Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1871-12-06
MANAGEMENT OF MANIACS.


One of the oldest inhabitants of
/ Boston has furnished the following
anecdOte of old Colonel Leverett, as
an Illustration of the force of courage
and ingenuity upon madman.
One morning, many years ago, a
stout, burly built maniac in a paroxy-
ism of insanity, burst out Of the
asylum, and on his way, a muskei,
| heavily loaded, fell into his hands.
With this formidable weapon, mount
ed with the terrible bayonet, the
mailman rushed out into the city, and
pretty effeetually cleared the streets
as he was marching along. Turning
corner, he suddenly came upon
Governor Leyerett, and was on the
point of making a point blank charge
upon the vitals of the old governor,
who cOmprehending his danger, in a
single glance at the old fellow, and
drawing himself up square and firmly
before his dreadful antagonist, he
hailed him thus:
"HoI brother soldier, have you
learned your exercise ?"
"Yes, L have w said the fellow with
a terrible oath.
"Then, brother" said the Cover
nor, stand to your arms like vigil
ant soldier, while give the word of
command"
The madman seemed pleased, and
stood bolt upright, with his musket
fitted close to his shoulder in regular
drill order.
"Poise your firelockI' The fellow
did so. "Rest your fireiOck." The
fellow obeyed. Ground your fire
lock-" This he did. " Face to the
right about, march" says the Cover
nor, and the madman wheeled and
stepped away. The governor quickly
ran up behind him, seized the power
| full fellow and the musket, and held
him until several lockers on-stand-
ing at a safe distance and watching
this curious scene-came TO the
governors assistance, and the mad
man was carried back in an awful
rage, to his quarters.
! The anecdOte reminds US of asimilar
one, that happened to the famous DR..
/ Physic, an eminent medical man,
now dead and gone, in Philadelphia
The doctor was visiting physician
at the lunatic asylum, near this city ;
and one morning, after going his
rounds among the patients of the
| institution, the doctor stTolled up
stairs into the top gallery of the large
/ rotunda of the building, to view the
city and surrounding country. While
absorbed in the view frUm his high
elevation, a robust madman, who had
eiuded his keepers, came suddenly
upon the doctor, to his no little
astonishment and bodily fear. But
keeping perfectly cool, he bid the
maniac "good day." and was turning
about to go down stairs.
mo you DON'T" said the man,
clutching the doctor firmly as a vice,
81 want you to show me something
] they say you do everything; cut of
heads, legs and arms put them
| together, take a man all apart, and
mend him up as good as ever and ]
know you can, too, but / want you
just to jump down this hole, 1.-THE
opening of the rotunda. surrounded
by the long spiral stairway, away on
the pavement. Come On-dO it you
mustw And the fellow exerted him.
self to drag the doctor up the railing,
/ to which the poor doctor clung with
the tenacity of a tick. The moment
was one of peril to the doctor, but his
presence of mind completely iOOred
his antagonist.
'It would not be very hard for me
to jump down there, sir" said the
doctor; "but 1 can do a greater feat
than that for you, If you wish to see
me try"
"Can you, ELI, old fellow? Well,
try it. What is ii ?"
"Why, sir, will go down these to
the bottom, and with one spring, sir,
I'll jump clear up here"
"Ha! ha! !" laughed the maniac
" that would be worth seeing; go
down, doctor, and jump-I'll catch
you when you come up
The doctor lost no time in going
down and sending up the keepers,
/ who nabbed the Door deluded man.