The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1892-12-29

Canon CRY. Colo. Dec 21-Fred
Parker the an-euter. the man who
killed and deyoured his companions,
and who took delight in telling the
horrible story. has applied for re
lease from the penitentiary. His ap
plication is in the court in this county.
The man who escaped being torn limb
from limb by the Infatuated people Of
Hinsdale ouly by being struggled over
the mountains by circuitous route,
seeks the open air. Parker, is without
doubt, the tiendish and ghoulish man
who ever escaped the hangman's
moose. Parker the man eater Is the
title under which he is familiarly
known throughout the west His re
cord is a gTuesOme one. In his time
it IS known that he has killed and eat
en- five men. He rubs his hands when
be tells the story and with a sugges-
tive glance informs one that human
flesh has a better flavor, a sweeter
taste than any other meat It's tender
lie says, q trife fabby, but it has that
taste mat makes a man crave more,
and prompts him to commit murder
to get it,
In January, 1874, Al. Parker in com
pany with five others left Dry Greek,
San Juan county. for the Los Pinos
agency, and in March of the SAME year
he appeared at his destination, wild
eyed, haggard and alone. He told
conflicting stories about his compan-
ions finally stating that they had died
on the trip. Parker left Bingham, Utah
in the fall OF 1873. Winter found his
party OF twenty-One showed up at Dry
Greek, with Chief Ouray, the famous
Uncompahgre Ute. After camping
with the Indian a few weeks he pro
posed that a few OF them push on to
the agency.
PARKER BEGAN THE CANNIBALIsM
In company with Swan, Miller, Bell.
Noon and Humphrey they bundled up
their blanket, cooking utensils and
gun and with a horse started over the
range in the coolest part of the winter
Food was scarce and soon the horse
was turned loose to die Three days
later the provisions gave out and the
party became desperate 1t was bit
terly cold and the snow fell fast The
men took turns breaking the trail,
those following having the camp uten-
sis. Starving the men chewed their
noccasins, and cut up their blankets
to serve as shoes. When the matches
gave out fire was carried in a coffee
pot by Swan, who was old and feeble.
Sometimes the men found frozen rose
buds and leaves and ate them raven
ously. Swan gave out when near the
top OF Continental divide, and then the
devilish work began. Several stories
are told but the one most generally
believed Is that each agreed to climb
the mountain and look for signs OF the
agency, leaving Swan in camp i'll
clumb OF trees. When they left, Par
ker returned and struck the old man
a blow on the head with Ratchet and
killed the others as they came in.
Bell, it seems was bent on murder.
and had about made his mind that
some one had to die to save the Others.
He returned to camp and Parker as
sauJted him. A fight took place and
Bed succumbed. All that winter Par
her, ghoulIsh-like, remained with the
dead and suhsisted on choice cuts
from their bodies.
The tale is & fearful one. He was
arrested at the agency. but escaped
and was not again captured until 1888,
in Cheyenne.
HIS SCREENING CONFUSING.
He made full confession in Den
yer and made his hearers sicl, as he
related how he stopped over the dead
bodies and stripped of the flesh. how
Il smelled as 1t cooked and how nice
1t tasted. The common beef furnished
hlu at Los Plnos agency made him
SICK. 1t was tougher than that he
had been accustomed to eat. The
story was horrible.
Ia 1886 he was sentenced on five
counts 70 eight Years each. each sen
tence TO commence when ,hc other OK
pred. lie is an ex union soldier,
y hen he was tried in Lake CITY, that
place was forty five miles from a rail
road. and men walked in on the snow
to see him hanged. 1t Is probable
that he will be released, for under the
law, all OF the five sentences sbould
commence and expire on the same dav
ard WITH has good behavior time. six
years Will release him.