The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-13
CHASED BY A MADMAN.
AN ASYLUM DOCTORS. ExPERI-
ENCE WITH A PATIENT.

| Tree to Save HIS Life, But the
I,unatic Finally Grew Tired of Chas-
| ing Him.
From the Chicago Times.
Eyes, ] know almost everybody thinks
we have what is commonly known as a
soft snap" said one of the physicians at the
| insane asylum at Dunning, "but," he con-
tinued the life of doctor in an insane in
stitution is far from being az easy one.
81 was at one time an inferno in the great
state asylum at Columbus, O., and, as
seemed to get GA exceptionally well with
the poor demented creatures, to handle
them more easily than most Of the internes.
l was under one Of the older physicians,
second in command Of the violent ward.
There were Fl ty patients in this ward all
men, and they were locked up nightly in
separate compartments. Among them was
a young man named Dick Hoffman, from
Cincinnati, l believe, one of the finest speci-
mems Of physical manhood l ever saw. He
was six feet two inches tall weighed about
lS5 pouads and was a trained athlete, hav-
ing taken any number of prizes in the ath-
letic sports at college, from which he had
| just issued when an attack of fever uubal-
anced his reason.
HOFFMAN, was ordinarily a pleasant,
genial, gentlemanly fellow, who delighted
in tramping about all over the grounds
with me. arguing scientific or philosophical
points and lounging about in the shade
reading novels. But he is what we term a
| periodical.
Occasionally he'll would be taken with
another phase OF the malady. His good
spirits, cheerfulness and all would vanish;
he would become surly, sullen and morOse,
| and eventually develop into raviug. howl
ing mailman, whose giant strength was ex-
erted with .errible ferocity against the bars
of the cell ia which we had TO confine him
at such periods.
"We were out walking about the grounds
| one day, Hoffman, aud !, aud he was in a
unusually happy mood, laughing, chatting;
| vaulting over fences, and generally display
ing the pleasantest phase of high animal
| spirits and naturally beautiful disposition.
| Finally we sat down beneath tres. aud he,
! suddenly dismissing his nonsensical style,
| said:
doc, do you know think Pm getting
over those wild fist!
''Of course said l was sure of it.
WELL be continued. Pm battling
against 'em. Whenever | begin to feel blue
| or moody go out and take a run or read a
| few chapters of humorous novel, and
| think can stave it off now
II asked him what sensations character
| lzed the approach OF one OF nus Violent
spells.
40, my God! it's awful he replied.
| Ordinarily Pm as BILE man as any
| body, but when l begin to feel blue and
moody the one great wrong l ever suffered
in my life dances before nv eyes. l loved
| a girl once, Doc-was going TO marry her
but she was foolish, and friend Of mine
was a villain.
"'He told her some stories about me; she
| 10 aIO with har mil ha
formality of marriage, and six months later
| abandoned her. Think of that, Doc!
| loved her, understend-wouldh have died for
| her-and that miserable scoundrel led her
astray and then deserted herl Left her in
| New York, denied by her own parents,
cursed by all her relatives penniless, ruined /
| NV God! Doc, when the thong is of that
man come into nv head the horror grows
and grows and grows.
"'My hatred expands and broadens till it
fills every part of my SOUL l long to
avenge, to kill, to rend, to destroy! o, if l
only had him here at this moment I'd tear
his cowardly heart out OF his body like this,
and thisp
II had tried to soothe him as soon as l
noticed that his narrative was becoming
reality to hi IA, but in vain; his voice rose
to howl Glaring like mad wolf at bay
he, at the climax, seized a small sappling
and tore it. trunk, limbs eud roots. from
the ground, and with a wild, maniacal
laugh he broke the trunk with ono twist
across his knee and waved it on high.
THE next instant he turned to ME. His
voice sank almost to a whisper. and / saw
| the cunning leer of madmRn's plotting in
his eve. He approached me slowly.
"'Ah, yes. know. 1 know I've been raw
ing again, and you would lock me I'D in
that iron cell again. Yes, | see; but you
won't. I'll kill you tlrstp He accompanied
his threat with sweeping blow of the sap
ling, which l lodged by good luck and
sprang behind a tree.
Crack came the awful club against the
troe, but escaped him. Then he started
around after me, and If ever there was q
lively dodge and chase it was that one.
He wouldn't let go of the club, or else he
could have caught me easily. but failing
it around at me was pretty heavy work,
and hadn't great deal of trouble dodg-
ing.
at was a fearful position, though. alone
| in the grove, away from help, with this
raving maniac bent on ones destruction.
| The perspiration streamed from every pore
of my body with the violent exercise and
the awful mental strain.
| "But there was no escape. IL / tried to
| cut and run for it | knew he'd catch me
before had gone 100 yards. The dodg ing
business was my only salvation. and l did
! dodge like a cat. For two long hours
this deadly game was cnntinued with
out cessation. 1 was hoping we should
| be missed and some OF the atteud-
ants might come searching for us, but no
| one came.
ITO my delight Hoffman's face eventually
became wet with perspiratiou, and even his
| tireless energy seemed to flag bit. Further
more, after while the murderous look died
out OF his eyes aud he grinued instead. The
symptom was favorable. l wa ted till he
| was pretty we'll tired out and the deadly
glare had entirely gone. Then from behind
the tree / called out:
"'Stop minute. Dickr To my joy he
stood still and listened. continued talking:
Il say, old man, I've had about enough of
| this for one day. Wait till Tomorrow and
| I'll take another turn with you
"'All rigot, Doc he responded. I'm
pretty well used up myself Sort of off in
my training lately. Why. when l was at
school | could keep up gains like this for
hours
He dropped his club, drew handker-
chief from his pocket and mopped his
streaming face. Let's be getting back to
dinner be said, and l came from behind
the tree with some misgivlngs add Joined
him. There was no further danger, though.
"He had worked off the violent fit and
had forgotten all about it. For the nonce
he was as sane as myself ] was always
careful thereafter to watch Hoffman,
| closely and to never let his mind revert to
the tragedy Of his life"
Take, Take, Taka simmons Liver Reou