Dreadful Incident

DREADFUL INCIDENT.-A very painful circumstance is said to have occurred at Glasgow. On Saturday afternoon three boys - two sons of Mr. James Wilson, a builder, in Gallowgate Street, and a nephew - were missed. The family being at Helensburgh, the boys were supposed to have gone off to see them; but, not being found there, search was made without effect. On Tuesday morning a carter, who takes charge of a horse belonging to Mr. Wilson, went to the stable, attached to the wood-yard, to get some food for his horse. The provender was kept in a corn chest - a box six feet long and about three deep, with three separate compartments, and secured on the outside with an iron hasp, which fits into a staple in the side of the chest. On opening the lid, the man was horror-stricken at finding the three young boys lying motionless at the bottom of the chest, each occupying one of the compartments. He immediately summoned assistance, and they were taken out; but it was found two of them were quite dead, and had been so apparently for a considerable length of time. The youngest, a boy between seven and eight years old, son of Mr. J. Wilson, showed some signs of life, and gradually revived, so as to be able, during the day, to state in a coherent manner what had led to the melancholy catastrophe. The brothers and cousin had gone into the chest in search of beans, and while so engaged the lid closed on them. In falling, the hasp fixed into the staple, and all the united strength of the poor captives was insufficient to enable them to burst the bands. On the side at which the youngest boy was found, the lid did not fit so close as the other parts; and from the limited supply of air which had been admitted through this crevice is to be attributed his preservation.

They had endeavoured to support each other's courage as well as they could in their dismal dungeon; and, before giving up hope, one of them broke the blade of a pen knife in the attempt to make an incision through the side of the chest. After they had exhausted themselves by unavailing shouts and cries, which were not heard on earth, they all joined in prayer. This is the last circumstance which the surviving sufferer recollects, as he soon after became insensible. The wood-yard in which the stable is situate is locked up early on the Saturday afternoon, and is not again entered till Monday morning.