Missourian
Has Overcome Handicap by Walking on His Hands
Paris,
MO
April
26 1913
Monroe
County has a legless prodigy in Earl Craft, who,
despite his infirmity, gets about almost as well as
those who have legs, and does part of the actual work
on a farm of 240 acres.
Craft
who is 25 years old might pass in good looks, manners
and general demeanor for Sir Richard Calmady, the
meanor for Sir Richard Calmady, the legless hero of
Lucas Malet’s novel of that name. When twelve years
old Earl became incapacitate with necrosis of the
bone, for which there is no specific and both his legs
were amputated at the hips. He lay in bed six weeks
and then he began the laborious task of learning to
walk by means of his hands. In less tan three weeks he
was doing farrier work, and today he can hook or
unhook a team, ride a horse, drive a gang plow,
cultivator, or binder, and do almost any other farm
work except gather corn. Recently he built and roofed
a hen house without assistance. |