The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-23
A. Man With. a Foot That
Has Turned to Stone.
Curious Instance Of Petrefac-
ti0n in Ex-C0wbOy.
How Phrase "Freedom Of the City"
Originated-Its Meaning.

she has one foot In the grave" Is an
expression that is frequently heard.
sometimes IL refers to an individual who
10 supposed to be suffering from consump-
tiop, at others to person whose physi-
cisn. II 10 whispered, has found that the
patient 10 suffering from Brig ht's disease
and thar the latter mas but few weeks
or months to live. There is now living
and In the enjoyment Of vigorous health,
. man who hasn't one foot In the grave
exactly but who has a foot that has
turned TO stone, become petrified, in fact.
The story of this individuals pecuiisr
malady was brought TO Providence by
gentleman who recently returned from
three months sojourn In Texas. As he
tells the tale the man with the pctrified
foot was discovered by party of
hunters who had made q cunning trip
into the wild country to the mort Invest of
I'll Paso. AS guarantee of the truth of
their remarkable story, the hunting
party brourh back with them the little
toe FROM the petrified foot, which was
broken on shortly before their visit, and
which the owner was kind enough to
give them % q souvenir.
Bill Merkle IL the name of the man
with the petrified foot and be is an ex-
cowboy. Up to 20 years ago Merkle
lived the most active of outdoor lives,
but about that tine, in trying to get oct
of the way Of stampeding drove, he
was thrown from his horse right In the
track Of the cattle, the he'd sweeping on
rsistltssly over his prostrHte body.
When picket mp by his companions few
fncmeuis later. not a truise was dis
covered anywhere upon his body, but
both bones OF tue left leg appeared to be
broken just below the knee. As was us
usliy tie case with Western surgery at
tnst time, no pyhs,cian was called in to
condect 1T, Merkle's fri nds merely using
ths simple means in their power to se.,
spIiDt and bandsec the broken limb.
According to Mprkle's account, In an
incredibly short time ne bore' seemed
to pe knitting together, but pretty soon
II became evident that the texture and
color OF tns flssh below the fracture we're
undergoing a change. In the course OF
month II was deemed advisable TO remove
the tandsge, W men it was discovered that,
while the fracture had, indeed reunited,
tire leg below had alre ,dy tegnn to
show unmistaksle evidence of harden
ing. Since then slowly the process has
roniinusd, until now the entire limb
hi low the break is complete petrifac-
tion.
According to Merkle, there is no pain
anywhere in the region OF the old frsc-
ture, ann, while the weight of the petri-
Hed limb nscessssarily retsrds his pro-
gress, ne can stand upon 1t, and even
take few steps. and his general health
IL excellent. OF course, there is no ssnsa-
tiou In the pstrifed member. IL may be
struck, scratched or pricKed with impun
ity, and lifting the foot across his rig Int
knee, Merxie uses IL for q milestone,
sharpening kniye, agairs. the hardened
sole. However, II the foot be placed in
tie fre,a sensetiou OF heat is transmitted
Though the entire bodv becoming pain
fuI in the immediate neig borhoo of the
old fracture.