The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-08-30
AN HOUR WITH LUNATICS.
Peculiar Faneies Of Demented Per
s0ns---Graye and Gay Men who are
off in their Upper Story.


coach which contained the eighteen de-
mented men who were taken to Kauka>
kee last evening Through the kindness
Of Sheriff Reticker and his assistants. the
scribe was permitted to have a talk with
the men, The first one approached was
L. G. Browner. He was sent to jackson
vile in 1876. He is perfectly sane on
some points, and remembers dates and
circumstances with surprising accuracy.
He is great talger, and when the re-
porter spoke to him he at once began
rambling story about his troubles. He
had hoped to see his wife. who hives here,
and was much disappointed because she
didn't come to see him. Browner is forty
nine years old and incuabe lie writes
a splendid hand, it is said, and he uses
good language. 1t is intimated that
too frequent use of spirituOus liquors
partially caused his insanity.
Andrew } Green was the next patient
talked to- Green is very jovial He sang
snatches of different songs for the repor-
ter and took great delight in punning~
He was sent from Moline in 1880 The
causes which lead to his insanity were
first stroke width he received on the top
of his head, by piece of timber which
dropped into a well, while Green was at
work in the bottom of it. After partially
recovering from this accident it is claimed
he became insauely jealous of his wife
and finally got SO demonstrative that he
was sent to the asylum. He has been
declared inCurable He has an idea that
flies are biting him and keeps brushing
them away continually. lie is also of the
opinion that his eyes shoot bullets, and
in order not TO hurt any one, he a few
days ago demanded a palr of eye glasses,
which were gwen to him, and the poor
fellow takes great pleasure in his glasses
Andrew Soderman was next inter
viewed He was sent from Moline in
1880. He said in reply to a question from
the reporter that years ago he was fire,
man in one of the mills in Moline BE
sides firing the engine remarked Solder
man, Il fired myself" and he ierked his
|
now, he continued, ''and | hope to be
ont soon Have | been treated well, dc
you ask Oh, yes: the people where
have been have treated me very well, in
deed. Yes, | expect to return TO Moline
soon. Mr.. Soderman is what is termed
mildly insane. According to the doctors
he will never be anything else, and it il
altogether probable that he will never re
turn to Moline.
Joseph Meehan was next talked to
Hundreds of people knew Joe Meehan il
this city years ago. He used TO keep
saloon in Milan and was very popula
there Afterwards he kept a saloon ant
boarding house in this city. His wife, t,
whom he was devoted died very sudden
", and this, with other troubles, over
balanced his mind He was confined il
Mercy hospital, Davenport, for some tim
and in 1881 he was sent to the poo
farm. He is mild, but incurably insane
He looks well, but has aged considerably
He, like the rest of the crowd, hoped t
return home soon.
Brunot Vermillion was sent out to tn
farm in 1877. lie is what is called sill
Insane perscn. He laughs frequently an
heartily. He is GO years old and there
to hope of him ever getting well.
Adolph Thorne is violently insane, an
the attendants were compelled to put
straight jacket on him yesterday. II
used to work here in the saw mills an
was a good man He drank hard and i
is said that whisky wrecked his intellect
Alvin Schroeder was sent out in 1877
and Henry Brown went from Edgingto
: in 1874 These men are affected witt
melanchoiia and would not talk. Jane
Willis became insane in 1864 and Olo
0lander in 1876 Thomas Hughe wa
sent to the asylum in 1878 Gust Birc
went in 1877. Andrew Johnson was sen
from Moline in 1879 He is simpl,
idiotic and is kept because he has n
place else to go. VIM Patterson. iona
August johnson, and Lars P. Malber
went out in 1881. They are all quiet an
affected principally with melancholia
George Scoggins and j. c. Campbe
were sent to the farm in 1882 TIL
cause of their insanity is unknown.
The party left last night at $40 fo
kankakec, and before this time the in
durable are safe in the home where the
: will probably remain during the balanc
Of their natural lives.