Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-11-29
A HUNT FOR A WILD MAN
Shipwrecked and Insane Sailor
Terrorizes Rockaway Beach.
ARMED WITH A GUN AND A SWORD.
For Two Weeks the Maniac Mate of Lost
Schooner Has Run Wild on Long Island,
and Now 1t Is Proposed to Hunt Him
Down with a Posse and Lock Him Up.


Schooner Has Run Wild on Long Island,
and Now 1t Is Proposed to Hunt Him
Down with a Posse and Lock Him Up.
New YonK, Nov. 29-There will be a
man hunt at Rockaway beach today, I'm
which some one is sure to get hurt. On one
side will be a maniac armed with fowling
piece and knife, and on the other 10 reso-
lutte fishermen headed by the six foot chief
of police. For two weeks the inhabitants
of Rockaway beach, Long Island, have
been terrorized by what has been described
as a wild man." 1t now turns cut that he
is maniac sailor.
Three weeks ago the Schooner Maggie
Devine ran on the rocks just outside of
Rockaway inlet in n heavy gale. She went
to pieces in the breakers, but all Of her
crew escaped save one. This was the mate
James Rush, who was Washed overheard
and was given up as lost The wild man"
and the mate are now supposed to be one
and the same.
Lives Raw CLANS.
Ever since the night a. the wreck the
wild man has made his home in the
woods near the village Fnnd among the
rocks on the beach, at times seeking shell
ter in a dilapidated oyster shed known as
Uncle Dicks shanty."
His neither limbs are S4ssased in battered
blue overalls. He wears y frayed and soiled
white blouse and a sailors hat. His feet
are bare, and his long, uEkempt hair and
beard hang down upon his brawny shout
ders and massive chest.
Eight days ago John Lauth, a wealthy
hardware merchant of this city, while driv-
ing on Rockaway beach, saw the wild
man." He ran into the underground and
disappeared. On the same day a fisherman
named Mcdonald and George Farrell came
upon him. He scared them so badly that
they got away as fast as they could.
The wild man was not seen again until
Friday last. Then be chased from the
beach to the village Edward Tracy, one Of
the Oldest Inhabitants. On the same dag
in the forenoon John Corning, contractor
of RockawaS, with one of his workmen,
William McNay, was returning from Rock
away park. In the middle of the road
they encountered the demented sailor. He
struck Corning on the back of the neck
with club and felled him. McVay Crap
pied with the wild man." but he escaped
into the brush.
A Posse After Him.
The same afternoon Mrs. II. l.. MacAr-
thur, the wife of Rockaway's chief of po-
lice, was returning home from Rockaway
park, when the wild man. came behind
/ her and seized her by the throat. He tore
her right ear with his talonlike nails and
pounded her head on the ground, render
! ing her unconscious. As she is in u deli
cate condition, her physician fears for her
| life.
! He has a captured gun and has become
| more than ever a menace to the safety of
the people of ROckaway beach. Police
Captain Macarthur, with posse was out
looking for him yesterday afternoon, but
/ without success
( Captain Macarthur went to Long Island
| City last night to obtain an armed posse of
/ deputy sheriffs to capture him. y reward
/ OF $50 has been offered for his arrest by
the citizens of Rockaway.