South Branch Intelligencer

Mr. Parsons' Bad Luck.

A Gunnison, Colorado, paper of recent date, gives the following account of a misfortune which befell Mr. J. Don Parsons, formerly of Romney:

Last night, just about dark, Mr. Miller was driving J. Parsons' coal team with a load of coal in the rear of the Gavitt & Scott block. He was aiming for a coal house in that vicinity, when suddenly and without warning the ground began to give way beneath the horses' feet, and in a moment later, heads first, the team disappeared beneath the surface, and the wagon followed part of the way, but caught on the brink of the strange opening and hung over the edge at an angle of forty-five degrees. There was a splash of water, a lunge, a groan from the engulfed horses and the team had disappeared from sight and from this world. The driver scrambled from his seat as it lowered, and narrowly escaped going down to his death with his trusty horses. Such was the scene presented to the bystanders, and great was the consternation caused. The whole affair was soon accounted for. The Chinese laundrymen had, a few years ago, dug a sink hole twelve feet deep, in which they ran their dirty water and slops. Over this they had placed scantlings and boards, and above all a foot of dirt. The weeds and grass had grown over this, and there was little evidence of any disturbance ever having taken place.

The team was hauling coal for the Chinamen when driven upon this trap, and the horses broke through and fell head first to the bottom of the filthy water. They were instantly killed. Scarcely a struggle followed. Mr. Parsons had but recently purchased the team, and it was very valuable. It is supposed that an effort will be made to have the Chinese pay part of the damage at least.