The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-12-18
NOVEL USE FOR AMMONIA.
A Mad Man With Cold Chisel Conquered
With n Powerful Squirt Gun.
Years ago, when was youngster, be-


tendent Of public insane asylum. As in
all insane asylums, some Of the patients
were docibe and tractable, and had the free
tom OF high walled garden; while others,
being violent and dangerous in their mad
hess, were confined to their rooms. Some
times one of the last named gentlemen
would get loose, fact which he usually
announced by breaking things generally,
upon which announcement the doctor
would repair to the spot, and advancing
upon him with steadfast gaze would
march him off to his room. We had one
lunatic by the name Of Jones, large and
strong as an ostrich. He- had broken out
OF his room two or three times, but had
always gone back docilely when any one of
US made our appearance.
The asylum had saloon in the center,
with door at each end; and one of the
doors requiring fixing once upon time
carpenter was engaged upon 1t, when in
trundled Mr.. Jones and quietly possessed
himself of long, sharp chisel. When the
carpenter looked around the madman gave
grin and poked the chisel at him, where
upon the man OF chips scuttled out and
locked the door. Then while the enemy
was battering away at it he rushed arouLd
and locked the other door at the other end.
Having thus Gagged Jones he gave the
alarm, and ] supposing it was an ordinary
case which could control unlocked the
door and entered boldly, whereupon he
made rush at me.
incontinently bolted. The doctor was
sent for. He soon came, reconnoitered
through the keyhole and ascertaining that
the enemy was at the other end Of the
room he opened the door and saw at once
he could do nothing with the loose maniac.
Here was apparently dilemma. crazy
individual, as strong as bull, perfectly
uncomfortable and armed with weapon
TO capture him by force was a difficult and
dangerous undertaking, and to starve him
would be tedious affair. But the doctor
did not hesitate long
ALFRED" said he, 'go down into the sur
gerry, fill the largest syringe with hartshorn
and bring it up"
/ caught the idea, rushed down, 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 the fol
lowing array: /, being the shortest of the
three. marched first, holding chair in
front of me by the back, so that the legs
might keep off a rush if our popgun should
flash in the pan. Then came the carpen-
ter, with the syringe resting upon my
shoulder, like a piece Of flying artillery.
Finally, in the rear, in the safest place.
like all great generals, came DIR. Il.
The lunatic sat Mt the other end of the
hall, OH a chair, eying us keenly and saw
agely. Slowly, very slowly, we advanced
toward him. The nearer we got the more
wicked that chisel looked, and the handle
seemed to increase 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 quart Of
hartshorn into his countenance, down he
went like log-it would have knocked
down a battalion-and while he was catch
ing his breath we caught him.-Recollec
tions of "a Physician.