New-York tribune., 1886-11-10
ESCAPE OF TWO LUNATICS.
PADDING ACROSS FROM WARDS ISLAND.

THROWN INTO THE RIVER FROM THEIR RAFT
CAUGHT IN THIS CITY.
Policeman Mckinley, of the Twenty second
Precinct. was parO'ns his ooat In Fttythrdst. near
seventh-ave.. about 5 a m. yesterday. whom his
revcries were disturbed by the appearance Of
two who were sueaking along the
sidewalk and trying to notice By keeping In the
shadow OF the buildings Tho policeman thought OK
thieves and robbers ana erasped his long nishtstick
and advanced boldly toward the Instead OF turn
ing him trying escape fight they got on their
knses aud psous and beseechng begged him 70
protect rhsD. was then found that they were bare
footed and hasss their clothes dripping vet aud
they shvered with cold.
Tnsy were taken to the police station. and there, In
the dim gaseht that they werc In the dress
Of the iunatics confined on Wards Island. On their
backs, painted in large black figures, was tho num-
Der OF the ward to which they belonged IL
timo before they became warm enough TO
tell who they were and they como there Bus the
In the station finally brought them to their senses
ana they told ptfu taie OF their escape from wars
Island. They gave their names Bernard McLaurh
and Cornelius Enright They have been 10 the insane
department on the island only three weeks They were
confined on the second floor In tho asylum
building and while the orterIies were not looking
managed to one OF the thin iron rods tn@ ARC
fastened perpendlcularly across tho windows Iben oy
tying their blankets together formed rope on which
they slid to the ground.
From the asylum they gained tho shore OF tho
island am making raft OF few boards began to pad
die toward the New-York shore. stih wind was
blowing at the time and that together Win sne
strong current Of the tide soon separated their
fragile craft and pitched them into the stream BY this
time their escape had bean discovered and orderics
sent to scour the island for them. The escaping
unatcs swam to the shore stole OF the boats Of
the Emigration Commission. There were no oars TO 10
and they up pieces Of planks and pushed out into
the How they ever managed to reach the New
York shore 4, mystery TO a the boatmen on the river.
who know the strength Of the tide.
They were taken the Yorkvlle Police Court yester-
dsy morning Justice White was on the bench ana 70
him they told Of brutality and l-treatment rom
the ordere, Island aud begged the Ju'tice nos
to send them back. as they would Dc osA.en
ing stories remsnded them for future examination
and tho officers from the island an opportunity
lie said that he was carpenter By trAe an had wife
aud two children. who are now living IN Fron,st he
aud from there was sent to :hs island. where ne has
since been conausd Dr. McDouald's assistant on the
The accusations Of cruelty arc silly and untrue The
rules as Regards the treatment OF the insas & arg
there not In this institution any manacies' nana.
witS They nave the utmost liberty snd freedom TO
show you she ooshnsss Of such CHARGE We s-nn ous
of one kind and another, and u one oi n, tns
guards treated them cruelty they coua turn on n,n
Only sixteen eusrs are sent with this large body Of
mon and we seldom hivs any accident occur We uont
wish 10 keep longer than it Is necessary.
IL our ambition physicians to cure them poss-
ble and send thom away SO III " patient NAV nave
every opportunity to prove himself sane faysicAnns
visit them twice lay and they are watched closely
for signs OF returping reason. Ine isass s
complaint against n guard Is looked int9
and IL found be- true. he Is di-charxed
without sny further examination Both tne men we're
sent brre shootingOne at his wife ana the otuer AZ
his mother. They were considered 70 DO oS"s'''u'
lunatica" .. .t..,,
one OF the employees said: The departneng. dans mt
seem to care WHISTLER escapet or pot Win .uo
Island properly patrolled 1t would be impossipe Ior
any Of them Some night there VIII oe eou
ers rush OF the aud many OF them who have tne
idea that they can swim or ny on.o
hirda will be Kiiled drowned ouco
saw a number OF them drawing neavy stoae. am ono
OF them did pull quite hard enough SO the ORDERLY
knock ked him do WIN ami kicked him. tue othsr p4iohts
act the orderly he had TO whistle for assistance
or he would have been killed