Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-31
SLAVES TO COCAINE.
Strange Experience of a Doctor and
His Daughter in a Hotel.
Fronl he Mem York World.

from ms " efo loF6 WOrtd.
ELMIRA, N. Y, May 24.-Guests Of the
Delavan house were aroused at an early
hour this morning by unearthly screech-
ings that came from one of the central
rooms. Patrolman Getchell, who was
called in, forced open the door and disc0v-
cred man and a woman tearing the beds
to pieces, overturnng the furniture and
behaving in a frantic manner.
"You are the man who climbed up the
rope to my window" shouted the woman,
pointing her finger at Officer GetcheH.
There were tive beds in the room, the
couple having registered the night before
as father and daughter. A search of the
room revealed Rquautity of cocaine and
hypOdermic syringe. The man attempt
ed to swallow a dose of the drug and to
inject some into his arm, but the officer
restrained him until DIR. 5. f. Stagg, who
had been summoned, arrived. Then it
was learned that the man was A. S. Ha-
zen, well-known physician of Sharps-
vile, Pa. About year ago be began to
experiment on himself by taking hypo-
dermic injections of cocaine, and soon be
became a victim 10 the habit, taking
sometimes as mucn as forty grains a day
Experimenting with his daughter also,
he has made of her as great slave to the
habit as himself.
A search revealed DIR. Hazen's diploma
as physician, a case of surgical in stru-
ments worth probably 5000, a full DOCTORS
kit, and 80 70. Miss Hazen asserted that
when they arrived in Elmira on Saturday
night, they had $l25, but that man had
come into their room at the hotel and
pulled her out from under the bed. where
she had crawled to escape his notice, and
robbed them. The doctor reiterat the
tale, complaining of the disappearance OF
a 500 bill. Their story, however, is
thought TO be purely Imagination. The
pair were rem oved with much difficulty
10 the city hospital their supply Of cocaine
was taken from them and diluted, and de-
creasing doses were given TO them at
lengJhening intervals.
The man presented the appearance Of
one suffering acutely from delirium ire
mems, apparently undergoing all the tor
lures of the damned. He could not lie
still a moment, constantly shifting his p0-
sition, jumping from his bed and mutter-
ing to himself. He declared he would
commit suicide at the first opportunity.
His arms are covered with the marks OF
the syringe, and his face is badly burned
or cut in spots, caused, he says, by an ex-
plosion while experimenting with chemi-
Gals. He Is about As years OF age, light
complexion and sandy moustache, and
weighs about l35 pounds. The daugh ter
appears as old as the father, although she
saws that she ~ only 10 years of age. She
is rather tall and exceedingly spare. Five
weeks ago, she says, she was plump and
hearty, and she declares that the cocaine
has reduced her flesh. She seems deVO-
tedly attached to her father, and talks &C.
sionally 10 him, cOnsOling HIM with the
assertion that be has had lots Of trouble,
aud thar be began 10 take the drug to
drown sorrow.
At 10 o'clock Miss Hazen fell into stu
pOr, from which two physicians failed 70
arouse her. Finally, at the direction OF
DR.. Hazen, who declared that 10 was the
only way TO save her life, large inIec-
lions OF cocaine were administered and
she revived, became perfectly ra-
tiOnal and ate a hearty dinner. Ha-
zen himself had continued IN about at
half crazy state on "A limited supply Of
the drug. file asserted that he could not
proceed on his journey unless he was
given his accustomed dose, and finally il
was thought best 20 allow him 10 have IT,
Shortly afterwards he arose aud dressed
himself, and will proceed on his journey
as soon rs he receives money from his
brother at SharDsVille.