The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1891-11-19
Ammonia Stopped Him.

Years ago, when I was ycungster, l
became an assistant of DR.. B., the super.
intendent of public insane asylum. As
in all insane asylums some of the patients
were docile and tractable, and had the
freedom of high-walled garden; while
others being violent and dangerous in
their madness, were confined to- their
rooms. Sometimes one of the last named
gentlemen would get loose, a fact which
he usually announced by breaking things
generally, upon which announcement the
doctor would repair to the spot, and, ad-
vaucing upon him with steadfast gaze,
would march him off to his room. We
had QUE lunatic by the name of Jones,
large. aud strong as an ostrich. He had
broken out of his room two or three
times, but had always gone back when
any one of us made our appearance.
Tie asylum had saloon in the center,
with door at each end snd one Of the
doors requiring fixing, once upon time,
carpenter was engaged upon it, when
in truudled Mr.. Jones and quietly pos
sessed himself Of long, sharp chisel.
When the carpenter looked around, the
madmsn gave grin and poked the CHS
ell at him, whereupon the man of chips
scuttled out and locked the door, then
while the enemy was bS.tetng at the
door, he rushed around and locked the
door at the other end. Having thus
Gagged Jones, he gave the alarm, and |,
supposing it was an ordinary case, which
I could control, unlocked the door and
entered boldly, whereupon he made q
rush at me.
| incontiuently bolted. The doctor
was sent for. He,soon came, reconnois-
cred through the keyhole, and ascertain,
ing that the enemy was at the other end
of the room, he opened the door, snd saw
at ouce he could do nothing with the
loose maniac. Here was apparently
dilemma. A crazy individual. as strong as
.a.bull, perfectly uncomfortable, and arm
ed with a weapon. To capture him by
force was difficult and dangerous un>
dertaking, and to starve him would be
tedious affair. But the doctor did not
hesitate long.
"Alfred," said he, ego down into the
surgery, fill the largest syringe with
hartshorn, and bring it up
I caught the idea, rushed do#n and
brought back quart syringe with harts
horn diluted-for didn't want to kill the
man. Then the doctor, the carpenter
and myself formed an army of Invasion.
We threw open the door and entered in
Che following array: I, being the short
est Of the three, marched first, holding
chair in front of me by the back, so that
the legs might keep off rush if our
popgun should flash in the pan. Then
came the carpenter, with the syringe
resting. on, my shoulder, like piece Of
flying artillery. Finally in the rear, in
the safest place, like all great generals,
came DR.. B.
The lunatic sat at the other end of the
hall, on chair, cycling US keenly and
savagely. Slowly, very slowly, we ad'
vanced toward him. The nearer We got
the more wicked that chisel looked, and
the handle seemed to incres q until it
was very, very long. When we were
within few feet of him, he jumped up
and sprang toward me. Whiz! splatterl ]
splash went the hartshorn into hi9
countenance, down he went like log-it
would have knocked down a battalion
and while he was catching his breath
we caught him. .-Reccllections Of a Ply
e;o;n,