The Virginia Gazette

Extract of a letter from Stamford, Jan. 24.

"A few days since happened the following melancholy accident. Two young women, daughters of Mr. Groom and Mr. Lowe, of this town, having been out upon a visit to Cliff, were returning home both upon a horse. They had a man with them to open the gates, &c. through the forest; but while he was fastening one they rode on, in high spirits, pretty briskly, and thought they could manage the next themselves. Before the gate there was a deep ditch, with a narrow bridge over it; in backing the horse his hind feet slipped off the bridge; Miss Lowe, seeing the danger, jumped into the ditch; Miss Groom fell off backwards close by her, and the horse fell in upon them both. When the man came up he could give them no relief, though they kept their heads just above the mire; for if he had meddled with the horse they must inevitably have been trampled to pieces, and the man was not able to pull either of them from under. In this situation they lay stroking and patting the horse, to keep him from struggling, and desired the man to make all speed back for assistance he never thought of calling out for help, else in all probability both might have been saved, but went back again, a mile and a half, to Cliff. The poor creatures lay in this distress holding each others hands, and supporting one another to the last extremity, until, quite worn out, Miss Groom's head sank under water, and she into the arms of death. Miss Lowe must have perished likewise in a few minutes, but fortunately for her six or seven men came, and by means of a rope fastened round her middle dragged her from under the horse. She was just able to speak, and begged they would pull her out, if they left her limbs behind her. By this time Mr. Groom, who had heard of the accident, got there, and could see only the buckle of his daughter's shoe; when he found she was dead; he fainted away. Miss Lowe was carried back to Cliff, and was very ill a long time, but is in a fair way of recovery. The last words she remembers to have heard Miss Groom speak were that she wished she could once more see her dear father and mother. She was just nineteen years of age, and was a very deserving fine young woman."