Daily press and Dakotaian. [volume] (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1875-1880, 1877-06-21
A RAVING MANIAC.
lie Takes a Room at the Merchants
and Amuses Himself by Shooting
Holes in the Walls.
A tissse can for sherir Baker.
The Cause of the Trouble FINALLY
Captured and Taken to Jail.
nesaiis OF the Siege d.
Nineteen.

Last nights train from the east brought
a gentleman by the name of j. C. Clark, a
resident of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, who is
en- route to Swan Lake, where he has pron-
erty interests in connection with a number
OF other gentlemen from his locality. There
was nothing out of the way in the coming
OF MIR. Clark, but the manner in which he
acted after his arrival was the unpleasant
feature Of his presence. He first put in an
appearance at Mrs. Stokes Broadway res.
tauraht-got his supper there, and then
went to the Ms0hants and secured lodq-
lngs for the night. He was given room
number nineteen, in the northeast corner of
the upper story of the hotei,, fronting ON
broadway. Next to his room was number
eighteen, occupied by A. Genick. of Santee
agency. Underneath MIR. Clark's room on
the second floor, was Mai. Lawrence's
ROOM ana the next room south from Maj.
Lawrence was occupied by Mai. Offley,
Mi. Clark retired at a SEASONAL. G hour nre.
vlousiy leaving orders to be called for the
swan Lake stage. Thus matters rested
uhtii ABOUT thfee O'Clock in the morning.
when MIR. Genick was aroused by cries OF
murder, fire. aud a succession of i'm.
iiation indian war wboops, ACCOMPANIED
by occasional pistol discharges. all coming
from Mr.. Clark's room. AS there was a
door between the Two rooms, Mr.. Geuick
ola not feel that his position was a yerv
safe one, and he began to investigate the
cause OF The uproar. He discovered that
MI. Clark had torn his sheets and he'd
quilts into strings, aud was susnendino
them from his window sill, with the eyi.
dent intention of making his way alono
the lmproVlsed rope TO the sidewalk below.
just us the apparatus was ready, from some
unexplained cause, it took fire and the
flames crept along it down the ont
SIDE oil the wall, attracting the attention
Oh The hotel Waterman. Mai. Lawrence
and Maj. ONLY were aroused about this
Tune and the unusual proceedings caused
them to enter upon an investigation of Mr.
Ciark's doings- Their first effort was ~
prevent any disastrous results from the fire
kindled by the ~iunaIic above, and to az
complish this Maj. Ofley was compelled to
crawl out upon the pro lection beneath the
windows and brush the burning pieces of
cioth thereirom. About this time Clark
threw out a heavy water pitcher from his
window and the crash which ensped
aroused several other occupants of tho
motel. Meantime The watchman had aroused
MIR. Brinkerhoff and told him that there
was a fire in number 10 and that he cop1d
not get in. Mr.. Brinkerhoff ,epalred 10
the scene without waiting 70 nut on mnch
in the way of clothing, aud, knocking on
the door, demanded admission. Mr.. CLARK
refused, and warned him away. SAVING
that he would shoot him unless he LETT
Mr.. Brinkerhoff was Joined in the hall hv
GenlcG, who explained the situation TO
him. a messenger was at once dispatcbed
Tor Sheriff Baker and another for Depntv
Eamunds. Sheriff Baker arrived first and
on being told that there was a man in room
~ who was tearing up the bedding and
setting it on fire, he proceeded to the room
knocked on the door and ordered the oc,
cupant TO let him in, at the same time tell.
Ing him who he was and what he wac
there for. MIR. Clark told Baker that if
he came in he would shoot him. but the
sheriff was net to be stood off by threats
and he placed his weight against the door,
WITH such force that the fastenings gayeway.
IL was found however, that the mailman
had pushed his bed against door and il
opened only a few inches, being held by
the bed. AT this juncture a pistol ball
came through the opening, the flash of the
weapon b~lackening the door and warming !
Inc side OF Bakers face. He quickly drew
his W revolver, and sent a shot into the
darkness OF the ROOM, without seeine snv. !
ming IN particular to shoot at. Another
mot from within whistled in unpleasant {
proximity to Bakers ear. He began ia S
that advancing upon a rayine d
maniac, inside his own entertainments on I
dark night, was not the highest order of :
military strategy. So he pulled the door Z
hut and drew off. Deputy Edmunds ar. l
wed about rhis time, and a guard was Il
'laced about the room. Subsequently the II
orce was reinforced by the arrival of Off. Il
ers Baumann, Eliot and Noonap. and
ocular state of siege ensued. Clark seated a
lmself in one corner of the room, where
e had a clear range on both doors. and on al
slightest attempt to open either, he
'ould send g bullet through the panel. He Y
as master of the situation. He had a sho,
lady for the first head he saw, and, as he N
as not responsible for his acts, an officer
not have been justified in shooting al
except as a last resort. Sheriff Baker
allied this, after he had become in. ~
OF the circumstances connected 81
TN the case, and he at once gave ipstruc. y
ms TO merely prevent Clark from esca-
ng IRON the room. and to await results. Sr