsburgh Gazette

Shocking Occurrence.—William Hood, residing at the head of Severn, aged about 45 years, and having a family of 10 children and a wife pregnant, on Friday last at 11 o'clock, took three of his children from his house, and made them assist him in erecting a three square pen of fodder, rails, &c. large enough for himself to sit in—which when he had completed, he sent his son Joshua, aged about 11 years, to the house for a chunk of fire—the child at first resolutely refused, but on being threatened with death if he did not obey, he finally brought fire—the father then set himself down in the pen and obliged his son to set fire to the fodder—he then folded his arms and began with great glee "Drink about boys & drown all sorrow," he continued to sing until the flames extended five or six feet above his head, when one of his neighbors discovered his situation and hastened to extricate him—on seizing him by the arm for that purpose, he found him so much burnt that the skin left the flesh—he however dragged him out of the flames—the infuriated maniac in a rage seized a club and swore by his maker he would kill him for interfering. Mr. Belt was compelled to retreat for his life, and Hood returned into the fire, and continued there until the family, alarmed by Mr. Belt, reached the place and dragged him from the flames, too far burnt to make further resistance, his nose and one of his ears were burnt off, the wind-pipe exposed and in other respects he was dreadfully mutilated. He was taken to the house and medical aid immediately sent for—at night he recovered his speech sufficiently to tell his wife that "his master" had come to him the day before, but he was not ready for him—that he would be for him that night but he was not yet prepared, but that next day at 11 o'clock when he came again, he should be ready and would go.—He said his object was to have burnt up his soul and body, so as to deprive the devil of his expectation. To the last he continued imprecating in the bitterest terms those who had prevented his purpose. He lingered in a dreadful manner until Saturday at 11 o'clock, and then expired. He is represented to have been a man of singular manners and intemperate habits.—What a lesson! Maryland Repub.