The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-08-10
FEET IN THE GRAVE
REMARKABLE STORY OF THE LIFE
OF PARKEs, OF ST. LOUIS.

Married wife She Was KiIied-Now |
All His Relatives Are Dead.
Just as day was dawning William r. |
Parkes, who Is nearly seventy years BID, or
that portion of him which still lives, was
found by Henry Murphy, grave digger,
lying unconscious upon Parkes' own grave
In remote part of Calvary cemetery.
With the help of physician he was re-
vived after an hours hard work.
The story of Mr.. Parkes' life and his
queer mania is indeed remarkable and in
teresting one. Half of him is dead and
buried, but in the rosewood coffin which he
purchased himself there is still room
enough for the rest of him when life passes
away.
Mr.. Parkes was born in suburb Of De-
troit little less than seventy years ago
His father was well TO do.
When but twenty years old he married
Bessie Woodruff, whom he had known
since infancy. This was but the com.
mencement of bis matrimonial career.
Mr.. Parkes lost his first wife year after
he married her, and shortly after her death
he met with his first accident While rid
ing half broken colt one day the horse
suddenly SHE'D and threw him to the
ground, breaking his left leg, The surgeon
who was called to attend him set the leg
wrong, and 1t was necessary to break 1t
again, The operation was not success,
and blood poisoning set in.
After lengthy consultation the physi.
clans decided to cut the leg entirely Off.
The doctors wanted to take the pieces OF
the leg to dissect, but young Parkes insist
ed that they should be buried. After much
arguing his wish was gratiied his leg be.
ing buried in a neighboring cemetery.
When Parkes finally recovered he mar
ried his dead wife's sister, who had nursed
him during his long illness. Mr.. Parkes
decided to go to Saratoga Springs for his
health and take his young bride with him.
lie was never to reach the place.
When half way to his destination the
sleeping car that carried him and his wife
jumped the track, and disastrous wreck
occurred. Mr.. Parkes' remaining leg was
crushed and mingled, and he was taken
from the wreck unconscious. Casped
tightly In his arms was his young bride,
but she was dead.
Young Parkes' father was hastily mott
fed, and he insisted that his son should be
brought home.
For many long hours the best surgeons
that could be procured labored to save his
remaining leg. At the end they were com
| PEELED to amputate the leg close to the
| body. The grave was opened and the leg
buried with the other. leaving Mr., Parkes
n man without legs. .5
He was now almost entirely helpless, and
for year he remained in his fathers
house, almost without n hope and longing
for death. Summer came and unique
wheel chair was made for Mr.. Parkes, and
| he propelled himself for short distances
| about the neighborhoed.
Among the boarders at an adjoining
farm was Miss Bessie White. She was
consumptive and had but one arm, that
member having been crushed by fall.
Her father was wealthy and she had con-
siderable money In her own right. Young
Parkes met her. They both were unfortu.
nate and their feelings were akin. Three
weeks afterward they were married by the
village parson.
Parkes' life seemed to brighten, and for
two years-the brightest of his life-he
lived with his wife in Detroit. Then her
fatal disease asserted itself, and after lin
gering illness of three months she died.
She left him $4,000 and a little baby girl
Parkes went back to his fathers house
sad and entirely detected. lie hired n
nurse for his baby and determined to de.
vote the remainder Of his life to her well
fare
| The nurse, widow named Mrs. Maria
| LAWYER, was still Young and handsome
Parkes fell in love with her and soon asked
| her to become his wife. She refused, but
for six months he fought his suit with such
persistence that he conquered, and they
were married by Catholic priest, Mrs.
Lawler having been brought up in that de.
nomination.
Mr.. Parkes bought neat little cottage
l. d. NtN1 ,sa..1 i
stalled his wife and child. A few months
afterward his father became very Ill, and
young Parkes remained constantly beside
his bed.
One night when he was watching his dy
ing father, u servant whom he had hired
came home to his cottage intoxicated, up
set u kerosene lamp in his room and set the
house aiire Mrs. Parkes and the baby
were sleeping soundly, and before assist.
anee arrived they were both smothered 10
death. Just as the sad news was brought
to Mr.. Parkes, who sat at his fathers bed
side, his aged parent raised himself, uttered
few incoherent words, and fell back
dead
Parkcs' father and his wife and child
We're buried on the same day. It was a sad
day for Parkes.
After the graves had been covered and
thS ia9t batu hOAAS SPOKEN IdfkGS wa
placed in II carriage to be taken to Il now
utterly cherries home As the carriag,
was crossing some railroad tracks an en-
gine came sereeehing along, the horses be
came mad with fright, and despite the eff
forts Of the driver they dashed down tn,
road at headlong speed. Parkes was with
in utterly helpless. Suddenly the carriage
coilided with tree, smashing the vehicle
instantly killing the driver and throwing
Parkes out, breaking his left arm in two
places and crushing it.
He was carried home unconscious. anC
when he was himself again the doctors haC
amputated the arm close to the shoulder
II was buried with the other portions Of
Mr.. parkes
For many years he remained in hi.
mothers house, passing the time the best
he could. His mother died, aud shortly
afterward he sold the farm and came t.
st. Louis. He bought the little cottage h,
now owns and determined to pass the re
mainder Of his life there.
When he was settled he purchased /
. 4, L..