Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-29
CRAZED BY A DOG
Terrible Fight With q Victim
of Rabies
WHO is MADE STARK MAD
From the Bite Of . Dog--Seven Strong
Policemen Struggle With Him Until
He u Exhausted.

CHICAGO, June 2S.-with blankets
about their bodies and their hands
swathed in bandages, seven of the most
powerful Stock Yards police officers
fought this norning with hydrophobia-
maddened James Schwsger, . team
ster. The victim of = rabid dog and
the poison of rabies working most pow
srfuily ON him, the man was q maniac
in frenzy and giant in strength. 1t
was impossible that he should longer
remain In his home ~ his wife. worn
with ceaseless watching, could not, even
when re-cnforced by willing neighbors,
further control the man who 10 now
dying at the County hospital, whittier
he was taken in . patrol wagon shortly
before noon.
SchwAger, bit, kicked and struck at
all within his reach when his violent
spssms were at their worst, and then
when thoroughly exhausted ha would
fall back IN bed, only 10 suffer oil the
horrors of the slow death by hydropho-
bia. His teeth came together like
steel trap. and the breathing was quick
aud labored. Yesterday there was
moisture upon his mouth that resem-
bled froth, but today the lips were
strangely dry, and the striking charac-
teristic Of the fatal disease was most
marked in the fury with which the un-
fortunate man sought to bury his teeth
in the flesh of those about him or the
clothing of his bed. The man lived at
Fifty first street and Western avenue.
Tirst signs OF Rabies.
Schwager. who Is q Canadian by birth,
is u years old, and laborer. Recently
he has been employed as q teamster.
At the above place he lives in humble
home with his wife and four children,
and for four days the house has been
under the guard OF kindly disposed
neighbors, while the horrible disease
was gradually taking firmer hold upon
its victim. June "a the first symptoms
were noticed. Schwager at first paid
little attention to the complaint. He
remained at home and the following
day retired to bed. That night there
was no mistaking the symptoms, but
Schwager did his best to show little
concern.
Late at night he awoke his wife and
acknowledged that ne was very sick
man. His temperature was high, aud
he became 90 nervous that it was neces.
sary for his wife to devote her entire
time to the unfortunate victim. Sun.
day and Monday he grew gradually
worse, until Monday night additional
help was called to cOnfine him to his
bed. Today, . raving maniac, the FAM
lily WAS driven from his room and dared
not approach hin. >Iha.--polioA--w were
then notified and preparations made TO
take him to the hospital. So far had
the disease progressed that it was de-
cided unsafe to approach the man un-
protected, and seven officers who were
present would only attempt to over
come him after taking the most ex-
treme precautions.
Schwager was bitten bv dog belong
ing to Contractor Jacob Bergman April
10. He was working for Bergman and
while loading wagon was attacked by
small dog. The animal afterward
bit three other dogs In the same locality
and escaped. The wounds on Schwager
healed and the attack was forgotten
until last Friday. The police today
killed the dogs that were bitten at the
same time.