The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-07-24
TUSSLE WITH A MANIAC.
A SOLDER GETS A LESSON IN THE
CARE OF THE INSANE.
The valet Woke In His Masters Room
to Find the Madman Sitting on the
Servants Body with n Death Grasp on
the Unfortunate Mans Throat.

Servants Body with n Death Grasp
the Unfortunate Mans Throat.
am a trained nurse. Ny speciality Is
the care of the insane. l was formerly
corporal in the British Marine artillery.
and on my discharge. finding my pension
not sufficient TO keep me. looked about
for employment. Having excellent good
conduct papers was not long in obtaining
situation as personal attendant. or what
is called body servant to a young gentle
man named Frank Hardy, the son of q
wealthy English clergyman, who was
studying for the army examinations
Young Mr.. Hardy was as fine specimen
of physical manhood as | ever set eyes
upon, but be was living instance of the
old saying, 1.-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-si
years of age.
In the suite of rooms Mr.. Hardy rented
on Russell square, London. occupied =
like chamber at the back, connecting with
the main rooms through the bathroom and
his bedroom, which opened on to his study
by single door, and that, by large pair
of folding doors, upon the large front re-
ception room. | 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, was
expected to be in readiness at any hour of
the day or night TO attend upon him.
IN THE MASTERS ROOM.
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 wild beast than a
human being. l will not bother to tell
how for some weeks | had noticed re-
markable change coming over the young
man, until in sheer self protection | had
contided certain fears to our landlady's
husband (himself an old soldier), and had
requested him, should l at any time not
appear at my usual hour, to burst open
my door, for should probably be in want
of assistance. | felt better after l had
done this anyway.
1t was on Aug. 4, 1879. am not likely
to forget the date, for it was one of the
narrowest squeaks for being my last day
ever had. The young master had for some
days been in a sort of sullen mood, morose
and irritable, occasionally breaking out
into spasmodic passions and destroying
whatever was within his immediate reach.
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. 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 lunatics.
On the morning of Aug my master
came home at 2 O'Clock and at once called
upon me to attend him. l was SO used TO
his eccentricities that | was not very much
surprised when he ordered me to bring my
little iron cot bed and fix itup in his room.
He was not feeling well, he said, and was
rather afraid of sleeping alone. OF course
did as l WAS commanded, and in five min
utes was ensconced in his apartments.
IN MANAGES GRASP.
/ was not quite satisfied with his strange
behavior nor with the peculiar way in
which he watched my every movement,
and 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 lay down on my
own cot, and | confess TO having fallen off
to sleep very quickly. The awakening
came with equal suddenness in this way.
felt heavy weight pressing upon me.
while some one seemed to be making an
effort TO strangle me. You know what a
nightmare ISL 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 soon?
1 have, and that is how acted that night.
/ kind Of smiled to myself. and said it had
to go if only waited long enough.
But somehow it did not 20. Instead Of
going it got a great deal worse, and when
at last opened my eyes, through the dim
light Of the morning | saw the face Of my
young master glazing down at me, while
with his thumbs at my throat he was
quietly choking the life out of me. / had
sense enough not to make an effort TO
move, and then l discovered that he was
sitting across my body, with his knees
upon my arms, and was therefore power
less What was TO do2 lie was grad
these things flashed across my mind be no
ticed that my eyes were open.
"Ah! I've got you nowl You'll play
the detective on me, viii your You'll play
the eavesdropper, eh' We shall see" and
he squeezed me little tighter.
RUsE THAT WORRIED.
II was a matter Of few moments only
] knew that II is not difficult 20 recog-
nize moral danger when it is so close as all
that Strategy was my only chance. I
gave a little struggle 70 put him of the
scent; ne only squeezed tighter and laughed
Then, with gasp, let my jaw drop and
my limbs fall loose and limp beneath the
mailman. Would my trick succeedf The
few seconds that followed my russ passed
like hoursl
Yes! lie felt the difference What would
he do' Just what 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 back
on the pillows. But in so doing be loosened
his hold Of my throat and his knees slipped
from my arms That instant saved my
life. QuickeTthaD I cssn say til was awake.
alive and fighting for supremacy with .
raving murderous lunatici
had 10 knoT.edge Of how 70 treat such /
people, bat self preservation IS \ wonder I
fui teacher. With ny arms free could 1
wrest.e and wrestle did By good luek /
OF accident, in the course Of that struggle /
we came 70 tie floor with the mailman an 4
derDesth. and then ! noticed that / had 4
got him into an iaeItrlcab.e taBzis with 4
tie sheet. l. was wound round and round 4