The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-27
BELLEVUE'S ORDERLY.
rvrRAO REVELATIONS
RNiNG THE HOSPITAL.

An Insane Man for Years Intrusted
with the Care o. 7 atients-His Re-
,noval Due to an Attack on Physi-
c,an-Dr. Lorenzo Gives Instances of
His Violence.
From the New YORK Press.
For several years past vague whisperings
have been heard OF a crazy orderly being
o,rnloved in Bellevue Hospital. His duties
;ncluded such trivial responsibilities as
General supervision of the ward placed in
his charge, and dispensation of the medi
cines ordered by the physicians to the pa
+ients. The orderly referred to was a Span
iard powerfully built, about 5 feet s inches
in height. He was known as Sebastian, and
his name carried terror wherever it went.
The hospital authorities tolerated the man
for long time because of his political in
Anence He was known to be insane. At
one time he attempted to throw a sick man
down stairs AT another time he started in to
abuse a professional pugilist, but the latter
made up in science and grit what he lacked
in strength and administered a few timely
blows that made Sebastian afraid to repeat
the attempt. Sebastian was in some res
meets model official He was attentive to
his duties and always kept his ward neat
and clean. 1t was impossible, however, to
rely upon his temper. He was victim Of
ballucinations and conceived peculiar dis
likes. The ward placed in his charge was
No. "a The orderly of No %, is a small
slender man of sickly appearance and timid
nature. Sebastian had terrorized this
man. He never dared cross the threshold of
the door between the two wards.
The crazy Orderly however, would some
4 ~
crazy ideas. Looking through the open
doors connecting the two divisions, he would
single out a patient for his peculiar ami
mostly and seek every opportunity by
threatening looks and words to render the
mans existence wretched. He had the idea
that his fellow orderlies were combining
with the patients to rob him of his position
Often he would.approach them and his sin
their ears blood-curdling threats.
For years past these men have known
that Sebastian was insane, and have said so
openly. The house doctors also have known
of his mental arrangement, but nothing
was done to remove him until about two
months ago, when he broke out into a vio-
lent passion. 1t appears that Sebastian had
conceived a particular hatred for Young
DR. Lorenzo, who recently succeeded Dr.
Gibbs in The second medical division of the
hospital This feeling he managed to con-
troll for a while. One day in December
when DR.. Lorenzo entered the ward as
usual he found Sebastian pacing the
room to and fro i'll state of intense excite
ment. The mere sight of the doctor was
sufficient to throw the orderly into a frenzy
In second he was transformed into a
raving maniac. Horrible imprecations
poured in torrents from his lips He rushed
TO the medical chest, and, picking up bottle
after bottle, hurled them at the doctor
without word of warning.
Get out of this room! | am master
herem be yelled. The physician fed for his
Life. DR.. LOOMS soon joined him in his
room, and a consultation followed, which
resulted in a determination on the part of
DR.. Lorenzo to have the orderly arrested as
person not safe to be at large.
1t was deemed best, however, to have
everything conducted as quietly as posi-
bic, so as to avoid publicity. Consequently
two policemen made their appearance in
the dress of citizens and asked the orderly
toaccompany them for stroll Unusual as
this request certainly must have appeared
to him, coming as it did from strangers,
Sebastian nevertheless consented to the
proposal and went with them Shortly
afterward he was arraigned in the York
vile Police Court. Even then he appeared
to be unconscious of his condition. He be-
haved with remarkable quietness and con-
troll until the nature of the charges against
cred that he stood before the bar of justice
to be adjudged as to his mental condition,
he completely broke down and gave I'M
mistakable evidences of his insanity. He
was so violent that it was necessary to use
force in order to restrain him. He was
bound hand and foot and conveyed to the
insane pavilion at Bellevue Hospital. Here
he raved madly for several days until it was
known that his case was hopeless He is
now an inmate of the insane asylum on
Randall's Island
The question that presents itself to all
reasonable people is, why should an insane
man have been allowed for years to occupy
the responsible position of orderly in pub
lie hospital where sick and dying men are
sheltered and cared for.
Sebastian seems to have been an autocrat
in his way. No one, not even Warden
O'Rourke, dared interfere with his ar
rangements. Undoubtedly the warden
wished for long time to be rid of his crazy
attendant, but the madman's unknown pa
tron succeeded in retaining him in office
until tie outbreak already described made
his dismissal imperative.
The narrative outlined above coming to
the ears Of a reporter, he undertook to in
vestigate the story. Registrar Ricsrd, Of
Bellevue Hospital, whose duty it is to keep
the official record of the admission and dis
charge of patients, when questioned, re-
called the TACT or SabaStlan'S commitment,
but professed the greatest surprise when it
was intimated that the orderly had been
mentally unsound during his whole term of
service
why, he was the most intelligent and
best conducted orderly in the house." he
declared stoutly He was great student,
and kept to his room a great deal reading
medical books. You wouldn't call that
insanity, would you? In fact, | was
greatly surprised al his mind giving way. 1t
must have come from overstudy."
What was the mans full nameW asked
the reporter.
Joseph p Sebastian" was the reply.
He was born in Spain, and had been en-
ployed here for good many years. Let
ME see; it was in 1872 he came here. l re-
member his entry into service here very
well"
Did he not come here first as patient"
Not at all. He was as well as you OF, l. He
came here as an orderly in the employ of
the corporation"
Can't you recollect, Mr.. Ricard," per-
sisted the reporter, that Sebastian came
mere suffering from fracture of the skull,
was treated and retained as a nurseN
:. NO" reiterated the registrar. 81 be-
heye he did have something the matter
with his head, but it was the result of an
injury received in childhood. We never
make orderlies or officials of discharged pa
tlentS. Sebastian was a capable and trust