Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-06-11
OVER A STEEP CLIFF.
The Mad Leap Of a Maniac Who Es-
capped From Mercy Hospital.
STRAIGHT DOWN A HUNDRED FEET.
Rescued by Fire Captain Lowered on the
End Of Q Long Rope.
AWFUL STRUGGLE WITH THE LUNATIC

A maniac yesterday jumped over the
high cliff above the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad, and lodged hallway down in
some shrubbery. In attempting to rescue
him, Captain George W. King, of No. 8
Engine Company, had a desperate struggle.
About 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon an in
sane inmate Of Mercy Hospital, whose nameis
said to be Clarke, went out for walk with
sister. His name could not be learned GER
tainly, as the authorities at the hospital re-
fused TO give it. The Mother Superior said
that the mans sister had requested the sup
preston of the name, and she was
herself averse to revealing it. as he belonged
to good family and had numerous rela-
tives in the city. She said, however, that
ne had brother in the insane asylum, and
that he was undoubtedly crazy. "He ought
not to be here" she said. "He ought to be
in Dixmont." She said that he was in
quiet mood yesterday afternoon, and his
sister begged SO hard to allow him to take
walk with her that the Mother Superior
finally consented.
OVER THE PREcIPIcE.
It appears from what the sister said after
her return that she told her brother, during
the walk, that the family intended to have
him sent to Di1mont. This aroused his
worst phase He broke away, and, running
few feet along Bluff street, jumped over
the fence and disappeared down the preci-
pice.
At that point, about half way between
Stevenson and Magee streets, the cliff is Q
perpendicular line Of rocks for 100 feet down
Then there Is soping ledge, where soil has
gatnered and given root to grass and shrub
Dery This ledge Is not over 20 feet, and slopes
Below it there is another sheer fall for 100 feet
TO the tracks of the Baltimore and Ohio Rail-
road, just east of the tunnel.
Inc screaming sister, when she ran to the
eage OF the Cliff and looked over, and the peo-
pie above and below. who either heard her or
saw the leap, discovered the young man lodged
on the grassy slope, clinging to some bushes
lying PROSTATE on the sward. He had jumped
fully 100 feet. He might be dead. No one
above or below could tell. There was no path
leading to the place where he lay, and no one
knew how to rescue him. Those above thought
that long ladder, such as fremen use to reach
the top Of high building might reach him.
Word was telephoned to City Hall, and Chief
Evans ordered truck A. located in Engine
house No. g. on Seventh avenue, to go at once
to the north end OF the Tenth street. bridge.
ONLY ONE WAY TO REACH HIM.
Captain King turned out the ladder truck
and in few minutes they were on Second
avenue, below where the maniac lay stunned
on the ledge. 1t was seen at once that the lad
der, at its longest extension, would not reach
the man. Chief Evans, Building Inspector
Hoffman, Captain King and three truckmen
ascended to the top of the Fort Pitt Incline,
taking with them one Of the truck ropes. They
went TO the point where the man had jumped
over. Captain King volunteered TO go down.
The rope was fastened about his waist and he
was lowered over the precipice. As he neared
the place where the maniac lay the fellow
aroused and cried out, Keep away from me OF
will kill you"
Captain King made jump at the man and
clotched him by the throat. The fellow was
not strong, being rather slender man, but he
fought desperately. King looseued the moose
around his waist and threw it over his prisoner
thus inclosing them both in the same tight en-
brace. Then he called to be drawn up AS
they ascended up the face of the Jagged rocky |
cliff terrible struggle proceeded.
The crazy man tried to reach Kings throat |
but the Captain held him off with his strong |
arms. It seemed like an hour to the Captain |
until they were hauled to the top, and the |
maniac was seized by many strong hands The |
crowds collected below and above cheered |
Justify when the rescue was complete
The escaped inmate was taken back to the |
cell in the hospital. One of Ills ankles had
been severely wrenched by the fall ana had
swollen greatly but otherwise he seemed to be
uninjured. The marvel OF all who saw the act
is that he was not killed by his mad leap over
the rocks.