Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-07-24
PICKED UP IN HARBOR
AUGUST WARD ESCAPES FROM
NEW YORK ASYLUM.
Became Slightly Demented While
Aboard Ship in Tropics-His
Brother Resides Here.

Mr. William Ward, a clerk employed IN
a drug store in 9th street. IS awaiting in
formation from the officials Of the Wards
Island Asylum, New York, regarding his
brother Augustus c. Ward, who was pick
ed up in the harbor yesterday afternoon by
the steamer Middletown, from Hartford.
Ward escaped from the asylum yesterday
and was trying to reach the Manhattan
shore when the steamer overlook him. haul
ed him in by rope and took him to the Old
Slip pier He told his rescuers that he had
been a prisoner at Wards Island for year,
and begged Capt. Mills of the Middletown
to save him from going back.
August c. Ward is a Washingtonian I'm
til a couple or more years ago he lived with
his brother William at 2013 G street north
west He was an Industrious man of good
habits, and had spent the greater part OF
his life in Washington. He always had
tendency toward the sea, and he enlisted
as an apprentice on the training ship An
napoliS. The ship made a cruise in the
West Indian waters, visiting st. Thomas,
St. Vincent, La Guaira and other points in
the tropics.
Became Slightly Demented.
According to his brother, who talked
freely with a Star reporter today, August
became slightly demented while In the
tropics and when the ship reached Brook
lyn. he was cast adrift. August, it seems.
considered that he was able to take care
of himself, although weak as the result of
his illness. He secured employment as
stock opener in the tinware department of
Charles Broadway Rouss' store, in Broad
way, and worked there until about a year
ago, when he was taken seriously i'll.
The manager of the store advised me to
go to the Hudson street hospital, August
told Capt Mills of the Middletown. There
the doctors said l was suffering from nerv-
Gus disease and they transferred me to
Bellevue Hospital the next day. l was put
in the insane pavilion at Bellevue, exam
ined by two doctors and then sent to the
asylum on Wards Island.
Il tried to get into communication with
my mother, who was writing letters to me
frcm her home, Erastus, Banks county, Ga,
but the asylum authorities would not permit
me to answer the letters. Instead, they
wrote to my mother informing her that 1
was steadily improving.
Il consider myself to pc perfectly sane,
and for that reason 1 decided to escape.
| was in the east hospital on the island
At o'clock this morning ! broke the barred
grating of window to get out, and dug
across the cornfield to the rivers edge
where | hunted around for a boat.
There was no beat in sight, but found
plank six feet long and l decided to take
chance with that, as 1 cannot swim too
well. / showed the plank into the river and
climbed on it.
Il had been on 1t some time when the
captain of the Middetown threw me a rope
/ had on only my Undertaking, but the
steamers men furnished me with clothes"
Captain Mills advised Ward to go peace
fully away with the policeman and promised
to investigate his story and bring about his
release in case it was found that he was
sane.
Ward was taken over to the police station
at Pier A, and the asylum authorities sent
a keeper after him. The keeper took MIN
back to the asylum yesterday afternoon
The authorities there said Ward was a
harmless lunatic, who had lucid intervals