The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-22
ONE FOOT PETREFIED.
Curious Experience of Cowboy Az
ter Having His Leg Broken.

curious Experience of n Cowboy Az
ter Having His Leg Broken.
From the Philadelphia Times.
A hunting party from Ell Paso Tex, but
recently returned from an expedition
northwest of there, tell of the marvellous
discovery up in the mountain region of
what seems to be one of the greatest iiv-
ing wonders The find is nothing more
nor less than man, living and apparent
ly in good health, yet having one foot COM
pletely petrified. The tale is pretty stiff
one, and would not be credited were it not
Vouehed Tor by gentlemen of well-known
Yeracity and honor, who, furthermore,
have and are ready to exhibit the little toe
from the petrified foot, which was broken
off shortly before their visit, and which
the owner was kind enough to give them
as a souvenir.
The man with the petrified foot is an ex-
cowboy, Bill Merk.e by name, who has
lived in the mountains nearly twenty-five
years Up to twenty years ago Merlxle
lived the most active of outdoor lives, but
about that time in trying to get out of
the way of a stampeding drove, he was
thrown from his horse right in the track
of the cattle, the herd sweeping on resist
ilessly over his PROSTATE body. When
picked up by his companions a few mo-
anywhere upon his body, but both homes
of the left leg appeared to be broken just
below the knee. AS was usually the case
with western surgery at that time, no ply
stefan was called in to conduct it, Merkle's
friends merely using the simple means in
their power to set splint and bandage the
broken limb.
According to Merkles account in an in
credibly short time the bones seemed to be
knitting together, but pretty soon it be-
came evident that the texture and color of
the flesh below the fracture were undergo
ing a change. In the course of a month
it was deemed advisable to remove the
bandage, when it was discovered that,
while the fracture had, indeed, reunited,
the leg below had already begun to show
unmistakable evidence of hardening. Since
then slowly the process has continued I'M
til now the entire limb below the break
is complete petrifaction
Strange to relate, Merkle claims there is
no pain anywhere in the region of the old
fracture, and, while the weight of the Pc
trifed limb necessarily retards his progress
he can stand upon it, and even take few
steps, and his general health is excellent.
OF course, there is no sensation in the pet
rified member it may be struck scratched
or pricked with impunity, and lifting the
foot across his right knee, Merkle uses it
for a milestone, sharpening knives against
the hardened sole. However, if the foot be
placed in the fire, sensation of heat is
transmitted throughout the entire body,
becoming painful in the immediate neigh
borhood of the old fracture.
The gentlemen say that Merke is as jolly
as the average mortal, and boots at the
idea of placing himself on exhibition in a
museum.
''But you could make your fortune" they
demonstrated with him.
"Shucks," was his characteristic rejoin-
der, what nd life be wuth to Teller eff
he jess had to set up an have his oil rock
foot stared at by a gang er tender-foot
gawks fun morning till night?"