The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-11-22
Management OF Maniacs.


Boston has furnished the following
anecdote Of old Governor Leyerett as an
illustration of the force Of courage and
ingenuity upon madman:
One morning, many years ago, a
stout, burly built maniac, in paroxysm
of insanity, burst out OF the asylum, and
on his way a musket, heavily loaded,
fell into his hands. With this form;-
dable weapon, mounted with the terrible
bavonet, the mailman rushed ont into
the city, and pretty effectually cleared
the streets as he was marching along
Turning q corner, he suddenly came
upon Governor Leverett, and was on
the point OF making a point-blank
charge upon the vitals Of the old Gov.
ernor, who, comprehending his danger
ia single glance at the old fellow, ana
drawing himself up square and firmly
before his dreadful antagonist, he hailed
him thus
"Hol brother soldier, ,haveyou learned
your exercise?'
"Yes, have" said the fellow, with a
terrible oath.
Then, brother said the Governor,
stand TO your arms, like a vigilant
soldier, while give the word OF com.
mand.
The mailman seemed pleased, and
stood bold upright, with his musket
fitted close 10 his shoulder in regular drill
order.
Pose your frelock = The fellow
did so. Rest your firelock !! The
fellow obeycj. Ground your iirelock I"
This he did Face to the right about,
march e says the Governor, aud the
madman wheeled and stepped away.
The Governor quicklA ran up behind
him, seized the powerful fellow and the
musket, and held him until several
MISUNDERSTANDING at a safe distance
and watching this curious scene-came
TO the Governors assistance, and the
mailman was carried back, in an awful
rage, 10 his quarters.
The anecdotc reminds us OF similar
one that happened to the famous DR.
Physic, an eminent medical man, now
dead aud gone, Of Philalcl phia. The
doctor was n visiting physician at the
lunatic asylum, near that city, and one
morning, after going his rounds among
the patients OF the institution, the doc.
tor strolled up stairs into the top gallery
Of the large rotunda OF the building, 10
view the city and surrounding country
While absorbed in the view from his
high elevation, Il robust madman, who
had cludcd his keepers, came suddenly
upon the doctor to his no little aston
ishment and bodily fear. But keepiRg
perfectly cool, he bid the maniac good
day, and was turning about to 90 down
down stairs.
NO, you don't, said the man, clutch.
ing the doctor firmly as a vice, want
YOU to show me something; they say
YOU DO everything; cut oil heads, legs,
and arrs; put them together, take a
man all apart, and mend him up as
good as ever, and | know you can, too,
but / want you to jump down this hole,
(thc opening Of the rotunda, surrounded
by the long spiral stairway away on
the pavement. Come on, DO it you
must, And the fellow excrted him
self to drag the doctor upto the railing,
to which the poor doctor clung with the
tenacity Of a tick. Tie moment was
one OF peril to the doctor, but hi. pres
euce OF mind completely tloorei his
antagonist.
at would be very harl for me to
Jump down there, sir" said the doctor
but can do greater feat than that
for YOU, il you wish to see me try
Can you, ch, OLD fellow ? Well, try
it. What is it?'
"Why, sir, ! will 90 down there to
the bottom, aud with one spring, sir,
I'll Jump clear up tere"
"Ha! ha" laughed the maniac;
that would be worth seeing 60 down,
doctor, and jump np-llI catch you
when you come NJ.
The doctor lost no time in going
down and sending up the keepers. who
nabbnd the poor, deIuled man.