The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1895-08-07
9naerspu gutelliges1eer.
OLD COVANN.
The Story of a Lunatic.

Covann is confined there, and he is,
without doubt, the worst lunatic in
this country. So long as you are on
your guard there will be no danger,
but once turn your back on him and he
will kill you in minute. He has
killed one attendant and seriously in
jured an officer of the asylum during
the six years he has been with US.
When.you know him well you will un-
derstand why [ have warned you. DR..
Norman will now assign you to your
duties and you will make your reports
to him. I wish you all success, sir. "
I had that morning reported for duty
at the State lunatic asylum, at James
City, where I had secured the position
Of "night watch" and DR.. Dupree,
the superintendent, was giving me in
structions.
A month previous I had been a
student at Richmond college, but the
sudden death of my father had thrown
me on my own resources, and l was
glad to take the first position that Of
fered.
AS I left the superintendent Office
I found myself interested in my com
panion, DR.. Norman. He was tai,
slender young man, with very red
nose and twinkling blue eyes, sugges-
tive of grim humor; and 1 had been
informed that he WAS "a mighty fine
DOCTOR "
We left the office corridor and en-
tered one of the great buildings that
lined three sides of a hollow square Of
lawns.
''These," said the doctor, are the
male wards, E, F, G and Fl, and will
be your future stamping ground. "
A long hall extended through the
entire length of each ward. On one
side barred windows looked out upon
the yard: On the other were rows Of
neat little rooms or cells, each with its
one barred window. A clean white
cot and picture or two constituted
the furnishing of each; the walls we're
freshly whitewashed and the floors of
the hall and rooms were white and
smooth from daily scrubbing.
"The patients like to do it," said
the doctor; "keeps them out of mis-
Chief"
Wooden benches were stretched be-
fore the hall windows, and on these a
score of wild-eyed men looked. Nearly
all of them constantly shifted their
positions. Occasionally one would
Slap his hands together and shout, or
springing to his feet deliver wild,
meaningless oratioh, stopping abruptly
to sing, curse or laugh ; then sink into
his seat again, muttering to himself.
A few paced back and forth. One Of
these had gilt stars pasted on his coat
in reckless profusion. He saluted us
with majestic wave of his hand.
"Good morning, president" said
the doctor. How are the afaire of
State ?"
"Iupurtant, sir; very important. I
am now waiting for the various repre-
sentatives of foreign powers to see me
on matter of great moment, They
shall all eat Goldfish for two years as a
penalty for clogging the wheels of
State"
'sThat' $ old Piggot," /" said the dec.
tor. 'sFine lawyer till wi i,key got
away with him. You may notice, MIR.
Watkins, that, we refer to these poor
creatures as 'old so-and-so. Itseems
a little hard when one thinks what
they may have been few years ago.
Now, for instance, that man yonder-
by the window: I happen to have
known him when he was congressman,
and most courtly and capable gentle
man. What you see now is but an
animal-nothing more. What is true
of him can be said of most Of them,
with the exception of the violent patti
ents, who often recover, and those
whose mania is intermittent, who di-
vide their time, as it were, between
life and death"
Passing into the next ward we were
met by little old man who carried a
loaf of bread done up in a hankerchief.
"His rations,' said the doctor
"thinks he's on the march. Been SO
since 1868. Good morning, sergeant.
Where are the yankees p
swell, doctor; they're comm up
the New Kent road, an if we meet
EN- we'll whip the boots off 'em. y
'That man, said the doctor, ''is a
living monument to the brutality Of
Brinker's corps. They occupied his
place and took everything on it. His
wife and children died from abuse and
privation no wonder his mind sgone.
When we at lost entered ward Fl,
where the noise seemed greatest, We
were met by tall, dignifed- looking
gentleman, whose clear-cut features,
easy bearing and the quiet elegance of
his dress, showed him to be man of
good blood and breeding.
Gentlemen" said he, as he lifted
his hat, ''delighted to see you. This
is Mr.. Watkins, / believe One of
Prince Edward county Watkins !?
Good ! Knew it the moment saw you,
sub. Served in the legislature with
yo gran father, sub and an elegant
gentleman he was, too. DR.. Norman
is so engrossed in his duties that I
take the liberty of introducing myself
-Covann is my name, sub, from King
William. Come up and spend as much
of your leisure as you can spah with
me, sub, and consider my apartments
yo' home at all times.
So saying he waved me out of his
presence like lord in his castle.
"Well," said the doctor, as we
reached the open air again, "you We
had your first dose of Old Covann, and
mighty sick you will soon be, too.
Why, that old rascal wouldn't speak
to me to save his life. I shut him up
for two days last week for striking an
attendant. He's an old scoundrel, and
it's question in my mind, often,
whether he's insane or just naturally
mean. His mania is to kill. Tried
to kill his own daughter before he was
sent hcre-she's pretty as peach,
too-and would have kept him at home
and run the risk if the law hadn' t
stepped in. Was a prominent man in
his county until he become insane"
AS we crossed the lawn to the office
building [ remarked on the profusion