Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-06
TREED BY A MANIAC.
The Lineman Had Telephone With
Him and That Saved His Life.

Him and That Saved HIS Lie.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer
I'VE all meet with strange adventures In
this world guess" said an old lineman,
"but think had an experience that beats
MANY one. While engaged with the Bell
Telephone Company was sent out one day
to find the trouble between the office and
the Insane Hospital at Indianapolis. Shoot.
ing trouble Is what we call 1t. / followed
the line all the way out, and found the diff
Guilty lay between a 4O-foot pole and the
phone in the mems building.
IAN attendant escorted me from place to
place. but while was in the hall examin-
ing the telephone he was called away. I
was busy with my work when a hand was
laid on my shoulder and voice at my
elbow said:
Saw. is that the safe where you put
my money?
"Astonished. I looked up and into the
face of an elderly man, who looked every
inch the gentleman. being neatly and care
fully dressed. For a moment l was too
much surprised TO answer, for his appear
ance at first belied the inference l drew
from his question. but closer observation
revealed an unnatural expression in his
eyes: so. remembering where l was, knew
he a maniac. Thinking to humor him,
I said:
Yes, put 1t there; It is a good PLACID
for IT.
Quick as a flash he caught up a heavy
stool that was standing near and brought
1t down with all his might on the telephone,
crushing it.
Give 1t to me. quick-quick! he gasp
ed but l didn't stop to give him anything,
but lust started on run for the door, and
there met the attendant, who soon quieted
the poor fellow and led him away.
Il had to make another trip to the city
for another telephone, and as it was late by
lie fgroa 7 Ir,'S boil ,a-yt
day. When 1 got out there 1 found several
TRUSTEES guarded by their keepers working
in the garden ! saw my friend of the day
before busy with a large knife topping tur-
nips. He glanced up at me, and l saw
quick. angry CLEAN shoot into his eyes.
81 had to climb a tree in an isolated
part of the yard to unfasten a wire that
had in some way caught on limb.
connected nv test set and called up the
wire chief and explained the case to him,
so with the work 1 had done and talking
to him 20 minutes must have passed. l
started to get down. and when l reached
the lower limb looked for place to drop.
But didn't drop, for there, standing at the
foot Of the tree. stood my crazy man, the
knife still in his hand.
Come down. he yelled. T know you.
You are the man that stole my five thou
sand. Give it UP to me or l will kill you,
you thief! Come down or l will come Up
there and cut your heart out!
But 1 didn't come. 1 scrambled higher
and yelled for help. though none came.
1.-THE maniac found a heavy board near,
and. placing it against the tree, started to
climb up. but in his hurry and excitement
he did not place it securely, and when he
was about half way up it slipped and he
went spra wiling to the ground. He got on
his feet and tried it once more. Again and
again he tried 1t. but 1t would slip and
throw him. Several times. however, he
came within an inch Of reaching the lower
limb. from which he could have easily
climbed I'D to where [ was
About this time another inmate came
saunterng along and at once took a hand
In the game and held the plank for my
friend, who soon made good Roadway, and
l saw In few moments he would reach
me.
Il yelled again, but no one came. At that
instant an idea flashed into my brain
quickly attached the test set and called
the wire chief at the office.
For heavens sake, call up the insane
hospital and tell them to send help to me-
or l am dead man. There are two luna
tics after me, and one of them is coming
up the tree with knife foot long.
Hurry, hurry. for Gods sake
with a surprised exclamation he cut me
out. l looked down and found the man was
in the tree and was coming toward me,
snarling like a wildcat
Closer he came, until he was just below
me, when he seated himself on a large limb
and, fourisEing the knife, yelled:
Look at this Amt 1t a beaut? Won't
1t cut you though? 1t is sharp, sharp.
will cut you up like steak
He started toward me- and had one hand
on my foot, and l had just raised the other
to kick him, when several keepers rushed
up Two of them climbed the tree, and just
as he raised the knife to strike they reached
him and threw a rope around him. So in
tent was he on going for me that he did not
see them, and was easily taken.
1T is safe to say that whenever there was
work to be done out there 1 didn't co.