Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-01-02
NEW POLICE CHIEF.

Captain John Rylands on Deck at the
Bridgeport Police Omce-An Ex-
Shore Line Conductor - Ex-Chief
Marsh Surprised.
BRIDGEPORT, Jan. 1.-Captain John Ry-
lands commenced his duties too day as chief
of police, and his s'initiation" was an auspi-
cious one. Chief Rylands arrived at head
quarters shortly before the hour of 8, and
entering the Office at headquarters entered
upon the duties of the day in a thoroughly
business-like manner. He had been in Office
but few minutes when a large basket of
flowers from John Reck's was placed on his
desk. Attached to the handle of the basket
was card bearing the inscription, "Happy
New Year, from the Bald Knobbers of the
Force" The basket contained large assort-
ment of roses, carnations aud camelias, and
the handle was entwined with smilax, while
ferns dropped over the side of the basket.
Chief Rylands was greatly pleased with the
unobtrusive presentation. Atan early hour
this morning members of the board of police
commissioners, city officials, officers of the
force and others dropped into the Office to
greet the new chief and extend their congrat-
ulations. Chief Rylards is in excellent
health and spirits, and cordially received
everyone. Chief Rylands, who has for q
number of years been a conductor on the
Shore Line division Of the Consolidated
road, made his last run Sunday night, arriv-
ing here early Monday morning. For the
past eight months he has had might" run
on the road, leaving New Haven on an after
noon train and returning on the Shore Line
fowl" in the morning.
Ex-Chief Marsh received last night an ele-
CANT testimonial t1om the police force, an
elegant couch or sofa. It was accompanied
with friendly note from the donors.
A Girl,s Strange Mania For Blood.
ATLANTA (rex.) dispatch to The Philadelphia
Times]
A mslady of a most remarkable a nd dis
tressing nature has recently attacked the
young daughter of Winthrop Davis, who
owns one of the largest sawmills in this
vicinity. The young lady is in her sixteenth
year, and, when in her normal health, of
an amiable, rather shrinking disposition,
and possessed of no small claim to beauty,
besides being intelligent and we'll advanced
In her studies. About three months ago
she feel into a low, melancholy state and
displayed singular aversion to society, re-
fusing entirely to converse at times and ex-
hibiting sullen, angry disposition when
questioned or demonstrated with. All food
was rejected for several days, until piece
of freshly-killed beef was accidently brought
into her presence, when she threw herself
upon it with all the savage greediness of
famished animal and began to tear and rend
1t with her teeth, sucking the blood with
a shocking relish for the yet warm fluid.
Since then, at periods varying from three
to seven days. she is seized with the same
thirst for blood, and when brought in sight
of it will drink it with avidity, in spite of
all efforts made to restrain her. Such efforts
are attended with much danger, for during
those attacks she fails to recognize even the
members of the family and will snap and bite
savagely at any one attempting to modest
her.
her usually gentle expression becoming in
humanity ferocious, her eyes bloodshot and
glaring, while her jaws snap furiously and
she keeps up hideous snarling and growl-
ing. Her face becomes suffused with blood
and her hair like that of an angry animal.
Once satiated with blood she falls into q
deep sleep, as If from intoxication, and In
awakening seems to have no remembrance
whatever of her singular attack and is once
moro her quiet, lady like self, only complain
| ing of severe headache, which frequently
lasts until her next seizure.
| Physicians who have seen her are at q loss
| to account for the cause of her malady, and
have up to the present failed entirely 70 re-
| lieve her. By the advice Of several, at
tempts have been made to keep her from the
J sight of human blood, but the result is SO
| distressing that it is now thought best to al
low her to crafty her unnatural thirst. Un-
able to do 80 otherwise, she attacked her own
feeh, tearing it without any apparent pain
| and sucking the blood with avidity.
On another occasion, when seemingly at
herself, her attention was attracted to 9
younger brother, who, having cut his hand,
entered the honse for the purpose Of having
the bleeding cash bound up. She instantly
leaped across the room, and without warning
seized the boys hurt hand in her mouth and
bit him to the bone. 1t was only with the
greatest difficulty that she could be made to
release him, and when finally forced to let
| go gave vent to her rage in hoarse cries, OF
rather screams, like wild beast cheated ont
Of Its prey.
Mr.. Davis and his wife are persons of edu-
cation and refinement, and profess them-
selves entirely unable 20 account for their
daughters peculiar afdiction, De on both
| sides for generations there has, never been
any intemperance or mental disease.
;