Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-10-24
Rake 'em Down"


to throw the town of lIarper's Ferry into
panic. We did not mean, however, to ex-
press any particular astonshment at this
particular case, for there have been hundreds
Of instances in which large bodies of men,
and very bold men, have been struck with
utter CONSERVATION by the most trivial acct
dents. 1t is the unknown in all such eases
that operates upon the mind. Us soon rs the
cause comes TO be investigated, confidence
returns.
We rccoliect one incident, much to the
purpose, Of which the writer was a witness
many years ago, in the soody town of Vicks-
burg. well known to history as well rs geo
graphy. Ii was i'll the very noontide heat
of the Flush Times" since immortalized
BY Mr. }. Baldwin in the month of July,
lS3G. The scene was the Nicksburg Hotel,
at that time owned by Mr.. Folkes, from
North Carolina, originally, and kept by u
gentleman named Giidewcll. from Peters
burg, Va. There had been shooting match
III the hotel that evening. not an unusual
thing at that time. AMI one man had been
killed on the spot, and one severely wound
ed. The man who had done the shooting
was Thought 10 be still in the hotel, above
stairs, while the bar-room was crowded with
persons attracted BY the firing. As was
usual On such occasions. the crowd soon be-
came thirsty, aud the services OF half u
dozen bar-tendcrS were in constant reuuisi-
ton. Ii had been determined 10 keep watch
upon the avenues, and prevent the homicide
from escaping. Is it was believed he would
attempt Ia do, for he was known 10 be
person OF resolute. even desperate temper.
Ii happened that there was confined in the
hotel. ut the same time, poor maniac, who
was suffering under the effects of mania
pOtn, and had proved very hard TO manage.
This man heard the firing and the uproar,
and became perfectly frantic. The persons
who attended to him having been called
away by the noise he coutriyed 10 break open
the door, and half naked as he was, To make
his way to the kitchen. i'll his attempts to
reach the bar-room. There were several
cooks, all females, in the ROOM all Of whom,
alarmed 1T his strange appearance, uttered
II vel! Of terror. and cleared the premises.
some through the windows and others
through the doors To these the manaic
paid no attention, but Selling large kitch-
eu.knite that lay on the table. he rushed in
the direction "t the bar-room. There were
three steps that led down into it. from an
elevated HAT like the poop Of ships deck.
There We're about forty persons drinking at
the bar. and NJ least one hundred more in
their rear. The forty gentlemen had just
touched glasses. and were about to raise the
beverage to their lips, when the maniac
clearing the steps al II bound. sprang from
the platform into the middle of the room,
and Furnishing his butchcrknite about his
head. shouted with voice loud enough to
turn the Mississippi backward, rake EN-
down ~ The effect was t-cmcndous.-
assure qmi peuf' 1T Waterloo was but cir
cumstance compared 10 il. The glasses fell
from the hands of the drinkers in perfect
shower Of crystal The glasses Sparkled on
the floor that time instead Of the board
The crash was about such rs we may ina
CINE would be produced by verifying the oft
repeated smile, and introducing 'surc
enough" bull, into n ''sure-enongh' China
shop Probably no prcmaes were ever eva
c,atrd nj shorter warning, not even the
French lines at Waterloo, when the occu-
pants left at sight without notice Of intcn
ton to quit The crowd ran out. rolled out,
tumblcd out, got out in every way they
could. Even the bar-keepers deserted their
posts and the cause of all this confusion az.
tually went behind the bar, took "heavy
pull. came out, and chased several of the
iugtives up the street. THAT is, he did not
mean to chase them, his whole object being
u get away: but they ran because they saw
him coming mt full speed behind them and
did not know what his intentions were. !
1t WAS AT last discovered that he had got !
ten out, and he was pursued and overtaken. |
We relate this ancrdote to show how much |
may be done by Il single individual when |
he takes crowd unawarcs: Of course, under |
the same circumstances, II score uf men can !
work al untold amount of mischief upon
the largest population.
Perhaps we vii! be excused for finishing I
the story we have ust been telling. When .
the crazy man was brought back, it was .
found necessary to con!inc him for the night .
in The jail Of the town, and - the coolest
room was occupied by :. man who had been .
confined for murder. he was put into it
along with him. He had not been there
very long before he got into violent quar-
rel with the murderer, and falling aboard "l
him beat him without mercy. The Jallor
hearing the noise. came to the rescue, and
not Knowing WHAT else 10 40 With the Hihu-
man, chained him to post III the yard, and
nut him under the Surveillance Of an enor
nous mastif, who had the intelligence, al
most, of human creature This dog laid
himself down, AT the word Of command,
close hy the prisoner, aud, whenever he be-
gan IA rave. rose from his position, gave
growl and showed his worries in 4 manner
which it was impossible to mistake. The .
mailman would thercupon sink his voice al !
most to whisper and apologize TO his brute
superior. in the most respectful terms, say
ing. Il beg your pardon, sir didn't mean
to disturb YOU" Sc. lie WAS next day sent
home. having created almost rs much excite.
ncnt, rs the lunatic who once escaped from
an asylum at Mar>cilie,, III France. and get
ting possession OF small fort on an Island .
IN the bay which had been abandoned, but
still retained few heavy guns in position,
with u considerable quantity of ammunition,
actually camnpnaled the town, and fired ,
shots into several vessels entering the har-
bor.-Rirb. Disp"i"b.
PEyMANSHIP.
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