Dispatch, November 28, 1888

DEATH IN THE WOODS.

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Sad End of a Young Man on the Eastern Shore.

Thomas Heath, of Northampton County, Found Buried in an Earth House of His Own Making.

Eastville, Va., November 27.

Thomas Heath, a lad sixteen years of age, son of William Heath, deceased, formerly of Petersburg, Va., met with a horrible death on Friday last. For the past five years young Heath has been living with Edward F. Nottingham, of this place, and his mother, a few miles distant. On Friday morning last he was sent out into the woods to rake up pine shatters. He failed to return home as usual that night, but nothing was thought of it, as it was supposed that he had gone to visit his mother. Not returning on Saturday night inquiry was made for him. It was then discovered that he had not been to visit his mother and that she knew nothing of him. Early on Sunday morning a party started out to the woods whither he had been sent on Friday to see if anything could be seen or learned of him. The implements which he carted with him were found but nothing was heard of the boy. Nothing could be learned all day Monday, and as it was certain that he had no cause to run away it was decided that he must be somewhere in the woods dead. It was therefore decided to make another search. Accordingly a searching party went out this morning, and in a short while a horrible spectacle was brought to view. In a thick part of the woods his arms and feet were found protruding from underneath a heavy mass of logs and earth, with no other portion of his body to be seen. The true state of affairs was soon made plain. He had built himself a small hovel, or dirt house, shaped like the letter "V" inverted out of small poles and then covered it over with pine shatters and then with a large mass of earth. He had then evidently laid down in it to rest or was in the act of fixing some part of it when the whole structure gave way, burying him beneath it, covering him up completely with his face downward, excepting his hands and feet. Marks on the ground showed plainly that he had struggled manfully to release himself, but without success. It took five stout men to raise the mass of earth and poles from off the body. His eyes when found, were extended and his face swollen to double its usual size, showing, according to the views of the physician, that he had died from strangulation. His remains wee brought to town and will be interred to-morrow. Young Heath was a very bright boy and was much thought of in the neighborhood.