The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-10-30
A Terrible Leap-An Insane Person
Jumps from Railroad Train Going
mt the Rate of Thirty Miles nu Hour.
From the Chicago Times, of Saturday

From the chicago Times, OF Saturday.I
1t is known to many that Mr.. George
Bartlett, of the firm of Bartlett Brothers,
under the Sherman House, has been for
some time Insane, and was taken about
q year ago for treatment to the State
ASYLUM, at Jacksonville. After pre-
vioue unsuccessful attempt, he lately
escaped from that institution, and re-
turned to Chicago. There seemed to be
no aba tcment in his malady, and, after
a short soiourn in the city, it was de-
termined by his friends to take him
back to the asylum. He manifested the
most intense opposition to this when 1t
was being discussed, and continued TO
do so until he was safely enscOnced in
the train. Two persons, Mr.. =. &. Will
lard ard Mr.. Pope Huntington, were
sent with him, the former being his
associate in business; and it was thought
that no unusual precautionary measures
would be necessary to insure his safe
arrival. After the train was under way,
with that deep cunning which is often
exhibited by insane persons, he profess
scd to believe that upon due
consideration, his best course would
be to yield to the wishes of his
friends. He even eulogized upon the
comforts of the asylum, and war partic-
ularly delighted with the attentions he
had received while there. He thought
that about six months longer stay in
the institution, nnder its excellent
treatment, would suffice to restare him
to his normal condition. The train left
here on Wednesday night. Deceived by
his professions of acquescence. the two
guardians retired to rest, one of them
(Mr. Willaad) occupying the same beath
with Mr.. Bartlett. About four o'clock
in the morning, Mr.. Bartlett arose from
his berth and retired to one end of the
ear, but his absence being discovered:
he retuaned again to his couch. Shortly
afterward he made renewed attempt
to Gcf out of bed, but was detected and
was induced to dcsist. Id few mo-
mcnts more, when his bed-fellow had
dropped into momentary slumber, he
appears to have sprung lightly from his
berth, and to have gone to the door OF
the car. His absence was discovered in
an instant, by his guardian, who at once
sprang to the floor and rushed out upon
the platform. Just as he was opening
the door he met the colored janitor,
who informed him that Mr.. Bartlett had
game out on the platform in his stocking
feet, and jumped from the train. The
taain was running at the rate of thirty
miles an hour at the time, and it was
very difficult for person to maintain a
footing outside the car. The sceue of
the occurrence was about five miles this
side of Lincoln, which place the train
Reached in a few moments. Here Mr..
Willard and Mr. Huntington got of from
! the train, and, as soon as it was day
light, proceeded on foot up the track
for n distance of twelve miles, but with
out finding single trace of the insane
man. Every nook, Granny and culvert
on either side was searched, but nothing
was seen to indicate that Mr.. Bartlett
was in the region, nor was there any
thing to show where he had landed
when he made the fearful leap. The
embankment for the whole distance was
of a soft, grassy or sandy nature, and,
incredible as it may seem, it is believed
that he has SUSTAINED no injnry, but is
lurking somewhere in the vicinity.
This happened on Thursday morning,
and though the search has been contin-
ued under the superintendent of
the lunatic's brother, Mr.. William
Bartlett, and several otherpersons, ever
since the occurrence, nothing has yet
been discovered of the insane man. Mr..
Bartlett has an insurance of StSi 900
on his life, which makes the question of
his safety matter OF great pecuniary
interest Is the life insurance companies.