The New York herald., 1870-12-01
A LUNATIC ASYLUM ArLOAT.
Curious Scenes Among Lunatics ON Board a
Steamboat.


Steamboat.
from the Detroit Free Press, Nov. 24.l
One OF the strangest sighGs to be witnessed In q
lifetime was seen at the Great Western depot, In
Windsor, yesterday morning, on the arrival of the
company's ferry steamer Union from Maiden. For
year or two past the Canadian governments has been
engaged in the erection Of fine new lunatio asy-
lum at London, to take the place Of the old govern
ment barracks at Maiden which have long been
used for the purpose, and the building was only
made ready this week for the reception It's strange
and unfortunate guests. The Union was chartered
to 60 down and bring the patients. 4
She arrived at Maiden In good time on wednesday
Afternoon. and the work Of receiving the lunatics on
board was soon commenced. The keepers had been
irst detachment was soon at the wharf the tear.
Ing up and the confusion and hustle that always at
the patients and tney had been hard to restrain for
the past two days. Some OF the worst afiicted
with them that 1t the Intention 70 get them ali
In a new building and burn them up. Consequently
gether In gangs 10 make the journey to the wharf
nearly every patient was wild with excitement. Put
n @ a % SUan ra TWO s Or Boat S Ss
dark, although some OF them were very trouble
Ono patient, q very Wild strong fellow. who mad
conceived nv tue idea that he was being led to the gal
sudden dash and fed with sucn swiftness thar he
reached the wood In advance OF all pursuit and made
s escap oenR stu rs q, large YESTERDAY Several
gangs but the keepers got the whole number safe
Think Of over three hundred lunattcs being
crowded together on a steamboat There were old
men, young men, women, children, black and
the constant eye OF some one OF the Keepers who
had been reinforced for the occasion. fhe boat,
the Gwn the river, the snow storm, everything
below, above and around tbs poor unIortunates
was new and strange to them. and they acted-well,
boats on the lakes, and there was 'pH pIsny Of
room for all. The most violent ses were shut up
Of the lower decks and the cabins. the keepers s be-
Ing stationed so a. to prevent any escape by land or
water. The lunatics nowled and shouted with dc.
Eight or dismay, some OF them thinking that the
boat was to be sunk In the lake, and Others, with
religious turn TO their aflcuons, believed that the
boat was to sail with them to the gates OF paradise
Owing to the heavy snow storm which set in about
dusk and prevailed nearly all night, the captain
night was q weary one to eli on board. The lunatics
started new stories, and most OF them were wild
Some slept and others spent the night In snouting
and singing and dancing. or In making vain at
old s.salt," and thoughts Of other days went
ashing through his befogged brain. departing again
te ns s %oa ap ana
W pssS the Of g and
fall to weeping over their disobediencc. An Old
African black as black can be, had some dim recol.
that all sinners present should come forward and
secure his prayers Just according to their manias
crew when the Union started on her voyage
soon after daylight yesterday morning. On
and several OF them kept making furious oa at,
tempts to eude the vigilance so constantly exer-
cised over , them ZEN & The ,., Old African, so full Of
looks OF one OF the crew. and did not forget fierce
desire to brain him until transferred 20 The dock at
windsor. Another one was vexed ut the want OF
confidence shown In not putting him In the place OF
engineer, and he consequently contracted strong
hatred 70 that oicai ana could not see him without
The women, who composed nearly half OF the
more easily pasae when Violent by the statement
OF the keepers that they were going to buy new
ana and sa Ell
ling "the latest fashi0ns,n and some even got so
proud, In the thought Of what was soen to be- that
they would not notice those OF The clover crus' OF
Tho superintendent OF the Great western road
also came In for share Of work In the removal, and
was called on to provide an extra train Of eight
large passenger coaches for tne accommodation OF
peope were hold on board the boat or the most rea.
sonaele allowed to waEder up and down the dock
member that they mad seen LOCOMOTIVE before - ana
the pufiing monster was an amazing sight to them.
Those that had been anticipating their destruction
sure that help had been obtained against them from
the ipcrnal regions. At length, about ten O'Clock,
Some Of the patients refused to walk and were car
ed IN, and gentle force soon filled up the coaches
Ono man came near Del lelL Denlno, having
well secreted himself on board the boat, but
sharp eye brought him out, and he went INTO
coach with his head down, as 4 realizing thai nc
the locomotive gave the usual "on breaks and the
train moved away carrying or the most curious lot
Of shouting, screaming mortas that one ever saw
collected together.
the officers on board the Union had kept their
mission secret as IL was obvious that anything
like crowd OF sghtseers at Windsor on her arrival
would tend 10 unduly excite the patients; but the
shouts Of those that could not be kept still soon at
| tracted attention and crowd OF people witnessed
the transfer. The new asylum, which tpe unlQrtu-
| nate people have by this time reached has been
modelled after the best suggestions that could be
given by asylum superintendents IN the Dominion
| and the states, and there Is no DOUBT that the
patients will nnd the change very agreeable one.
| The dress and look OF each individual among the
large lot word In praise OF the care and aten.
il ionn of IN them pCrmanepL charge