DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.70267#0240
210
AN ACCOUNT OF A BURNING WELL,
fered. Hesketh’s house standing at some distance from any
other; and on the evening which produced the horrid ca-
tastrophe, although a great noise was heard in the house by
several persons passing, no one thought proper to go in.—
The next morning early, a stream of blood was observed
running under the door; an alarm was given, and a passage
forced into the kitchen, where Hesketh was extended near
the fire-place, with a pair of tongs in his hand much bent;
and by the side of him his child, about three years old,
wrapped in the shades of death, over which his arms were
thrown, either for defence, or from a last effort of affection.
The woman was lying at a small distance from them, not
quite dead, still grasping a fire-poker; but did not survive
above a few minutes.—Thus, drawing an impenetrable veil over
particulars of the transaction : little doubt however remains,
that the man and woman had fought with the poker and
tongs, till loss of blood exhausted their strength; that during
the affray the child had continued for some time to scream,
and was at length .silenced by violence, as the poor innocent’s
tongue was nearly torn out, and its body much bruised.
Ma^ 1803.
An Account of a Burning Well, at Broseley in Shrop-
shire; being Part of a Letter from the Rev. Mr. Mason,
Woodwardian Professor at Cambridge, and F.R.S.; dated
June 18, 1740.
At Broseley, in 1711, was a well found, which burned
with great violence, but it has been lost many years.—-The
poor man in whose land it was, missing the profit he used
to have by shewing it, applied his utmost endeavours to re-
cover it; but all in vain, till May last, when attending to
a rumbling noise under the ground, like what the former
well made, though in a lower situation, and about thirty
yards nearer to the river, he happened to hit upon it again.
1 That
AN ACCOUNT OF A BURNING WELL,
fered. Hesketh’s house standing at some distance from any
other; and on the evening which produced the horrid ca-
tastrophe, although a great noise was heard in the house by
several persons passing, no one thought proper to go in.—
The next morning early, a stream of blood was observed
running under the door; an alarm was given, and a passage
forced into the kitchen, where Hesketh was extended near
the fire-place, with a pair of tongs in his hand much bent;
and by the side of him his child, about three years old,
wrapped in the shades of death, over which his arms were
thrown, either for defence, or from a last effort of affection.
The woman was lying at a small distance from them, not
quite dead, still grasping a fire-poker; but did not survive
above a few minutes.—Thus, drawing an impenetrable veil over
particulars of the transaction : little doubt however remains,
that the man and woman had fought with the poker and
tongs, till loss of blood exhausted their strength; that during
the affray the child had continued for some time to scream,
and was at length .silenced by violence, as the poor innocent’s
tongue was nearly torn out, and its body much bruised.
Ma^ 1803.
An Account of a Burning Well, at Broseley in Shrop-
shire; being Part of a Letter from the Rev. Mr. Mason,
Woodwardian Professor at Cambridge, and F.R.S.; dated
June 18, 1740.
At Broseley, in 1711, was a well found, which burned
with great violence, but it has been lost many years.—-The
poor man in whose land it was, missing the profit he used
to have by shewing it, applied his utmost endeavours to re-
cover it; but all in vain, till May last, when attending to
a rumbling noise under the ground, like what the former
well made, though in a lower situation, and about thirty
yards nearer to the river, he happened to hit upon it again.
1 That