The San Francisco call., 1897-08-14
BATTLBD TN A
LIGHTHOUSE
Fearful Struggle of the
Keeper With a Crazy
Assistant.
Finally Escapes, but Is Pur-
sued by the Assailant
and Shot At.
1t May Be Necessary to Send a Rev.
enue Cutter to Capture the
Madman.

NARRAGANSETT PIER, r. l., Aug.
13.-Whale Rock lighthouse, three miles
northeast of here, is in charge of q
drunken maniac. Assistant Keeper Hen
ri Nygriffe. This evening, after drink
ing heavily all day, he worked himself
into a murdcrous frenzy, attacked Cap
tain J. S. Allen, the lighthouse-keeper,
with carving knife, drove him from the
island, pursued him to the mainland in a
boat. and only returned when his intended
victim succeeded in getting a horse and
SO making his escape.
Nygriffe. infamed with liquor, sur
pr4sed Allen in the tower of the light
house and attacked him with a carving
knife. They fought in the tower for near
ly half an hour with life or death as a re-
suit, and no human being within three
miles to help or hinder. Finally the knife
fell from the craZed mans hands after he
had aimed blow at the captain and slit
his coat collar by swift downward stroke
The strug, lie went on, each man endeav-
oring to prevent the other from getting
the knife.
Finally Aliens hold relaxed, and he
pretend ed 10 give in. His drunken op-
ponent reached for it, Kissing: "Ah, now
I'll finish your But Allen had played a
new trick, and just as Nygriffe put out his
hand to grasp it Aliens foot shot out and
he kicked the knife down the lighthouse
stairs. Nygriffe stunt bled down after it,
Aliens only escape was by window. A
rope hung inside. To throw it out, climb
| out of the window and swing himself out
side took but a second. Half way to the
ground he heard Nygriffes roars of rage,
and then saw his form in the window and
felt him hacking at the rope. Loosening
his hold he slid down so swiftly that his
hands were torn badly, but he was safely
on the ground. He ran to the row boat.
Into one he jump ped and headed for shore,
two miles away. Nvgriffe hurried down
stairs and jumped into second boat in
pursuit, after securing a rifle. He leveled
it and fired, but missed. A second bullet
followed and it ricochstted past Allen on
the water.
Allen is an expert oarsman, but his
| torn hands made every stroke painful
and the handkerchief with which he
bound the raw places to stanch the blood
impeded his stroke. Half way over Ny
griffe spurted. but the captain landed q
good 200 yards in front. AS he jumped
out Nygriffe fired two more shols. Allen
started to run two miles to Narragansett
Pier, but ran exhausted into farmh honse.
Lend me horse" he cried to the
farmer. Pm Captain Allen of the light
house. My assistant has gone crazy and
has tried to kill me, look" He held up
his torn hands. Another man came out
of the house and recognized the ca plain.
Take the horse" he said; ''he will get
you out Of harms way"
They helped him upon the animals
back and he galloped away, bareback and
clinging for his life. AS he turned GU.
from the gate Nygriffe. still carrying his
gun, came running down the road, firing
at him and ran on again. The two farm
ers saw the pursuer and pursued disap-
pear around the turn. Allen reached this
place terribly exhausted. His clothing
was torn half off and he was bruised and
bleeding. On hearing his story the po-
lice set out after Nygriffe. but he had
given up the chase and returned, for at 10
o'clock tonight the red light appeared in
the lighthouse. Probably revenue cut
ter will be sent to arrest Nygriffe.