Morris tribune., 1886-10-06
The Turmoil of the Niagara Rap
ids Created Madness in Him.

~ have not theleast doubt" said
an eminent American physician at
recent medical convention, "tnat at
least one out of every ten OF the peo-
pile in this country live under some
form of insanity. In some it becO mes
violent; in others noticeable; IN others
never known or suspected except
there is what might be termed collu-
sion of circumstances"
There have been some curious cases
of this last species of insanity. Some
seven or eight years ago public OIL
cial of the State of Ohio visited Mag
ara Falls with his family for months
rest. He was nervous and worn out,
and, there were certain business and
political matters which followed him
there and could not be shaken off.
The gentleman did not realize that his
nerves were at all shaken; on the con-
trary, he prided himself in believing
that he could endure more mental
worry than three ordinary men. He
had been at the falls three or four
days when he was joined by Chicago
90 oitalist The two had speculation
together, an.. Utie oe'''i'0 "040 ~ ~
settled here. :; o,,+
One day after dinner the pa "0"O
into Prospect Park and sat down on
a bench facing the rapids, and not
over five feet from the water. When
they had talked for an hour or so,
the Ohio gentleman seemed to be
somewhat excited in his speech and
movements. He threw several sticks
into the water, talked in loud tones,
and soon attracted attention. The
capitalist thought it 81 bit queer, but
felt no uneasiness until the other sud
denly seized him in a tremendous
grip and said:
"Blank, you are ID scOundrel,
and Pm going to send you over the
falls!''
The capitalist was the smaller and
the weaker man, and he felt the help
lessness of the situation. He was
gripped by the shoulders, but he used
his hands to clench the seat behind
him, and replied to the lunatic:
II know I'm a bad man, and you
must give me time to pray"
albright, all right, said the Ohioan;
''you shall have two minutes for pray
ers, and then we'll go over the falls to-
gether. Say, Blank, you are q ID
good fellow, after all, and we'll go to-
gether."
The idea with the Chicago man was,
of course, to gain time. The people
who had been attracted by the loud
talk had passed on, and it so happen
ed that no one else came that way.
Hehoped the lunatic might change mis-
mind after two minutes, but instead
OF that he grew more impatient de-
claring that they must hurry up or they
would be too late Despairing Of aid
from others, the capitalist finally said
"See here, Mr.. Blank, let's go up and
Jump off the Goat Island bridge. Well
have further to swim, and | want to
leave my wallet with some one"
"By George! Good idea; come on"
exclaimed the other, and they walked
up the path and out of the park arm
in arm. They were no sooner out OF
sight of the rapids than the Ohloan
began to grow calmer, and as they
bore off toward the hotels heremOved
his hat, scratched his head III a
thoughtful way, and picked up the
pOlI1O lie uIOppcu S1 " IAGbA CSL VI SNii hS't
before and went on debating the trans,
action as if nothing unusual had oc-
Cured. An hour later, when asked if he
was in earnest in threatening his
friend, he was completely dumfound,
ed, nor could he be made to believe
that anything OF the sort had occur
red. However, dim suspicion that
he might have been unduly excited by
the roar and clash OF the waters crept
into his mind. He went down to the
park alone, but returned almost at
once, his face very pale, his eyes be-
traying wildness, and his whole man
ner showing that he had passed
through q severe struggle.
81 shall keep away from the water
hereafter" he said to the capitalist.
~ couldn't stay there five minutes
without committing suicide or muir
DER
The matter was ofcourse kept quiet,
even from the wife, but two years lat
er, while the gentleman was making
q trip on the Ohio River he was sud
denly missed, and he has never been
heard of since The boat was racing
with another, and the probabilities
are that the excitement brought back
his passion for self-destruction, and
that be went overheard.