79
HIS DEATH.
and rushed into the dwelling.
Captain Piggot fell by the
hand of Colonel Parke, at the commencement of the affray, although it was the belief of many that Ayon, the provost marshal and ci-devant foot-soldier, came behind him and shot him in the back. After some deaths on both sides, Colonel Parke, who had retired into his bedroom, received a shot in his thigh, which, breaking the bone, disabled him from further retreating, and the people rushing upon him, literally tore him to pieces while alive. They afterwards burnt down Government House, the ruins of which remain to this day a memento of his dreadful crimes and fearful punishment. Colonel Parke was dragged into the streets by some of his adversaries, where he remained for some time, still sensible, but suffering agonies impossible to describe, until at length his mutilated body was carried to the house of a person named Wright, who lived near to the spot, where he shortly expired. His body was deposited in the vault of the old church ; but so detested was his memory, that the people broke down the pew which had been appropriated for him and his predecessors. Some writers maintain that only the common people were concerned in the last act of this tragedy ; that those of the higher rank proceeded to the house of John Yeamans, the lieutenant-governor, and quietly laid down their arms. Mr. French, the historian of Colonel Parke, writes, however.; very differently upon this part of the subject; but it ought to be taken into consideration, that he was a particular friend of Colonel Parke, and consequently might
give
a
higher
colouring to the melancholy picture. He says, that when Colonel Parke lay in the street suffering the pangs of a dismembered body, the members of the house of assembly stood round reviling and insulting him in his last agonies; that among the number were Andrew Murray, Francis Carlisle, Mr. Tomlinson, and Captain Painter. I cannot believe this assertion. Although Parke was their common foe, still they must have been possessed of those feelings of