Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-09-07
Long and Exciting Siege Of q Maniac-An
-, ExtraofdinAFy Affair

About ten o'clock on Sunday night, mad
man climbed up the roof of a one e-story and
attic grocery at the corner Of Constance and
Gaiennie streets, and, seating himself on the
ridge Of the chanting reel, beside the chimney,
he commenced singing . wild air, to which he
hawk he had taken up with him. Such an ex-
traordinary. sight attracted crowd very
quickly, and fearful that he would lose his
balance and tumble down, they shouted to him
TO desc end through the dormant windows. He
surveyed them with the most placid indiffer-
ence from his exalted situation, but paid no
heed to entreaties or threats, until, as the
boisterous, his passion seemed to be aroused,
and loosening the bricks of the chimney, he
very deliberately broke them in pieces on the
ridge Of the roof and hurled them at the peo-
pie below A great scattering took place, but
not before few were struck and bruised with
the brickbats, which came with unerring aim
upon those for whom they were intended.
After gaining his position with SO much
trouble, the madman was evidently determined
upon maintaining it, and now perhaps labor
ing under the belief that he was besieged BY
the populace, he kept ON cOolly loosening
bricks from the chimney and breaking them
into proper size for ammunition with his TOM
ahawk. Not man, woman or child could
now approach within any distance from him
cut open by the missiles which came thick and
fast from his frenzied arm. All night long he
kept his position, and SO relentless was he in
his watch for objects to fire at that the watch
man had to caution passers-by to keep under
the cave of the house, out of his reach
When Daylight came, he was even moro Wig
liant than before, and the immense crowd that
collected frequently got too near him, 30 that
number OF persons were struck, but not badly
hurt. This state Of affairs was becoming quite
serious. The maniac had nearly used up the
whole chimney in his bombardment of the
neighborhood, and the street was covered with
brickbats, while no one could pass unless by
crouching along under the cave of the house
He seemed tireless in his fury, and answered
implorings, commands and threats only by q
shower Of missiles. Some eight or ten police
men were on the ground with Mayor Monroe,
and the question perpleXed all how he was to
be removed. A couple of officers had made
an attempt to bring him down by getting
through the dormant windows. The roof was
so steep that they could not have grappled with
the mailman without reeling off and besides.
as soon as they showed their heads out of tine
window, he made them targets for his brick
bats. The foreman Of an active uptown engine
company, In this emergency, proposed to try
the effect of cold water treatment, as he had
heard that shower baths were often used 10
subdue very violent maniacs. This plan being
agreeu upon rs the one promising success, a
party went round to the nearest engine house,
that of Volunteer No. 1, and brought their
machine on the ground. A full stream Of
water was turned upon the msdman, and
whether 1t came with too much force or gave
him a nervous shock, he fell off the ridge,
rolled down the roof and tumbled down upon
the banquette, striking upon the seat of ap-
piled learning. He was at once taken to the
Charity Hospital in a carriage, and though
badly Jared by the fall, was not seriously hart
". o. Bee, Sept. 5.