The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1900-07-11
POOR P|RR|
IS PUPULE
"A Weak Mind in a
Strong Body.
EStNT TO INSANE ASYLUM
Young Samson Whose Mental Vigor
Has Departed and Who Weeps
Constantly.

Antoine Pirri, the erstwhile strong
man" of the Orpheum Theater of this
city, is insane. DR.. Emerson, the police
surgeon, so decided yesterday morning,
and later by the decision of the police
judge the young man was conveyed to
the insane asylum. His brain is filled
with Authorizations, and he is in mortal
fear of enemies. The thought that a
Nemesis is pursuing him has preyed
upon his mind TO such an extent that
he has gradually fallen into melan
cholia, and weeps when under the strain
of his mental depression.
Audiences of the Orpheum during its
vaudeville days remember the finely /
built young Hercules who gracefully i
stepped upon the stage clad in the pink /
est of tights, and with a complexion the !
women envied him. He was a good I
looking chap, with curly hair, an open
countenance, and, above all, a physique
that showed Extraordinary strength.
Every movement of his arms indicated
that his muscles were like lemons of
steel. Nothing seemed too heavy for
him to raise from the floor and balance
above his head, either with one or two
hands. a timber piece of paper he could
erect upon his nose ana cavort about
/ the stage without unbalancing it.
whip, a lighted paper cone, a wagon
wheel or a table were with equal ease
balanced on his chin. NO one would
| have believed that this Samson-like
! young man, only turned II years of age,
would lose. his reason In the next two
months or so. He seemed to be in the
pink of condition, both mentally ana
physically but he was given to occa-
sional fits of melancholia, accompanied
by desire to cry.
4 What was the cause of his break
down? his friends ask. There is long
J story behind the young mans beclouded
brain, a narrative full of pathetic re-
minders that even the strong are often
those who struggle hardest for their
daily bread. Antoine Pirri was one OF
} these. In the States he was an aero
, batic performer. He won the plaudits
of his audiences, but times were often
hard with him, and 1t was often ques-
ton with him when and where he would
get his next breakfast. Strong as he
J was he could not at all times earn suf-
ficient money to board and lodge him.
I self. Each man to his profession, and
Z so Antoine plodded on and on in the
! hope of winning fame and fortune by
) his feats of strength; but tickle fortune
had deserted him.
He played in San Francisco. but aero.
bats We're plentiful, and he was mo-
tmore original than others in his line
! and the pay was small. Finally h'
B secured an engagement in Honolulu
He was well received, but his engage
ment was a limited one He remained
in the city. and for the past year ha.
3 been upon the stage at times. and per
forming work not in his line on thu
. outside
He became more and more depressed
< until he became convinced that ever.
D one was his enemy. His mind brok
D down by degrees, until lately he bough
b a pistol saying that he could "stan'
them all at bay The pistol was witt
him day and night, and he felt secur
from his imaginary enemies.
> Monday evening the music at EInm;
D Square drew him thither. He made
2 lantern out of tin can, placed light
2 eu candle in it and then wandere,
through the crowd listening to the mu
= sic, holding Ine light in peoples faces
9 endeavoring by this means to ascertain
= who his enemies were. Captain Fox OBJ
Z served Pirri's peculiar actions and be
y came convinced that the man was GU
= of his head. He arrested him and place.
3 him in the station house. Pirri though
D nothing of it, He slept little, preferrin
to sing, and when morning came h
\ was still humming contentedly to him
4 self.
3 Judge Wilcox listened to the state
D ment of the case yesterday, both Cap
tain Fox and DIR. Emerson testifyin
as to the man condition. The judg
= ordered him committed to the insan
= asylum. And thus, a giant in body bu
= a weakling in mind, poor Antoine PirI
Z will become a ward of the Government