The herald., 1894-08-15
PARTRIDGE, THE PLUNGER.
Strapped to His Bed in a Mar
row Cell.
The Millionaire Speculator in a
Bad Fix.
He Looked Too Often Upon the Wine
When 1t Was Red.
Now He Is Undergoing Forcibie Treat
ment for Alcoholism In CHI
cago Drunk Cure rs
Establishments.

Chicago, Aug. 14.-Strapped down to
his bed. imprisoned by barred windows
and locked doors, in. barren room on
the fourth floor of the Washington
home, "Plunger" Ed Partridge. who
yesterday threw the board OF trade into
turmoil by fighting with the door
keeper, is undergoing a most rigorous
treatment for alcoholism He was
brought to the home Monday by his son,
who was assisted by several friends.
The nervy speculator had to be conveyed
to the home in q closed carriage, and
was placed in charge of the doctors only
by main force. He became violent
when re was being searched prepara-
tory to q protracted stay, and it trequired
four attendants to carry him up stairs
and install him In one of the cell rooms
which are reserved for the worat pa
tients.
Partridge is one Of the most promi-
nent men on the Chicago board of trade;
accounted multi-millionaire; the pro.
prietor of one of the largest dry goods
stores in the city, and an operator OF
great nerve he is q unique figure on the
floor OF the board. For months he had
been on the bear side OF the wheat mar.
ket, and his winnings on Change last
year are said to reach into ssven figures.
Partridge has of late worBhiped fre e.
ly at the shrine OF Bacchus. and has
created several scenes on change. A
few days ago he appeared on the floor in
an unsteady condition and threw money
broadcast about the pit, raising euch an
uproar that be was suspended for 80
dave. Yesterday he attempted to go on
the floor, and after fierce fight with q
doorkeeper, was finally carried from the
building.
At the Washington homo for inebr-
ates Mr.. Partridge succeeded in creating
aB much excitement among the inmates
today ss he did on 'chsnge yesterday.
Immediately upon his arrival he WAS
handcuffed and plecsd in box like
apartment with three blank walls and o
grated window left to his gaze. When
the physicians and gnards left him, how
ever, he put at nsught their efforts to
tie his hands and feet. One little article
on his person was overlooked by the
custodians in searching him, q large
locket attached to his watch chain.
When the guards left him he managed
to squirm around 20 ss to reach the
locket. This contained small sharp
knife with which he proceeded to cut
his bonds. He soon parted the leather
handcuhs and next broke the leather
strap tied around his feet. Partridge
jumped up to his window and yelled
down at the crowd:
"Im Ed Partridge. that you all know.
They are trying to rob or kill me. I'll
give $500 to the man who will get my
lawyer. For Gods sake hel p me-"
AS he continued his entreaties be got
more and more excited, and said:
''If none ofyou will get my lawyer for
$500 I'll give you 5000, $500, $500, 5000,
$1,000. Hurry up, for the love of heaven.
They are going to kill me. I'll give any
one half my fortune ii he'll get my law
yer."
The attention of the guards was at
tracted by the fearful yelling, and two of
them went to the "plunger'a" room to
subdue him. The latter, when he heard
steps in the hall, made ready to brain
some of his captore. He stood with a
heavy wooden chair uplifted in his
hands.
As the door opened and the head of
his weapon down with a crash. The
guard lodged just in time and escaped
the blow. He came very near being
Drained, and he pounced upon Par.
fridge, and with the aid OF his comrade
threw the pluneer on his bed and bound
him. The attendants say that he is the
worst case that they have ever handled,
and were much relieved whom he had
finally been strapped. The guards were
afraid to get near the plunger during
the night, but his struggle, before he was
aubdued, had weakened him, and he
collapsed this morning. Before noon
his only demonstrations were few yells
and series of war whoops, which could
be heard distinctly all over the house.
This stopped. and he then mumbled and
tailed to himself and then fell into a
sort of sullen stupor and went to sleep.
Superip tendent Somerville was not
inclined to be reticent about his patient
today. "Yes," said he, "Mr. Partridge
ia confined here now, and will probably
be forced to reman with US for some
time. He is suffering from severe CAGE
OF alchoholism, and will require long
course of treatment before he will be
cured. It 10 our belief that we shall
effect an ultimate and permanent cure,
but just now he ia not in very promis-
ing condition. He cannot be seen at
all, not even by his relatives. Neither
his wife nor his son is permitted to go
near him. He is by no means tame,
and that is enough rfason in itself for
isolating him. 1t would make him
worse to see his relatives"
Does his mind seem at all affected %
"YeB; in fact his trouble now seems
to be due more to q temporary derange-
ment than to anything else."
This afternoon j. r. Deakin appeared
before Judge Dunn with a petition for
writ Of habess corpus to compel T.
Summerfield, manager af the Washing
ton home, to produce Partridge in
court. The petition recited that the
noted board of trade plungsr was being
held prisoner in the Washington
home against his will.
Judge Dunn granted the urit, ard