Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1891-08-21
TUSSLK WITH A MANIAC,
A SOLDIER GETS A LESSON IN THE
CARE OF THE INSANE.

Inc SaleC WOKE IN Ills masters Room
to Find the Mailman Sitting on the
Servants Body with a Death Grasp or
tho Unfortunate Mans Throat.
l am a trained nurse. My speciality is
the care of the insane. l was formerly a
corporal in the British Marine artillery,
and on my discharge, finding my pension
not sufficient to keep me, l looked about
for employment. Having excellent good
conduct papers 1 was not long in obtaining
a situation as personal attendant, or what
is called body servant to a young gentle
man named Frank Hardy, the son of a
wealthy English clergyman, who was
studying for the army examinations.
Young Mr.. Hardy was as fine a specimen
of physical manhood as l ever set eyes
upon, but he was a living instance of the
old saying, "The nearer the church the
further from God" He was not only wild;
he was licentious. When ] joined him
even there were signs of the breaking up of
a magnificent constitution and powerful
intellect, though he was but twenty-six
years of age.
In the suite of rooms Mr.. Hardy rented
on Russell square, London, I occupied a
like chamber at the back, connecting with
the main rooms through the bathroom and
his bedroom, which opened on to his study
by a single door, and that, by a large pair
of folding doors, upon the large front re-
ception room. I was also able to reach
this front room by the hall passage with
out entering my masters rooms at all. Be-
sides my duties of keeping his clothes and
rooms in order, preparing his toilet and
looking after his wants generally, I was
expected to be in readiness at any hour of
the day or night to attend upon him.
IN THE MASTERS
AS he generally came home in the small
hours of the morning you may guess that
my office was no sinecure. On these occa-
sions he was more like a wild beast han a
human being. l will not bother to tell
how for some weeks I had noticed q re-
markable change coming over the young
man, until in sheer self protection I had
confided certain fears to our landlady's
husband (himself an old soldier), and had
requested him, should I at any time not
appear at my usual hour, to burst open
my door, for l should probably be in want
of assistance. 1 felt better after I had
done this anyway.
1t was on Aug. 4, 1879. l am not likely
to forget the date, for it was one of the
narrowest squeaks for being my last day l
ever had. The young master had for some
days been in Il sort of sullen mood, morose
and irritable, occasionally breaking out
into spusmodic passions and destroying
whatever was within his Immediate reach.
l did not like the prospect, and was even
more anxious from the fact that he had,
during those days, entirely given up drink
and tobacco. If he had stuck to the latter
perhaps this adventure would never have
happened to me-. l am a great believer in
the soothing effects of nicotine, and l have
seen it produce calming results of the most
satisfactory nature upOn many dangerous
rabid lunutics.
On the morning of Aug. 4 my master
came home at 9 O'Clock and Mt once called
upon me to attend him. was SO used to
his eccentricities that I was not very much
surprised when he ordered me to bring my
little iron cot bed and fix it up in his room.
He was not feeling we'll, he said, and was
rather afraid of sleeping alone. Of course
1 did as / was commanded, and in five min.
utes I was ensconced in his apartments.
IN A MANAGES GRASP.
Twas not quite satisfied with his strange
behavior nor with the peculiar way in
which he watched my every movement,
and 1 determined to be in readiness for any
emergency. 1t was not long before it
arose. After assisting him to get off his
clothes and get into bed I lay down on my
own cot, and l confess to having fallen of
to sleep very quickly. The awakening
came with equal suddenness in this way.
I felt a heavy weight pressing upon me
while some one seemed to be making an
effort to strangle me. You know what d
nightmare isf Well, haven't you some
times sort of said to yourself during an in.
digestion dream that you knew it was
only a dream and would pass away sooni
I have, and that is how I acted that night
I kind of smiled to myself, and said it had
to 60 if I only waited long enough.
But somehow it did not go. Instead Of
going it got a great deal worse, and wher
at last l opened my eyes, through the din
Light Of the morning I saw the face of my
young master glaring down at me, while
with his thumbs at my throat be was
quietly choking the life out Of me. l had
sense enough not to make an effort tc
move, and then I discovered that he was
sitting across my body, with his knees
upon my arms, and I was therefore power
less. What was I to do2 lie was grad.
ually but surely killing me! Just as al
these things flashed across my mind he no
ticed that my eyes were open.
"Ahl Pve got you now! You'll play
the detective on me, will you? You'll play
the eavesdropper, Ell? We shall seel'' and
he squeezed me a little tighter.
RUsE THAT WORKED
1t was a matter of a few moments only
I knew that. It is not difficult to recog
nize moral danger when it is SO close as al
that. Strategy was my only chance.
gave a little struggle to put him off the
SCENT; he only squeezed tighter and laughed
Then, with a gasp, l let my jaw drop an6
my limbs fall loose and limp beneath tn.
mailman. Would my trick succeed? The
few seconds that followed my ruse passed
like hoursl
Yes! He felt the difference. What would
he dor Just what 1 hoped he would. RAISED
my head and shoulders from the pillows
and after one more squeeze, which nearly
did have the desired effect, flung me bacl
on the pillows. But in so doing he ~loosenee
his hold of my throat and his knees slipped
from my arms. That instant saved my
life. Quickerthan I can sayit I was awake
alive and fighting for supremacy with