Serious Accident.

WRIGHT, PARSELLS

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 9/6/2007 at 15:27:43

Maquoketa Weekly Sentinel, January 31, 1856:
Serious Accident and Narrow Escape.
One day last week as Mr. Thomas Wright, proprietor of the Lowell Woolen Factory, was driving a span of horses belonging to our fellow townsman, Mr. E. W. Parsells, he accidentally drove them into an airhole on the Maquoketa River, where they sunk and were drowned. Mr. Wright, in his efforts to keep them up until assistance would offer itself, also broke through and narrowly escaped with his life. The horses had only been purchased by Mr. Parsells a few days previous to the accident and were worth in the neighborhood of $300.00. We would advise all to be careful in driving on the ice without a close inspection. Many accidents occur which could easily be avoided by a look ahead.