The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-12-16
TRYING TO SAVE A LIFE.
Bsns Struggling for Hours to Prevent their
Father from Cennit,ins suicide.

Louis Romise, q German slverplater
with his wife and several children, settlsd In the
outskirts OF Newark several years ago. Romiss
was honest, hard working, skilful IN his trade,
and temperate, except for a national liking for
lager beer He was able TO make from t2S to
$50 week by Job work In New York. He saved
his money, got home for hs family at t5 New
street, Newark, and amassed u small property
in real estate. lie wosa kind and loving hus-
band and father and his home was happy and
pleasant one. But a year OF two ago he began
to drink good deal, and frequently came home
intoxicated, and committed acts that he was
ashamed OF after he hld become sober. About
the same time the hard times began to press
upon him. He found himself pufdened with
his unproductiye property and unable to pay
the taxes upon 1t. Tho little hoard he had laid
by began. TO dwlndle away. until he had lost
from 81 ,2O0 to tl.iO0-to him fortune.
His losses aud troubles seemed TO prey upon
bis nina, especially whom no was under the In
nuence Of liquor. lila intemperanoe grew
worse and his violent conduct while he was
drunk made his once happy homo apandemo-
mum. He threatened to Kill himself. his wife.
and his children, and his whole family were ter
tined by his insane freaks and murderous
threats. His wife and little children tremblod
when they heard his drunken steps aud maud
lin curses.
Last "wednesday morning Romise went from
hts house, telling his wife that he WAS going to
New York to collect some money. lie did not
return until two O'Clock the next morning. The
whole family. consisting Of the wife and eght
children. two Of them young mon, ~ere ut home.
The wife heard her husband coming stun bling
through the dark, and her hcart misgaye her.
She knew he WAS drunk and that he would
surely do some ACT Of violence. He entered
perfectly crazed with drink, and utttrng loud
thrcats against himself and his trembling wife.
Selling "A shot gun, he swOre he would blow his
brains out. and resting the stock ON the n1or he
placed the muIzie against his head and at
tempted to pull the trigger with hts foot. but
he was too drunk to stand s,ill long enough to
IRE the gun. aud after staggering ABOUT the
room with It, he abandoned II FOR large
butcher knife with which he attempted t. XIII
seemed to infuriate him the more. lie rushed
ut her In a rdge, irving To stab her. Then he
threatened to cut OF the head Of his little girl
who stood shaking with terror.
lhe wife and little girl hed up stairs where
the two grown-up sons slept These bows went
down aud took the sun from their fsther, who
at times W quescent. The boys made coffee,
and got their father to drink It, thinkng that IL
would dssipate the fumes OF the liquor, aud
clear his brain of the terrible madness. lie did
remain quiet fer while, and then suddenly
starting up in fuiious state, he once more
threatened to take his life, anu seiZiue h and
ful Of Fiction matches ate the he ds on uf them
to poison himself The boys got the matches
them II they interfered. and after striking at
them with large kniie. In a nt Of passion he
threw the knife at them Luckily the weapon
missed Its marx and struck into the opposite
wall.
Then. With desperate hearts. the two boys held
their father down aud by mAin force Kept him
frOm taking his life and theirs. lie promised To
be less violent ana thev let him sit up. Soon hi .
fury returned and the struggle recommended.
Thus for four long hours. Ia tie dead OF night,
with the mother and smaller children looking
on with fist beating hearts and quaklnc with
fear at the DIRE dful sight, these two young men
fought to prevent their father from killlng him-
self. The house Is detached one. aud there
were no neighbors near. at thai time OF Dight, TO
come In and aid IN the struggle with the maniac.
About o'clock ON Thursday morning, after a
period uf partial quiet. the desperate man again
sprang TO his feet, and rushing to closet. close
AT hand. he tore open the door and seized bot.
tie of solution of nitrate Of silver swearing to
Kill himself sure this time. lie fought "a his
sons when they tined to interfere, and swallo ed
the burning liquid. Then he fell back In agony
upon lounge. Before a physician arrived Ru-
mise died in torments. lie was 50 wears old.
County Physician ward OF Newark heard the
burial.
When a Sun reporter called on Mrs. mise
Yesterday she at INST regarded him with "A
troubled face. thinking that one uf her hus-
band's creditors was come t. DIR IN her almost
empty purse. Wiping tears from her eyes. she
SAID In broken Engi.h " 1t was all the work Of
drink. lie wouldn't have done II IL he ID ueen
Nor