The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1893-04-07
FIGHTING A MANIAC.
SAVED ONLY BY STRATEGY.
A Crazy Man Attempts to Huri james
Doyle from tho Roof Of
Chicago Hotel.

Alone on the top Of sixteen-story build
Ing, the Great Northern hotcl save for the
company OF II mad man who ilercely strove to
huil him over the edge was the experience OF
George Doyle of Chicago, Friday, and to his
quick wit rather than to his strength lie owes
his life. One week ago Albert Gcdncy and
his son Robert, young man, registered from
Philadelphia. Thursday the elder Gedney
went to Omaha on business, leaving his son
In Chicago.
Residing Mt the hotel Is one George Doyle,
a former Philadelphia, who had known
young Gcdney In his youth. Naturally they
were much together and, Gcdney forgetting
or not realizing that the hotel was one Of the
Vantage view points OF the city, proposed
that they go to the Masonic Temple to take n
look over the city
Finally they went to the roof Of the new
hotel. They stood for some time looking over
the city when suddenly Gedney gave strange
laugh, and grabbing Doyle by the hand he
began pulling him across the small square
and back again, as II the cool breeze had ex-
hiarated him To playfulness. Then he said:
."Ilold my hand, l want to look down"
Doyle did so. and he gazed over the side at
the people who looked like pigmies below.
Then, with baneful light In his eyes and
with strange earncstness In his voice. In
contrast with his recent playfulness, he said:
you've got to jump on the building or III
throw you off,"
For the first time It came back to Doylc's
| memory that Gedney had several years ago
been treated for mild form Of insanity In
an asylum at home. His first impulse, as the
slckening realization Of the situation came
over him, was to call for help, but Gedney Is
larger and stronger than he, and such policy
might have meant almost instant death. He
tricd,to iemporize aud treat the matter as a
jokcl
'Will you jump,m said Gedney, and with
out waiting for reply he seized Doyle and
began 10 drag him towards the edge Doyle
fought with the desperation of despair, and
the men closely locked together staggered TO
and fro over the roof Gcdney steadily fore.
Ing his man towards the edge. Twice Doyle
trlppcd him and they fell together, and twice
Gcdncy broke away only TO renew the at
tempt 10 hurl Doyle to the pavement far be-
low.
Robert Hazlem, who has an. Office in the
upper story of the Mcnadack building, just
across the street, saw the men struggling and
rushing across to the hotel, he Informed Mr..
Eden, the PROPRIETOR, and accompanied by a
porter, started for the roof. When they
reached the stairs leading 10 the roof, Doyle,
barehcaded, came dashlng down. He was
very weak and excited, and almost fainting
fell agains, the porter,
With his clothes torn from his back and his
blanched face and trcmbllngs bore witness TO
the terrible ordeal he had undergone. Ged-
ney was walking calmly around the roof when
Mr.. Eden put his head out Of the scuttlc, and
pleasantly invited that gentleman out TO see
the city. but Mr.. Eden declined and finally
succeeded In getting Gedney to come down
for the purpose OF taking drink.
Mr.. Eden and Mr.. lIazlcm finally got him
iuto room and asked him why he had at
tempted to throw Doyl, of the roof. lie
seemed surprised at first bu, laughed and
said I, was only Joke. Nevertheless, he was
locked In securely and his father was tcle-
graphcd for.
Doyle's escape was clever piece OF STRAIT
egy. Feeling that his strength was almost
gone, and being at some distance from the
| edge, he suddenly called 10 Gcdney 10 stop;
tina, he would jump OH. When he wa. ioos-
-ned he stipulated tina, he must have few
moments for prayer lie stepped back and
knclt down. Gedncy, standing IN his place,
reycrcnuy bent his head. Doyle watched
him through his half-closed eyes, and ms sud.
| denly and as quickly as cat he dartcd
| through the scuttlc.