The times., 1899-06-13
BATTLING WITH A MANIAC.
Experience of Ambulance Surgeons
With n Crnzy NInn.

with n Crnzy Man.
New York June 12.-Two lunatics in an
ambulance. on their way from the West
Fifty third Street prison to Bellevue Hos
pital, one struggling to escape and engag-
ed in furious battle with two ambulance
surgeons, caused great excitement in
Eighth Avenue yesterday morning. While
the ambulance was going at break-neck
speed five bicycle riders, of whom one
was a bicycle policeman. kept alongside
and tried to aid the doctors in subduing
the prisoner.
Magistrate Wentworth. In the West Side
police court, yesterday. committed Theo-
/ dcre Martel. iifty-five years old an uphol-
! Degenhardt, twenty-nine years old. a la
| borer. with no home, to Bellevue for ex-
animation as to their sanity.
When Drs. Taylor and Christian arrived
at the prison at noon the two insane men
entered the ambulance quietly enough.
They appeared SO docile that the restrain
ing belts were not put on them. Scarcely
had the ambulance turned into Eighth Av ,
enue, however. before Degenhardt sat up
and aimed terrific blow at the head of
part of the vehicle.
Let me out" cried the lunatic, "or I'll
kill youi" The doctor lodged the blow
and grappled with the man. Degenhardt.
who is a powerful fellow, became frenzied
in moment. With his eyes rolling wild
| ly he kicked and shouted as he struggled
| for freedom.
As DIR. Christian, who was on the front
seat with the driver, turned to aid his
InN
| tel, slip quietly past the combatants and
jump from the ambulance. The doctor
| leaped off at the risk Of breaking his neck
and started in pursuit. He caught Martel
| half a block away and dragged him back
| to the ambulance. Moses Morris, the driv-
| er. had in the meantime stopped the We
| hicle and run to the assistance of Dr.
Taylor.
Eighth Avenue was crowded at the time,
ana hearly 400 persons gathered about The
ambulance, volunteering assistance. The
| driver wanted to take the two men back
| to prison, but DR.. Taylor ordered him to
drive to the hospital.
AS Morris whipped up his horse the two
doctors tried to adjust the restraining belt
| on Degenhardt The man was at once
seized with another maniacal attack of fu-
ry. He struck the doctor with his power
ful fists, and when thrown on his back by
Dr. Taylor struck out with his feet.
With his big hobnail shoes Degenhard,
tore DR.. Christians white duck suit into
shreds in a few moments. Then he at
| tackled the ambulance and nearly kicked
out the side.
"Helpi They're killing me-" cried the
madman. in fresh burst of rage he strug-
gled TO his feet. seized DR.. Taylor by tbs
throat, and bent him backward over the
tailboard of the ambulance.
Bicycle riders scattered as the ambu-
lance sped down the avenue. but severa
courageous riders kept alongside and tried
to catch hold of fDegenhardt arms "Stol
the ambulance and we'll help you!" they
cried.
DR.. Christian rescued DR.. Taylor, and to.
gether they tied Degenhardt's knees anC
feet to the guard rail with bandages. Ther
they were able to strap the leather bsl
about his waist and snap the iron hand.
cuffs around his wrists. Martel, the 9th.
er prisoner, took no part in the fight, bu
crouched in a corner OF the vehicle terri
fled at the struggle.
1t was not until they had reached Thir.
ty fourth Street that the doctors subduet
| the mailman. Several policemen then RAJ
up, but their assistance was not needed
When the two men were led into the in
sane pavilion they had Gained down com
pletely Drs. Taylor and Christian wer,
thoroughly exhausted.
The men would surely have escaped,
said DR.. Christian, ''if | hadn't accompa
MED DR.. Taylor. One man couldn't hav,
managed them. 1t was the hardest figh
of our lives. My arms and body are GOV
cred with bruises. / had put my suit OF
only an hour before, and had to don an
other the moment l got back"