New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-12-24
EAST RIVER HIS HELLESPONI.
vo,->c cr1-DENT BREAKS AWAY FROM
HIS KEEPER AND SWIMS TO BLACK
WELLS ISLAND

WELLS ISLAND.
Durvea W Wright. student living at NO o-t
Fifth-ave.. as the result of mad freak plunged
into the East River at Seventy-second-st- yester
dav forenoon. and despite the icy water ana
strong tide swan to Backwells Island. where
he was taken in charge by the officials Wright
lives in HI, Weiseeer apartment-hOuse. He has
been there about a month. and the manager of the
bouse said Yesterday that he knew little about
him except that he came from Little Rock, Ark
that lie was apparently well supplied with
money and that he was an invalid Wright
has had during his stay in the house nurse
who remained with him at all times. The young
man Is about twenty-five years old. and OF attn
letic build He has been studying preparatory
to entering college. but his health was so pad
that he had been unable to devote much time To
mis- books.
Yesterday morning Wright. accompanied by
his nurse. f.. W. Curtis, went to breakfast, as
usual He had been excitable and nervous
for the last few days. and for this reason his
nurse had remained with him all the time. Dur
ing breakfast Wright became FESTIVE and sud
denly left the table His nurse followed him up
stairs Wright seemed to be annoyed that any
one should try 10 soothe him. and suddenly he
grasped his hat and left the house Curtis fol-
to persuade him to return. Wright is of such
size and strength that a hand-to-hand tussle
with him was NOT to be thought of, and so Curtis
refrained from trying to stop him by force.
Curtis had told friends that something would
happen to his patient. and that he intended to
give up his place as he was afraid Of Wright
This something happened in the course Of the
walk. Wright kept up Fifth-ave. until he
struck Seventy-second-st. There he turned off
and at Thrd-ave he shook off Curtis, who had
laid OBTAINING hand upon his arm, and started
TO run. Curtis followed him as best he could.
At Avenue A Curtis saw Policeman Edward
Donohue of the East SiXty-seventh-st. station.
He told him of Wright and The policeman started
after the man. who had continued on down East
Seventy-second st. toward the East River.
Wright saw the policeman. and he hurried all
the faster. There is stone wall along the bank
of the East River at this point and the police
man thought Wright would stop when he en-
countered the wall. but he did not. Wright sprang
lightl; over the wall and then half jumped and
half skipped down to the rocks that lined the
river bank.
Both Curtis and the policeman yelled at Wright
to STOP but the latter paid no attention TO them.
He threw off his coat. and then sat down and
took off one Of his shoes. Policeman Donohue
saw that he meant to jump into the river ana
went after him. Wright did Lot wait to take
off the other shoe bu; instead raced out on the
bank and plunged into the river. He waded out
into the icy water until 4 reached his arm
pits Then. without looking back he plunged
ahead and began to swim toward BlackweTs
Island with long. steady strokes. The current
was running strongly toward Hell Gate. and
the tide swept him up toward Eighty-seconG-st.
He never faltered for moment. and the people,
who were momentariy expecting to see him sink
beneath the waters. saw him reach the
other side safely, where he was hauled up by
numbre Of men in boat
During this remarkable SWIM Policeman DOno-
hue stood upon the bank snivering in wet clothes.
He had followed Wright into the water until
he saw that 1t useless to pursue him. and
then he walked back &c the shore and blew
his whistle. 1t was this call that was answered
by the guards Blackwers Island, who low
cred the boat which rescued Wright opposite
Eighty second-st. He made resistance. and
was at once taken to the hospital He did not
in the least affected by his cold bath. Later
arrangements We're made TO transfer the man
to Bellevue Hospital FOR examination as to his
sanity
Wright has been in the care Of DR.. L. c. Gray,
of No. East Forty min hist Ii was DR.. Gray who
hired Curtis to look after him and act as nurse.
The doctor was not inclined TO talk about the
case yesterday. but 1t Is understood that Wright
was suffering from mental trouble brought on by
overstudy. His friends have been sent for.