The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-09

Of insanity. Those who enter there,
whether human tigers or simply pitiful
patients. bowed and weeping with mel
ancholia, are turned over TO the experts
to be disciplined, and, If possible, to be
cured by modern humane methods.
Under this new system, embOdying pa
tience. skill and intelligence, superinten-
dent Allison and his staff say that the
patients as a. rule respond admirably TO
the treatment t is a wonderful exhibit
ton of the discipline under which these
men and women are controlled, obeyfng
ike soldiers on dress parade or before
batteries. They respond IS if by ma
chinery so perfect IS the discipline. Here
one sees the power of man over man.
sanity over insanity. Discipline here
means self-possession, infinite patience,
and always a vital expenditure Of mental
force.
Officially the asylum is called a state
hospital. It ranks second among New
York institutions for the insane. It was
established 10 relieve those at Uticaa and
Auburn. Matteawan, selected by the
state commission after visiting thirty
other sites, was opened in 1882 It's ca
pacity is five hundred patients, but re-
Gently from six hundred TO seven hun
dred and fifty have been received in
emergency; hence there is overlooking
The new asylum at Dennamora, in the
upper Adirondack region. is an annex
to Matteawan. It is to this healthful,
picturesque home that Matteawan's sur
plus patients are now being removed
From forty to fifty are being transferred
at a time. To prevent scenes in the vii
lagos through which they pass TO reach
the train, they leave the institution at
night, taking the Montreal express for
Dannamora. To witness one Of these
removals of the insane a reporter visited
Matteawan. It was an experience long
TO be remembered. The suggestiveness
Of it all, the possibility of what might
happen; mutiny or an outbreak Of some
kind along the three miles Of dark. wind
ing mountain road on the way to the rail
road station, was appalling.
It was Matteawan's first removal Of in
sane criminals. Naturally care was taken
not to excite the patients as they are
now called.
Official notification Of the journey had
been given them that day. but by the
/ secret biography common to prisons and
insane asylums the inmates were pre-
pared for the event. They were gener-
ally resigned, and looked forward to leav-
ing the institution with feelings of inter
est It was a novelty. Still their eyes
shone with excitement, and every neces-
sary preparation was made for posi-
BILE outbreaks Immediately after sup
per all the attendants were at their
posts. A special detail Of quick-witted
men, of discretion and nerve, who knew
every letter in the alphabet of insanity
was toHed off; men who could read a
man like a primer. tell what he was
thinking of, see his thoughts in his eye
and thus thwart any sudden impulse to
madness and violence.
In a long, spacious hall, called the day
room. the forty-eight men specially Sc
Iected for the nights work and nights
journey were assembled with the more
harmless patients. But for their brilliant
eyes, one would not have imagined
them maniacs. much less nnurderers
They gathered in groups about the hall,
laughed and chatted as other men, look
ing for all the world like politicians in
some up-to-date depot parlor waiting for
a train to the big convention. The at
ten ants seemed to understand their
business. and were ready for any en-
Urgency. On the shining floor Of that
long, well lighted room were perhaps a
hundred maniacs all criminals. and a
score or two of attendants with hand
cuffs in their pockets.
There was no difficulty in putting on
the bracelets. But really the men We're
dynamite. The attendants admitted it.
I'VE never know when they Will go to
pieces" A blow or jar on the man
iacal nerves! Then an explosion, and,
perhaps, scenes wild and terrible. Leave
taking, weird, crazy jokes and pathetic
appeals to their comrades were cut short
by
"AIl ready! Fall in line! March"
The men obeyed like soldiers. and at
a signal locks clicked, the heavy doors
swung open, and out marched the men,
bravely, stealthily, gliding in double file.
the line fenced in with attendants. Only
enough patients to fill a single vehicle
We're taken out at a time Into these
queer stages the handcuned prisoners
climbed Linked together they were as
helpless as Banum's Siamese twins. Both
within and without were guards. the
doors closed with a bang, the drivers
slashed their horses. for it was getting
late and the train was far away. and
down the winding mountain road went
the weird procession through the gloom
At the station. with a few lanterns to
light the darkness of the railroad yard.
the men were quickly put aboard a spec
ial car without protest OF outbreak The
transfer was pronounced a success SO far,
and again next morning. when the train
emerged from the mountain passes Of the
Adirondacks, The patients found them
selves in their fresh new quarters at
Dannemora. near the Canadian lire.
To return TO Matteawan. There are
many strange cases in that Institution.
Take the man who fell ia love with
Mary Anderson ten years ago. and had
his name published in all the newspapers.
became the sensation Of the hour. was ar
rested, tried before a judge, locked up,
then killed his keeper. He Is now one
Of the murderars Of Matteawan
The reporter had q long talk with him.
He SAT- in the reception room and for
long time conversed as sanely as any
gentleman in the land. But when he
touched on his life in Washington, where
he was employed in the weather bureau
under General Greely. and spoke Of his
fancied wrongs. Of the prejudice shown
hy the ambitious CHIEF # the weather
bureau ana President Cleveland. his ma
chiaery slipped a cog and away he
went into The realms u romance anE
According TO the records he s about
foFty-fve. g native ~ New York M