The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-05
ALONE WITH \ MANIAC,
Onick wit and Self Possession Saves tn
Intended Victim's Life.

Intended victim LIE.
II was on tho fifth day 81 our voyage,
as we were amusing ourselves on deck,
that message was brought mo 10 say
that Mr. A. would like to see me in his
cabin.
7 had no difficulty I'm finding his room.
ana was met AT the door by Mr. A. him
self He shook hands very cordially. and
invited me 90 enter and take chair No
sooner had 7 done so than he carefully
locked tho door Thinking this rather
strange j inquired as To- his Illness. Re
did not reply for some time aud then
said:
II am not IN. sent for YOU" laying
his hand on "a large knife, "to cut your
throat"
He was n man had not before particu-
larry noticed. but now, as ] looked mp, ]
fully made up my mind that he was a
maniac.
am not coward. yet even now the
thought Of that moment makes me shud-
der. There / was. I'm remote part OF
the ship, alone with mailman of twice
my strength without chance to escape.
or means TO give an alarm. and, being
unarmod. quite at his mercy,
] had heard Of other somewhat SINH
lar cases and though a tyro in the proc
fossiOn had had some experience among
the insane. / knew. therefore that re-
sistance would be Of the least service
to me. and that apparent acQuiesccncc
would De best All this quickly flashed
through my mind. and. accordingly fcien-
ing the utmost Indifference l could ]
said:
an. yes; Mr.. 4. A. ..... to be sure. It
ooh, no" said he calmly surveying the
knife ne now held in HIS hand. ION.
no. tho Job is quite a light one
Here hc poured ont a glass Of wine. and
begged me TO drink &c. As l did so am idea
struck me. and ] said:
"Bv-the-by Mr.. A.. your knife does
not look very sharp: the trachoa is tough,
YOU know and will want some cutting
He looked hard at me. as n Co read
my thoughts but after "a time. convinced
that my suggestion was good one. and
examining his knife more closely. he
said
eyes. doctor. 7 think YOU are right a
little grinding viii DO no harm. so. If
YOU don't mind waiting. ! will just run
20 the carpenters shop
This was exactly what 7 wanted as
feeling sure he would not lock the door
after him. 7 thought my escape would
be cNsy. What was my dismay then,
ON his departure az finding that 10 was
locked as securely as before
7 passed up and down I'm despair. tore
at the door. flung Omen the portfolio win
dow. and shouted with all my might. but
AN without avail.
Time went on. minute 10y minute. ana
he could not be long now. IN ihe ircnzy
Of despair. 7 CROPPED about from corner
10 corner I'm search Of some weapon of
defence. but no. not even Che mcrest
stick. not the smallest thing upon which
to lay hands. And then ] heard footsteps
approaching I'm the distance.
I felt my pulse quicken. my brow grow
hot. 1mpulsivoly ] flung off my coat. got
to the farthcst end OF the room. and
standing as dcfensiVcly ass possible, re-
solved to fight 10 the Lost
! remember then the door bursting open
and the entry ~ A. rot alone. as ]
thought but securely pinioncd and ct
tended 10y two of tho ships crew I'M
charge of the second officer.
The relief Of the moment was so great
that 90 completely FRUSTRATED me. and my
nervous system was much shaken for
some time while the intensity and reali-
~ Of my situation often now make mo
feel something akin TO what tho con-
demncd about 90 be hanged must OK
periencc.
I learned afterward that the peculiar
and excited manner Of the maniac. the
large knife I'm his possession, ana ms
anxiety 10 sharpen IL. drew suspicion
on him. which. with the fact that 7 had
been called to see him. induced the Off
Ger To- secure him and como 10 his cabin
For the remainder Of the voyage he
was kent securely confined ana watched
dav and night. and on arriving ~ Now
York was handed over 70 the proper au-
thorities. who on investigating the case.
found that the man had escaped from
20 private lunatic asylum near Liverpool.
and had by strategy and cunning cludcd
thc VIGILANCE OF his keepers and taken
massage BIO our vessel Tie was believe
transferred to England again. though
bannilv not under my care.-London
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