The Bessemer indicator., 1893-04-08
FIGHTING A MANIAC.
SAVED ONLY BY sraArEov.
A Crazy Maa Attsmpts to Hara Jamss
Doyle from the Roof OF
chicago Hotel.

Alone on the top of a sixtecn-story build
Ing, the Great Northern MOTEL, save for the
company OF a mad man who nercely strovc TO
hurl him over the edge, was the experience OF
George Doyle of Chicago, Friday, and to his
| quick wit rather than to his strength he owes
his life. Ono week ago Albert Gcdney and
his son Robert, young man, registered from
Philadelphia. Thursday the elder Gedney
went to Omaha on business, leaving his son
| In Chicago
Residing at the hotel Is one George Doyle,
n former Phlladelphisn, who had known
young Gedney 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-
hilarated lin 10 playfulness Then he said: :
Hold my hand, l want 10 look down.
Doyle did so. and he gazed over the eide n.
the people who looked like pigmics below
Then, with baneful light in his eyes and
With strange carncstncss in his voice, In
contrast with his recent playfulness, he said:
you've got to jump OF the building or I'l
throw you off,
For the first time It came back to Doyles
memory that Gedney had several years ago
been treated for n mild form of insanity in
an asylum at home. His first impulse, as the
s!ckenlng realization OF the situation came
liu, tn, all TO- al, J.,,,
larger and stronger than he,and such policy
might have meant almost instant death. He
tried to ienporize and treat the matter MS a
joke.
"Will you jumpi' said Gedney, and With
out waiting for a reply he seized Doyle and
began to drag him towards the edge DOYLE
fought with the desperation of despair, and
the men closely locked together staggered 10
and fro over the roof Gedney steadily fore.
ing his man towards the edge. Twice Doyle
trippcd him and they fell together, and twice
Gedney broke away only to renew the at
tempt TO hurl Doyle to the pavement far be-
low.
Robert llazlem, who has an office In the
upper story of the Monadack building, Just
across the street, saw the men struggling and
rushing across TO the hotel, he informed Mr..
Eden, the proprletor, and accompanied by
porter, started for the roof. When they
reached the stairs leading TO the roof, DOYLE,
bareheaded, came dashing down. lie was
very weak and excited, and almost fainting
fell against the porter.
with his clothes torn from his back and his
banched face and trcmblings bore witness to
the terrible ordeal he had undergone. Gcd-
ncy was walking calmly around the roof when
Mr.. Eden put his head out of the scuttle, and
pleasantly invited that gentleman out to see
the city, but Mr.. Eden declined and finally
succeeded in getting Gcdney to come down
for the purpose OF taking drink.
Mr.. Eden and Mr.. Hazlem finally got hIm
Into room and asked him why he had at
tempted to throw Doyle oil the roof He
seemed surprised at first. but laughed and
said 1t was only Joke. Nevertheless, he was
locked in securely and his father was telc-
srnphcd for
Doyle's escape was clever piece OF STRAIT
rgy. Feeling that his strength was almost
gone, and being Mt some distance from the
edge, he suddenly called to Gcdncy TO stop;
that he would jump on When he WAS loos-
ene1 ene1 he stipulated that he must have few
moments for ia pIsayer lie .s:a st:sapped back and
kuclt down. Gcdncy, standing in his place,
revercntly bent his head. Doyle watched
him through his half-closed eyes, and as sud-
denly and as quickly rs cat he dnrted
through the scuttle.