The morning news., 1889-04-23
THE SECRET Is THE RIVERS.
The Body OF Mark W. Parker Floats K
the Surface.

the Surface.
When Watchman Bernes OF the Tyler
cotton press made his rounds yesterday
morning about daylight he discovered a
dead body lodged against a cable stretched
out into the river. He recovered it and
found on the person gold watch and chain
and diamond ring. A note was found IN
the mans pocket addressed to Mark w.
Parker from Paymaster Roberts of the
Central railroad.
The body was that Of a man about six
feet in hight and of robust frame. The
face was cleanly shaved and had black
mustache The body was clad in neat
black suit. From all appearances it had
been sometime in the water. 1t was con-
siderably swollen and decomposition was
about to set in when the discovery was
made Considerable excitement prevailed
and the river front was rife with reports
tuat some wealty citizen had been drowned.
As early as practicable Coroner Dixon
was notified, and an investigation was made.
Paymaster Roberts was communicated with
and other employees Of the Central railroad
were sent for, and the dead body was recOg-
nized by them as that Of Mark Parker,
freight train brakeman. Parker had been
boarding with Conductor Frank Bevill of
the Central railroud, on Stone street, near
Montgomery street. and has not been sean
went to Thunderbolt with some friend
Wednesday afternoon, but on returning to
the city at night did not go home. He left
the party at o'clock, and that was the last
seen of him.
The body bore no marks of violence, and
it did not seem probable that if the deceased
was foully dealt with his watch and ring
would have been left on his person. Being
unable to get any traces that threw light
on the affair, Coroner Dixon impaneled
jury and a verdict Of drowning WAS re-
turned.
Coroner Dixon communicated the death
of the brakeman to his mother at Wadley,
who ordered the remains sent there last
night for burial. Parker was a popular
employe of the Central railroad, having
been conductor on the "Shoofy" train for
a number of years. He was a conductor
on the Port Royal and Western Carolina
railroad few years ago, but
resigned because of some misunderstanding
between him and the yard master. He was
running as conductor on freight train on
the Savannah and Western railroad from
Columbus over in Alabama, but was dis
charged two or three months ago on ac-
count of collision. He came back to Sa-
vannah, and secured employment under
Yard Master Borders, and has been run
ming out on Conductor Wheeler's train
ever since. He is said to have
been a hard working man, and had
accumulated some money. He came in on
Conductor Wheeler's train Tuesday morn
ing, and went to his boarding place. The
BeviA family noticed that he was unusually
quiet, but attributed it to his fatigue from
the long trip
In the afternoon W. l.. Roundtree, an
other brakeman on the train, and a young
German named Henry called for Par
ker, and they went to Thunderbolt
together. The day was spent there,
and they did not return until night
Roundtree said that Parker left him and
Henry on the street car near the Savannah,
Florida and Western railway depot and
came up Liberty street. Roundtree said
that he had to go up on Bay street to
deliver a letter and Parker did not want to
go with him and he left, Roundtree thought
to go home. This was the last time the
deceased is known to have been seen.
Before going to Thunderbolt it is under
stood that Parker exhibited large roll of
money to Watchman Smith in the Central
railroad yard. Conductor Morgan, it is
said, saw the money also and Parker was
asked why he carried 50 much money in
his pocket. He remarked that he carried
it all the time.
The roll contained, it is thought, not less
than 1900. None of the money was found
on his person when his body was discov-
cred.
Some time ago Parker was involved in
fracas with a negro in the Central railroad
yard, and the negro knocked him in the
head with a crowbar. Parker afterward
''got even" with the negro in the same way,
and bad feeling has been existing between
himself and the negro ever since. While no
marks of violence were noticeable on his
person, some think that owing to the condi-
tion of the body when found, bruises could
not have been discovered. None of the
Central railroad people believe the deceased
suicided. His trunks are at his boarding
place and they have not been opened since
his death. Possibly when they are opened
something may be found which will throw
light on the drowning