The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1903-08-30
MAD MAN PLUNGES TO
ESCAPE FROM Spirits"
Dives Out of Window Fifty Feet to
Sidewalk and Is Picked Up Uncon-
"cfous and in Dying Condition.

REPu BL1C SPECIAL.
Denver, Colo, Aug. 2a.-'Lool, out The
world is coming TO an end. Catch me-"
with these cries. addressed to Policeman
BaTkhdusen and boy, William Schmidt
plunged fifty feet from the top OF the Ar
cade restaurant building to the sidewalk
The police surgeon and physicians at the
County Hospital say that he will probably
die. because they believe that his skull is
fractured.
When picked up Schmidt was unconscious
For hours he failed to regain his senses.
"A hurried examination led the surgeons TO
believe that his skull was fractured hut
they We're unable to determine positively
whether or not the injuries would cause
death But the chances are against him.
All OF last night Schmidt acted as though
ne was insane. He contided to several men
about the Dewey Hote! that the devils were
chasing him, and that he intended to es-
cape their clutches. The men joked about
the matter and tried to calm him But
Schmidt declared that he must use desper-
ate means TO escape.
Boarders In the hotel had always looked
upon Schmidt as peculiar man. There
fore they did not pay great deal of at
tention to his talk. Rut Schmidt, who has
worked a year as a boilermakers helper in
the Union Pacific shops and has always
been sober and industrious. believed that
he was being pursued and would not sleep
SuOh aLtti He went 10 MIS- room
In the third story. George Dempsey also
rooms on this floor. To him the den1ented
man contided his fears. While the two were
conversing Schmidt slipped through the
window Of his room and crawled to the
roof of the Arcade, which is next door. Wv
The move was made so quickly that
Dempsey could do nothing. He called to
Schmidt to come back. but the latter only
muttered that he must find some means OF
escaping the pursuing evil spirits, He de.
, eiared that at. he would escnpe them and
~ alarmed, because there is high firewall.
and he did not think that Schmidt was in
any danger
But Schmidt evidently decided that 1t
would. be impossible for him to escape as
long as he remained or the roof, Suddenly
he mounted the protecting wall to the
fear that he would cause the other man to
fall If he cried out and startled him.
Over the wall went Schmidt There are
little inches in the masonry. These offorded
hold for his hands. BY fastening his fin
gers in them he lowered himself to the
coping Just over the windows of the second
other man parade on the narrow ledge
high above the pavement.
Schmidt walked along the ledge to the
adjoining building. on the corner. Then he
climbed into window; But the pursuing
spirits would not allow him to rest, and he
stepped back to the ledge and moved to
first place. Using. the insecure hold OBJ.
tanned in. the inches, he worked his way
back to the roof.
Dempsey was greatly relieved. He be-
lieved that the worst was over and began
talking to Schmidt. urging him to return to
his room and retire. But the dementetd
man had other plans. He could see the
evil spirits of which he talked and he de-
termined to flee Again he turned to the
wall and again he climbed over. But this
time his hold was net secure, and with a
cry he dropped TO the sidewalk
But little is known of Schmidt He is
Is years old, and his relatives live in Glas-
gov, Mo. 1t is believed that he came here
from Pueblo. He had lived in the Dewey
for year and was well liked. It is thought
that he had saved some money which is
supposed to be hidden somewhere