The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-03-01
AN EXCITING ASSIGNMENT.
The Lineman's Adventures in the
Asylum Grounds.

ASSA ulh OEOuhus'
From the Cincinnati ENQUIRER.
eve all meet with strange adven-
lures in this world, I guess" said an
old lireman, but think l had an ex-
perience that beats many a one. While
engaged with the Bell Telephone Com
pany, 1 was sent out one day to find
the trouble between the office and the
Insane Hospital, at Indianapolis,
Shooting the trouble is what we call
it. Il followed the line all the way out,
and found the difficulty lay between a
40-foot pole and the phone in the
mems building.
AN attendant escorted me from
place to place; but while 1 was in the
hall examining the telephone he was
called away. 1 was busy with my work,
when a hand was laid on my shoulder,
and a voice at my elbow said:
Say, is that the safe where you
put my money!
"Astonished, 1 looked up, and into
the face of an elderly man, who look
ed every inch the gentleman, being
neatly and carefully dressed. For a
moment l was too much surprised to
answer, for his appearance at first be-
lied the inference 1 drew from his
question, but a closer observation re-
Vealed an unnatural expression in his
eyes; so, remembering where 1 was, I
knew he was a maniac. Thinking to
humor him, 1 said:
Yes, l put it there; it is good
place for it,
"Quick as flash he caught up a
heavy stool that was standing near
and brought it down with all his
might on the telephone, crushing it.
GIVE it to me, quick-quick!" he
gasped, but 1 didn't stop to give him
anything, but just started on a run
for the door, and there met the attend
ant who soon quoted 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 this time 1 didn't go back
until the next day. When l got out of
there l found several TRUSTEES guard
ed by their keepers working in the
garden. l saw my friend of the day
before busy with a large knife topping
turnips. He glanced up at me, and /
saw quick, angry gleam shoot into
his eyes.
II had to climb a tree in an isolated
part of the yard to unfasten a wire
that had in some way caught on a
limb. I connected my test set and call
ed up the WIRE chief and explained the
case to him, so with the work / had
done and talking to him twenty min
utes must have passed. / started to get
down, and when l reached the lower
limb looked for a place to drop. But
I 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. 4 know
you. You are the man that stole my
five thousand. Give it up to me or /
will kill you, your thief! Come down
or | will come up there and cut your
heart outr
But didn't come. I scrambled
higher and yelled for help. though none
came.
The maniac found a heavy board
near, and. placing II against the tree,
started TO climb up. but in his hurry
and excitement he did not place Il f6e-
curely. and when he was about half
way up II slipped and he went spra WI
ing 70 the ground. He got on his feet
and tried IL once more. Again and
again he tried a. but II would slip and
throw him. Several times. however. ne
came within an inch %. reaching the
lower limb. from which he could have
easily climbed up 70 where was,