Iowa
Old Press
Maquoketa Sentinel
Maquoketa, Jackson County, Iowa
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 air hole 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.
RAVAGES OF WOLVES IN IOWA-TWO PERSONS DEVOURED
Keokuk Daily Post, 11th -Owing to the extreme cold
weather for some time past, the wolves in Pottawattamie County
have become dangerous neighbors. Poultry-yards and sheep folds
have been robbed to a frightful extent, and in several instances
the hungry beasts have not been inclined to spare the human
species.
About three weeks ago, a man was returning from a prayer meeting,
accompanied by his two daughters, one sixteen and the other
twenty-three years of age.They were all riding the same horse,
when suddenly a pack of timber wolves assailed them, and being
unable to escape by flight, they attempted to defend themselves.
But the ferocious beasts attacked the horse rendering him
unmanageable. The oldest daughter was partly thrown and partly
dragged to the ground and instantly devoured. This enabled the
father and other daughter to escape. Several neighbors were soon
mustered, but upon repairing to the spot nothing was found but
one shoe, and a very few remnants of the unfortunate girl’s
clothing. A boy of about thirteen years old left his father’s
house to get water at a spring, which was about half a mile
distant, since which time nothing has been seen of him. The pail
was found near the spring; also some marks of blood and a lock or
two of hair. Several persons have been chased by these savage
monsters.
[transcribed by K.W., May 2009]