Evening star., 1886-11-23

TERRIBLE STRUGGLE ON BOARD A STEAMER
DRUNKEN LUNATIC MEETS HIS FATE.
John Johnston, fireman on board the
steamer Crystal, of the Arrow Line, running
between New York and Leith, met with terri
bic death yesterday morning. The vessel was
lying at the foot of west 26th street, New York,
and had just arrived. Johnston, who was shipped
at Leitn, gave evidences of a distorted mind on
many occasions during the voyage and he had
conceaied y heavy iron bar under his shirt, with
which he threatened to kill his fellow firemen
nine in number. Johnston went ashore as soon
us the vessel was docked, and he got crazed
with drink, returning to the Crystal at 2 o'clock
in the morning. The drunken madman scrs.m-
bled on board, and going below found Robert
Henderson, fellow-tireman, sleeping quietly
in his berth. Johnston seized him by the feet
and hurting him out on the floor fell upon him
with savage fury. Henderson disenyased him
self as well as he could, and ran up on deck
Johnston followed and chased him from end fo
end OF the vessel. Part Of the cargo consisted OF
oak staves, ,ot which number were piled on deck
stave after stave at the fleeing mans head
Twice Johnston overlook him and throwing
him Oh the deck clutched his throat with an
iron grip, endeavoring to choke him to DEATH
While he stood painting near the rail of the
steamer the madman freed himself from the
grasp OF those who held him and made a sudden
and unexpected spring at Henderson's throat
with the evident Intention Oi throwing Inn
backward over the rail into the river. Hender-
son staggered back and fell heavily against the
bulwaIk, but the force Oh the assault was too
great for the drunken man. He went over the
rail headiOng himself and disappeared under
the water with a yell. All efforts TO save the
man failed, and it was not until after day break
that the body was found where he had Jumped
in, the iron bar in the mans clothing having
taken him straight to the bottom. IL was also
found that he had stuck his head on a ringbolt
on the bulwark in going over, and the blow had
crushed in his skull. Blood and brains on the
iron bolt showed how he had met his fate
JOhnstOn's body was taken to the mOrgue and
the coroner was summoned
RESIGNATION OF A FAITH CURE CLERGYMAN
The Rev. John Salmon, pastor of the York ville
Ont. Congregational church, who is an unswery-
ing advocate OF the faith cure, has resigned
a majority of his congregation not being In
accord with him in his belief
FIGHTING THE BELL TELEPHoNE-The
strike which the Rochester, N. v, telephone
subscribers have inaugurated against the Bell
telephone company, which controls the system
in that city, began at noon Saturday, when the
steam whistles of nearly every factory in the
city were blown as signal to indicate that the
fight agains: the company had begun. The op-
position Is TO a change in the tariff of rentals
The old rate was $50 to $50 per year for the use
of each instrument. The new tariff charges at
the rate of $50 for 800 messages and a propor-
tiOnate rate tor each additional message The
only business places using telephones Saturday
night were one or two hotels, the telegraph
offices and the cab Office. It is estimated that
there are $50 telephones idle on account OF the
strike.