Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-06-21

ed. The NUMBER ranges from three to SIX
day, but as no provision has yet been made
for them by the county, they are refused ad-
miltance. There are now confined in the
poorhouse about l25 persons, and Of this
number no less than
sEvENTY-FIvE ARE INSANE,
the remaining fifty being INDECENT poor. The
latter are confined in the main building,
which was built recently at acast OF S30, 900.
The lunstics are lodg ed in old bosrd shanties.
Several of them are Sd violent that il
Ia necessary to chain them to the
floor. The old houses are so poorly
constructed that it is impossible to confne
them except by shsckles, and once broken
out royal Bengal tiger in his native jun
giles would not be more dangerous. The
shackles are necessarily very heavy, and in
spite Of all precautions often
WEAR AWAY THE FLESH
of the unfortunates to the bone. 10 summer
the buildings are comfortable enough, but
in winter the cold air is admitted through
innumerable crevic6s, and other diseases are
added 10 the great mental infrmity
which has shattered the lives of the
INN ates. These are some of the reasops
urged by enterprising members of the County
Court for the erection OF ward for the in
sane at a cost of $4,000. 1t is believed that
the next Legislature will appropriate an
amount which, added to that, will be suf-
fciept to erect suitable buildings for all the
lunatics likely eyer to turn up in Shelby
county. An impression prevails that the
greater number OF those who apply for ad-
mission are
RESIDENTS OF OTHER PLACES,
but this is denied on good authority. One of
the poorhouse commissioners remarked yes
teIdsy that he believed the whole county
was going cr.zy. II is certain, too, that all
those con6ed at the poorhouse are residents
of the county. A cast-iron oath has TO be
taken by the person making the application,
before a permit is issued. There is very
little room even in the rickety wooden build
ings. As fast as vacancy occurs, either BY
REMOVAL OR DEATH,
the place is filled from the jail, where a
number are always waiting to be transferred.
The manner in which it is necessary to house
the lunatics makes it extremely dangerous
for the employs 20 move about The wards.
DR.. Duncan, the physician IN charge, has
made several narrow escapes. A muscu ar
young darby, an inmate of the pl ace, who is
idIotic at long intervals, though generally
lucid, follow the ctor about like span
iel, aud has on more than one occasion
SAVED HIS LIFE
by prompt and we'll directed blow. Once
when passing through a hallway man who
sat perfectly still until the doctors back was
turned, snatched up heavy billet of wood
and tipping up behind him was in the act of
Draining Kim, when the darby felled him 10
the floor with his fist. On another occasion
| while DR.. Duncan sat at his desk in the
Office, powerful iunstic who had escaped
| from his frail cell dashed into the office
| with
RATCHET IN HIS HAND,
and except for the interference of the faith
| ful darby and others, would have plunged il
into his brain. numbsr of the fem ale
| lunstics ale equally IS violent, but must b.
l'ioaded down like the men with bonds 10 pre-
vent them from doing mischief. Once oil
! twice they have thrown themselves upon The
| doctor, when in his kindness of heart he al
lowed them a few moments freedom, anc
attacked him with teeth and nail
| like tigresses. These occurrences are com
mon, and as the Old wooden cells becom.
more rickety, they are becoming more FIRE
| quent yet. Common human feeling prevent
DR.. Duncan from keeping these poor people
always chained, though to give them
MOMENTS FREEDOM
| is TO put his own life in danger. II is sal,
all this can be remedied by the proposed
structure. 1t is proposed 10 make the cell
large and strong, we'll ventilated and will
high ceilings; the partitions to be made o
thick oak. Among the latest admission,
to the insane wards or shanties wa
6. W. Turner, the cry carpenter, who na
caused his family good deal of uneasines
lately by his eccentric gyralions. He frs
disappeared about ten days ago, and it wa
believed that he had committed suicide, bu
be was finally discovered and taken HON.
Last week he again disappeared, togelhe
with his little girl, a child OF eight year4
Nothing was heard of them until day b.fort
yesterday, when they were found in aw amp
near Raleigh. Turner was wadiDg knee
deep in water, with the child on his back.