The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-04
A PEDESTRIAN TALKING MAD.
Van Ness Reti-es from the Track TO Practice
Workmanship on his Trainers.

On the goth Of January, Van Ness, the pc
destrlnn, began an attempt TO walk 1000 half
miles in 1000 consecutive half hours in the
Fifth Regiment nrmory. in Hester street. At
tho same tmc Ed.Bcden began walk Of 5000
half miles in 1000 consecutive periods Of twenty
minutes which he is said to have finished on
sunday evening. Van Ness had yet to walk till
next Sunday afternoon. Several days ago he
began to be very nervous and betrayed symp-
toms OF mental dernngement. but he was never
theless promptly hauled from his cot on the
ringing Of the bell and propelled over the saw
dust by two Jealous trainers. acting somewhat
after the manner Of side wheels.
Last evening at o'clock there was small
squad OF spectators in tho hall. entertained by
the gaits Of two or three young women in short
skirts VITO were .prancing around the hall in
pursuit " records rs prdpstrirnnes. In the
gallery a stuntrd Italian had II complaining nd
die by tho mock and WINS torturing IT in u cnrc-
less way. Another Italian OF Il size larger was
rasping harp with his finger nails. The young
women retired IRON ihe sawdust 10 thelr dress
ing room. and Van Ness WAS walked ON To the
track ly- his trainers, This was NE beginning
"i his l.7lSth hall milo. After walking one or
No laps he broke away from the trainers and
rushed through door. They followed
him. but he turned upon them with the
look OF a maniac and dcned them to
load him out. A struggle ensued. and
he was brought on the track and stgr!ed
dressing room. h" again broke away. nnd
dodgcd through this door. Summing IT after
him. His trainer. Burgoynp. and the assistant
trainer. Rafferty,, burst through the door and
were met by the raving pedestrian with seven
shot revolver in his ham, He had every np-
pearance of maniac. His eyes glarrd ferQ-
ciously. and he was mutterlng unintelliGible
words to himself When the trainers were
hardly through the door Van Ness fired on
them. Tine spectators made rush for the
door. The Italian orchestra dropped their in
struments. and gOt down behind tho railing.
flanlE mo EfHINII
made several sudden laps around the apart
ment and uttered about 2OOQ screams IN rs
many consecutive nStants The pop OF the
pistol resoundei through tho building. Van
Ness first shot took effect In Burgoyne 5
elbow. making a slight flesh wound. The SEC
oud bullet buried Itself IN the phrttpn netwern
this room aud the young womeu's dressing
room. and Miss Amy Howard declares that
the bullet went almost near enough
shot was aimed directly nj the head Of 5. LeVi.
who was present IN sort OF managerial capa,
city. lucky upward stroke ON tho part Ol
Levi sent the bullet through his silk hat, mud
saved the entirety Of his cuuntcnanc". The
mad pedestrian hred Tour NOR sh1ts; most ol
which h. aimed NJ his own head, put ne ny
nothing hut the wall. The police rushed in and
Van Ness WAS suhdued. He had failed to maze
the required number OF laps wthln the nan
hour: tut his trainers assert that he was qui-
ptad aud taken to the track IN time to complete
his half mile After lying hall an hour IN q
sort of stupor he WIS aroused and again walked
around the track until be- had made the ncces-
sary number Of laps. Al 10 o'clock he was
walking. and seemed to have recovered his rra.
son sufficiently 10 know what he was about and
where he was.
Van Ness ~ twenty-siN years old and Inns
once walked against O'Leary He Is "A tail
Informed man. but appears to ue very much
used up by his twenty-sx days tramp. The
pistol he used Is n seven shooter with pear
handle, ami carries IA bal 1l formidable size
Seven bullet holes IN the wall bear evidence o
the introduction Of this new feature OF pedes'
triauism. \ very tall and wide German, who
was prrsent at the time OF the shooting wac
enthusiastic in his seli-gratulations ON escap
in uulurt