River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1903-01-08
Men Snarl Like Beasts.

Men Snarl Like Beasts.
A car of insane soldiers passed
through Chicago recently. They
were Is in number and were being
sent from the Philippines to the
soldiers hospital at Washington.
Every one of the eighteen were
violently and incurab1y insane.
Their wild, haggard faces peered
menac1ngly through the windows of
their coach, their manacled hands
wildly threatened the on1ookers and
their fiendish shrieks and laughter
echoed through the depot. Few of
them were apparently diseased in
body.
The maniacs were in charge of
squad of soldiers armed with clubs.
The guards said in reply to ques-
tons that a consignment of a score
or two of maniacs from the Philip
pines was by no means unusual.
The affection is due principally to
indulgence in the Filipino vino"
and other harmful liquors sold in
Manila, aggravated by the heat.
The malady is of violent and per-
sistent nature and will not respond
to any treatment that has yet been
discovered.
AS the train pulled into the sta
ton there was a sound as Of a me-
nagerie approaching. The impris-
oned men were chattering, snarling,
moaning and whining like wild
beasts, and the noise was terrifying
TO the spectators. Depot employees
and trainmen who passed the car,
not knowing of the presence of the
maniacs, were greatly frightened
when they heard snarl of rage and
then looked up into fiendish faces,
which had their lips drawn back
and teeth exposed. One unwilling
man tainted from horror and fright
and was compelled to receive medi
cal aid.
The condition of the maniacs was
| pitiable in the extreme. All were
absolutely mad and violent. Every
| one of them wore leg irons and
| handouts, and some were in straight
| jackets and bound to their seats in
the car. Most of them are young
men. The guards state that some
| times for hours the men will be per-
| fectly doci1e and will give no signs
of insanity. They will play cards
by the hour and chat among them
selves. Suddenly something un-
usual will happen, an excitement
arises and then bedlam breaks loose.
1t requires the combined force of
the guards and of the one negro
1unatic, who at present imagines
himself to be guard, to quell the
disturbance. This negro is con-
stant1y on the watch for trouble,
and takes a forceful part in it when
it comes. His especial enemy is a
large German, whom he watches
like a hawk. Pioneer Press.
Who is responsible for the above
described condition.? 1t is the tenn
perance people that are opposed to
the army canteen where good, pure
beer is sold, some will say. Do you
believe it? I don't think a system
that fills our jails, insane asylums,
and almhouses, causes more crime,
ruins more men and women than all
| other things combined, would be
good remedy. No, put the blame
where it belongs. 1t is the duty of
every government to protect her
citizens in so far as it is necessary
to make them honorable, upright
men. The conditions that caused
these soldiers to be in the condition
LQGy were are dIlOWGQ W SAlSI Wy
our government. They could be
abolished if the government so de-
sired. This being true, is the gov
eminent the place where the respon-
sibility rests? Who compose the
government? The people by their
representatives duly elected. Who
is responsible for the representa-
tives? The voters are. When the
voters of the country want these
things stopped, let them vote for
men that are pledged to see that
these evils are abolished. The real
responsibility rests with the 1nd1-
vidual voter. The sale of all that is
injurious should be prohibited.
A man is arrested for stealing a
loaf of bread, but the soft-skinned
fellow of the baize-covered table
may steal your last dollar and i'm