Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-03-29
A THRrLIIsc ADvENrUnr.
A Maniac ON Observation-Disclosures In
cfdentss

a Maniac on q Steans boats-Exciting Ins
cidentss
From the ST. Leuis Republican, March %.
A man giving his name as VIM. Carton came on
board the G. W. S5nbsIi on the 18Th inst, on her
downward trip, al Glasgow, No, from the steamer
Twilight, which was lying mt that point, bound for
Atchis0n and st Joseph. He took passage on the
Sombart for jefferson City said he lived in St Louis
and had started on the Twilight for Kansas 10 buy
land. He seemed TO be man Of middle age, geateel
in appearance, good address, and was evidently Of
foreign birth. After having his slste.yoom assigned
TO him, he deposited his moaey with he elirk at the
same time remarked that he had been ba /, treated
by the officers and passengers on beard the "Twi>
light" because as be alleged, :" that he was not &C
Quainted with the rules and usages on the Missouri
river Nothing unusual was observed in his man
nsrs during the day. He ate his meals regularly
and conversed with his fellow passengers and the
officers upon different subjects, recurring frequently
to The ill-Irestmenthe had received the Twilight
and bling obliged GO back Jefferson City for his
trunk, which had been left by the stupidity of The
porter Of the boat, when he off the cars At an
early hour he retired his staeroom aud the gen
tleman who occupied the upper berth says he
asleep in few minutes, but soon woke up, evidently
from sshorTid dream or Incubus and in feverish
excitement commenced talking aloud charging
the officers Of the C. W. SOmbart with having con
spired with the cheers Of the Twilight to hang him.
declaring that he had seen the scsffeld and the
excited mob gathered around it. He told his CON-
pdnlon tnat the people ndu stopped the twilight IN
great bend OF the river where they laid five hours
preparing to hang him. He said they took hm
through dense forest, and hurried him onward,
dragging him over great logs and through tangled
brushWood, laeeratirg his flesh and Almost tearing
his eyes from their sockets" With such stories he
entertained his travelling friend until daylight when
the passengers were called up for Jefferson City:
The knocking at his door threw him into terrible
fright and imagining the emob" had come and was
bursting in upon him, drew his pistol (one of Aliens
revolvers,) loaded heavily with shot, and fired
through the PANEL in the bulk head beside the
door, into the cabin. Several of the shot passed
the heads of the passengers who we're standing
in the cabin, aud entered the doors and bulk-head
on the opposite side Of che boat. On arriving at
Jefferson City the peTsuasOBs Of the officers and
passengers tailed 10 induce him TO leave his room.
HI emitted his room mate 70 leave the room,
but would only allow him TO take his clothes out Of
the door, through the VentilRtor. One of the offs
GERS spoke 10 him at the outward ststeroom door,
which lie half glass; assuring him 'fhet all on board
his friends, and that he at Jefferson City,
ard if he would come the other side of the boat
he could see IL" TO which he replied at is lie.
Capt Mcpherson then told the clerk to get his mo-
ney and show it to him, requesting him come out
and 60 ashore. He locked Cut from the ventilstor
into the cabin, and upon being shown his money,
deliberately took aim at the clerk with his revolver.
A general stampede Of passengers eDsued, ard the
clerk, thinking discretion the better part Of valor
very precipilately retired his ofce leaving the
second engineer alone in the hail. and to do as he
thought best about leaving.
The man in the staleroom at once changed the diN
reetion of his weapon, and leaveed it directly upon
the engineer, who, not relishng the position which
he found himself made rush for the door Of the
Ey mans room, but could rot effect an entrance;
other surge, and the door giving way, he found hm
self confronted with the insaue man, who was lean
ing against his berth, with his pistol presented to-
wards the intruder. The weapon was soon grasped
by the strong arm of the mechanic, not however,
before il had been levelsd upon him a second time,
and snapped, The hammer coming down upon the
thumb Of the engineer instead OF tie cap, and pres
vented the discharge, which would, doubtless, have
seriously injured, il proved fatal TO the fearless
fellow who thus exposed himself to such inminent
danger. The maniac was at once overpowered pins
Toned and disarmed, and taken ashore, where he
was left in custody Of The proper authorities