Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-11-30
VOL. 6.---NO. IA.
AN EXCITING INCIDENT.

Years ago, when was youngster, became
an assistant of DIR. B., the superintendent of a
public insane asylum. as in all insane asy-
lums, some of the patients were docile and
tractable, and had the freedom of the high
walled garden, while others, being dangerous
in their madness. were confined to their rooms.
Sometimes one. of the last named gentlemen
would get loose, a fact which he usually an
nounced by breaking things generally, upon
which announcement the doctor would repair
to the spot at which he was .selevating the an
cient Henry" and advancing upon him with
steadfLst gaze, would march him of to his
room. We had lunatic by the name OF
Jones, large and strong as an ostrich. lie had
broken out of his room two or three times,
but had always gone back docilely when any
OF us made our appearance.
The asylum had saloon in the centre, with
door at each end and one of the dours re-
qniring fixing once upon time, carpenter
was engaged upon il, when IN trRndled Mr..
Jones' and quietly possessed himself of long,
sharp chisei. When the carpenter looked a
round the madnan gave grin and poke of
the chise at him whereupon the terrified
man of chips scuttled out and locked the
doors then, while the enemy was battering a
way at it, he rushed around and locked the
door at the other end.
Having thus Gagged Jones, he gave the alarm,
and l, supposing it was an ordinary case which
| could control, unlocked the door and enter
eu DoiuiN. w WHefcupOH He uiaue d iuSH iot heb
and 1 innocently bolted. The doctor was
sen. for. He came accommodating through
the key hole, aud ascertaining the enemy was
at the other end of the room, he opened the
door and saw at once he could do nothing
with the maniac.
Here was apparently dilemma crazy in
dividual, as strong bull, perfectly uncon-
trolable, and armed with weapon. To cap
ture him by force was difficult and dangerous
undertaking, and to starve him out would be q
tedious affair. The doctor did not hesitate
long ..Altred,' said he. "go down to the
surgery, and fiji the largest syringe with harts-
horn, and bring it up
| caught the idea, rushed down, and brought
back quart syringe filed with hartshorn. di-
luted- or l didn't want to kill the man. Then
doctor. carpenter, and myself formed an army
of invasion. We threw open the door and en-
tered in the following battle array. /, being
the shortest of the three, marched first, hold
ing a chair in front of me by the back. SO that
the legs might keep of rush if our pop-gun
flashed in the pan. Then came the carpenter,
with the syringe resting my shoulder like
a piece OF flying artillery. Finally. in the
rear, in the safest place, like all the great
generals came DR.. b.
The lunatic sat at the other end of the hall
chair, cycling us keenly and savagely.
Slowly, very slowly, we advanced toward him.
The nearer we got the m ore wicked that chis-
el looked and the handle looked very long.
When got within q few feet of him, he
jumped up aud sprang towards me. Whiz!
spatter! splash weht the hartshorn bang into
his countenance-down he went like dog
it would have knock ed down battalion; and
while he catching his breath we caught
him.-Recolfectioms Of a Physician.