Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-10-30

tuesday Evening, October 30, 1877
FRANKS OF A lUNAI,C.
A Now Orleans Maamaa Atasmpas 70 Burn
his House, and Wound two Police.
men who Interfere.
From the New Orleans Times.
Last night at = quarter after 8 o'clock,
the erratic freaks Of an insane man named
Jos Gastaure, cost him his life and the dan
gerously ~wounding of officers Donavan and
Flanagan, besides threatening the vicinity
of his domicil with the ravaRes of the FIRE
fiend.
Gastaure, better known a. Crazy Joe, &C.
cupied q two-story frame house on Third
street, between Carondolet and Baronne
streets, and although recognized As an ex-
ceedingly dangerous man when his frenzy
seized him, yet, on the whole, he did not
make himself particularly obnoxious TO the
neighbon.
Some time ago, during one:.of his attacks,
he set fire to his house and also to the house
adjoining, and arming himself with an
ancient musket, defed the police and citi-
zens to take HIM or raise q hand to . ibdue
the flames. But fortunately in his madness
he lacked the method to properly construct
the combustibles which he intended for
funeral pyre, and the fire burnt itself out
ere damage to any extent was sustained.
Last night he fell q vi:tim to another
attack of a like nature, and in a room in the
upper trade story of his house, he applied
the torch, dancing with fiendish glee around
the fire as its forked tongues licked its sur.
roundings.
The faint smoke arising from the building
intimated to the police the nature Of the
occurrence transpirins therein, and an alarm
was sounded from box No. 81. When the
reached the scene they found the doors
lance, Crazy Joe appeared upon the front
gallery, his old station, and nationally re.
fused hem admittance, stating that he had
already subdued the FIRE in its incipiency.
But the still ascending smoke, coupled
with a knowledge of Crazy Joe's habit. con.
WINGED the police and iremen to the contra
ry, and Professionally they demanded admis,
A few blows from axes, delivered by a
party of fremen, headed by Chief Engineer
Thomas OConnor, effected the desired end,
and with q rush they entered the house. Al
the head Of the stairs leading to the room
wherein the fire was burning, they found
that Crazy Joe, armed with a large size
revolver and a cavalry %cutlass, obstructed
their way.
In vain did the iremen endeavor by
persuasion and threats to make him evacu.
ate his position, but on the contrary seemed
to goad him on to fury perfectly demoniacal,
Knowing that it would be certain death for
some of the party to attempt to remove him
without resorting to violence, Chief O'Con.
or ordered his men to descend and had q
consultation of war with Sergt. Hamilton,
of the sixth precinct.
1t was finally decided that the man mus,
be captured at any hazard, and to attain
that object it was decided that q flank move
ment be made by the police in the rear
while Chief O'Conor's party assailed hit
front. The move was carried into execu.
ton, but when the chiefs party had gained
the head of the stairway, it was found thai
Crazy Joe had secured himself in a room
An attack was made on the door to distrac,
his attention from the police, but ere O'Con,
or's party had succeeded in gaining an en-.
trance they heard screams from the rear
Thinking that the three policemen hac
captured Crazy Joe, the chiefs party mad,
hurried rush for the door. Upon reach
ing that point they were met by officer,
Donovan and Flanagan, who, bleeding pro
fusely from sabre cuts, staggered past then
down the stairway.
Realizing the jeopardy in which the lf
of the third policeman, a colored man, wa
in, Chief OConor continued his way fount
that Crazy Joe had cornered the peeler, ane
having emptied his revolver, was slashin,
him with his sabre. while the officer snap
ped cap after cap at his assailant, but failet
to secure the discharge Of his pistol. Chic
lOConor then seized a pistol from one of hi
party and taking deliberate aim at Graz,
Joe's face, he pulled the trigger, but i
failed to explode.
Needless of the fact that he was surround
ed, and of his narrow escape from dealt
Crazy Joe made q desperate thrust at tn
officer. Missing his footing, he slipped an,
fell full length on the gallery. Ere b
could arise he was seized and carried bodil,
into the street. 1t was then discovered tina
the exertion had overtaaked his strength
and that he was rapidly sinking. He va
. conveyed to the corner, and, despite ever,
attention, q few minutes latter he breathe'
his last. A hasty examination failed +
reveal any injury which could have pro
duced his death, and hence it was attribute,
to the shock to his nervous system.
In the meantime the Babcocks had sue
y ceeded in ~extinguishing the FIRE, with
damage of about 500.
The wounded officers were taken to thei
homes. Flanagan is dangerously wounded
having received three severe cuts; one i
the head, one in the left side, and the thir
severing the muscles of his thigh. Donova,
is wounded in the hand.