The Van Buren press., 1899-09-09
a TERRIBLE CALAMITY.
4 Merry Picnic Party Is Turned
Into a Funeral Cortege, and
TWO Homes are Cast Into
Deep Mourning.

TWO Homes dFS CaoS iiiN0
Deep Mourning.
Thursday morning a merry picnic
party left Van Buren to spend the day
in the shade Of the forest along Lees
Creek. The party was composed Of the
families Of Dr. Parehman, Sheriff
Branson. R. ]. Miller and Col. Yoes'
together. with few invited friends.
They found an inviting spot a short dis
lance above Peeveyhouse ford where
they made camp and spend the forenoon
pleasantly.
After dinner Misses Ida Parchman'
Emma and Ora Branson, Jessie Miller
and several younger girls strOlled down
the creek and nothing was heard Of them
until two small boys Of the party
Masters Quaile Bourland and jim
Miller-rode at full speed into camp with
the terrible announcement that two OF
the young ladies, Misses Ida Parchman
and Emma Branson. had been drowned
while wading in the creek about a mile
below camp.
1t took the anxious parents and their
friends but a short time 70 get 70 the
scene of the accident, where immediate
efforts were made to recover the bodies,
though it was difficult for the searehers
to find them, as the young folks who
had seen tn e two girls drown had them
selves been in snch great danger that
they were too much frightened TO state
the spot where they went down. They
were finally located by Frank Carrick
and Clyde O'Bryan after hard work
brought them to the bank. Efforts 70
resucitate them were at once made by
Drs. Shelton and Parchman, who were
with the party, but to no avail, as the
bodies had been in the water for over
an hour and all symptoms Of life were
extinct.
! The remains were conveyed to Van
Buren and those of Miss Branson taken
to Natural Dam yesterday TO be inferred
In the family lot those Of Miss Parch-
man were embalmed to await the con-
ing home of her sister. who has been
visiting relatives in Mississippi, and will
be inferred today.
Those of the young folks who were at
the scene of the accident were too much
frightened to give a very coherent ae-
count, but from their talk il was learned
that after the young ladies had arrived
about a half mile above the power house
they changed their garments to go in
wading As it was, they not being
acquainted with the creek. choose one
of the deepest holes in it. For short
distance a shelving rock affords an ideal
place for wading, bnt where it enls
there is very deep water The girls had
waded out, Miss Parchman leading and
when she stepped of their hands being
clasped, she drew Misses Emma aud
Ora Branson and Jessie Miller aud a
smaller sister of Miss Branson after her
0Hh T. q u NtiANfaA " 10 lth'tsANA - =
Jim Miller and Quaile Bourland, who
were short distance up the creek, jim
while small, is a good swimmer, and
went right in to save the girls and sue
ceeded in saving his sister and Miss Ora
Branson and her smaller sister, but was
unable to aid the other two SO he
mounted his pony to carry the terrible
sews to their families
The terrible affair has cast gloom
over our community and on every side
are heard words Of sympathy for the
bereaved parents and relatives; but
human words are inadequate to heal the
wounds, and He alone, who 'doeth all
things well, can heal the bleeding
hearts that have been caused by this un
timely bereavement.