The Mysterious Story of the One-Legged Jewish Rope Walker
Legend has it that he fell to his death in Corsicana in 1884 with a stove strapped to his back. Until I started digging, no one knew his name.
By
Jim Yarin
Published in
D Magazine
April
2021
Illustration by Douglas Jones
A gravestone in Corsicana’s Hebrew cemetery bears only two words: “ROPE WALKER.” For 137 years, no one knew who was buried beneath it.
I first saw the stone and heard its back story 15 years ago while researching the genealogy of a Texas family buried in the cemetery. I thought it was a gross injustice to the memory of the unknown man and to his family, who probably never learned what became of their father/husband/son/brother. I also viewed it as a thoroughly worthwhile challenge to see if I could discover his name. How I solved the mystery was not nearly as sensational as the mystery itself, a legend about a grave and its mouldering contents, a story seemingly straight out of the Brothers Gri
The city of Corsicana extends its hospitality through a unique group of ambassadors who stand throughout the town on street corners and in front of key buildings and memorials â permanently.
Corsicanaâs Bronze Sculpture Tour is a life-sized art exhibit that tells stories about the unique individuals who built the cityâs history.
Created by different artists, most of the lifelike sculptures interact with the cityscape: an oil field worker appears to cross a street on his way home; a pastry chef leans over to offer a fruitcake to passersby; and a pet wolf guards the spot where its owner Lyman T. Davis first served his famous Wolf Brand Chili.
Multiple families displaced due to fire at Beaton Street Apartments in Kennett The Kennett Fire Department was dispatched to a fire Tuesday morning at the Beaton Street apartments. (Source: Kennett Fire Dept.) By Jessica Ladd | January 5, 2021 at 8:36 PM CST - Updated January 6 at 4:30 AM
KENNETT, Mo. (KFVS) - The Kennett Fire Department was dispatched to a building fire Tuesday morning at the Beaton Street apartments.
Firefighters said there were multiple units fully engulfed.
Multiple families were displaced due to this incident, but firefighters said all the occupants were able to get out safely.
The American Red Cross was contacted to help the families.
Kennett firefighters battle apartment complex fire, families displaced Kennett firefighters were busy Tuesday morning, battling an apartment complex fire. (Source: Kennett Fire Department via Facebook) By Region 8 Newsdesk | January 5, 2021 at 8:59 PM CST - Updated January 5 at 8:59 PM
KENNETT, Mo. (KAIT) -Kennett firefighters were busy Tuesday morning battling an apartment complex fire.
According to a Facebook post, the fire happened at the Beaton Street apartments.
Dispatched to a Structure Fire this morning at the Beaton Street apartments. Upon our arrival, there were multiple units.Posted by Kennett Fire Department on Tuesday, January 5, 2021
When crews arrived, firefighters found multiple units fully engulfed.