New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-25
FIGHT'M MANIAC ON LEDGE
Fircmcn Subdue Him at SiTth Story
of Hospital.
and whits.

maniac was rescued yesterday morning on
a ledge six stories above ground on the north
side of the Manhattan Eye and Ear Hospital in
Park-ave. The ledge was twelve inches wide.
William Clark. captain of Fire Truck No -
aided by two members Of the company. and en-
couragei by policemen from nearby windows
brought the maniac through a window TO safety.
Robert Hindman. who has q sister living AT
No. $50 West Seventy -fourth-st.. and who until
recently was butler in the employ Of Miss A.
Hamilton. at No 30 West Twentieth-st. was ad-
rnitted to the hospital week ago suffering from
a swelling in the ear cavity. He was being pre-
pared for an operation He was OF athletic
build and gave no signs Of mental suffering until
Saturday night. Then nurse reported 10 Su-
pcrintendent Hawthorne that the patient was
restless The physician duty In the ward ap-
parently succeeded in soothing him.
A nurse at / o'clock found Hindman's bed
empty. Part Of his clothing was gone search
revealed that he was on the ledge at the base
Of the mansard near the easterly end Of the
north wing.
When Mr.. Hawthorne. the nurse and the ward
physician tried TO coax Hindman inside he BRAN
dished a large water pitcher. and threatened 10
brain any ous-vho put hts head out OF the
window Patrolmen Artemus Mitchell and John
Fox OF the Grand Central Station. had been
summoned. and they too. tried vainly to coax
Hindman. Roundsman John DOugherty and Pa
trolmen Silas A. Pomeroy and Michael A NAL
10y all Of the Grand Central Station. had joined
their fellows Then it was decided that Hind
man must be reached from the outside. 1t was
impossible to get behind him.
In response to a hurried summons. Captain
Iantry and Detective Corcoran. Of the East
ifty-frst-st. station came. and Captain Lantry
suggested that aid be sought from the Fire De-
partment. In response to orders from Fire
Headquarters, Truck No. >. from Ffftieth-st. and
Lexington-ave went to the hospital With It
were Battalion Chief Gray. Captain William
Clark and the regular force Of company men.
Hlndman. by that time had flung the pitcher
through the window. was pacing up and down
the narrow footway. and heaping impreca-
tions on every one who showed himself az the
window
Hindman paid TO attention TO the raising Of
TG-foot extension ladder to a point near the end
of the ledge The ladder. hoisted from the top
Of the truck. topped the ledge by only few
inches. When Chief Gray suggested TO Captain
Clark that he pick his man for the dangerous
job. the latter said he wouldn't ask any OF the
boys to go where he wouldn't go himself Clark
has special record for bravery in the depart
ment- He mounted the ladder. and was followed
by Firemen jeremiah ScanlOu and Henry w.
Kimley
Stealthily Clark made his way up the ladder.
When he gained It's top the policemen were
attracting Hndman's attention. He stole quiet
ly behind the man. and then began what even
on solid earth would be described a Desperate
struggle. He flung his left arm about the mans
neck and began to choke him. but was hurled
about. Scanlon and Kimloy managed to grasp
Hindman's legs. but the efforts OF the three were
at first futile. Hndman was no Oftener the
top than the bottom of the struggling pile
when all were literally dragged through win
dow 10 the floor of the ward
Once inside. Hindman began to struggle with
greater violence. The lremen gave way the
policemen IL several minutes before Hind
bound. DIR. Coleman came with
ambulance from Bellevue Hospital and brought
with him straitjaCket. After Hindman had
been confined I'm It, the ambulance surgeon
dressed temporarily the cuts and laceratiOns
on the bodies Of the and on Mitchell.
Of the policemen. who had been cut by flying
glass when Hindman threw the pitcher through
the window Hindman was cut in many places
by glass.
At the Eye and Ear Hospital and at Bellevue
yesterday II said that the patient must
be got in condition for the operation imme-
diately Fears are entertained for his per-
manent reason and 1t is also said to be doubtful
whether he will live unless the operation is
performed sOon-