The Rhode Island Republican

PORTLAND, MARCH 30.

Melancholy Circumstance.

On Wednesday the 18th inst. a Mr. Tarbox and his wife, who resided on a gore of land between the towns of Standish, were frozen to death.

It appears that their family consisted of four small children, the youngest at the breast; being in very necessitous circumstances. Mr. T. started on Wednesday, during the violence of the gales and drifting snow, to procure some aid from the neighbors, above five miles distant. Having obtained a supply for their immediate wants he placed it in a bag and proceeded for home. It seems however that, when within about one mile of his house, the weight of his load compelled him to leave it upon a tree and endeavor to reach his distressed family without it--but his efforts were, in this, also frustrated--overpowered with fatigue, he stopped about 80 rods from his house and cried for help--his wife hearing the noise went to his assistance, and, as is presumed from the circumstance of finding her cloak and handkerchief upon the man, her pressing wants induced her to leave him and hasten to procure the provisions. But, alas! her strength did not equal her resolutions-she expired in the storm, and her body was found but a short distance from the provisions her partner had placed upon the tree. On the day following his eldest child went out and found her father's corpse, and returned to the house, and commenced sounding a horn, used for calling transient workman to their meals: this however brought no one to their assistance thro' that day-but the continuance of the sound the next day led a number to the spot to witness this shocking affair, and to the relief of a family who had remained three days without sustenance.