Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1905-09-16

Boston-~Two men had a desperate
struggle recently with a giant black
smith, bent on self.destructlon in an
attic room Of the lodging house, Corn
ing street. After hurting across the
room a lighted oil stove, which start
ed brisk fire, the man suddenly pull
ed a long shoe knife and, to the hor
ror of the other men, drew 1t across
his throat.
Then began a life and death en-
counter for the possession of the
blade, in which the giant was finally
overpowered but not until he had in
flicted dangerous wound on the right
side Of his neck, from which he lost
much blood.
For the past few days Henry STRAIN.
berg, 80 years old, German, who has
been living in the house ever since he
came to this country few years ago,
has been in an apparently deranged
mental condition. He was unable to
eat or sleep much, and complained to
the landlady that he was not feeling
well.
Stramberg is feet 4 inches in
height and weighs more than 225
pounds. He Is blacksmith and has
been employed in shop on Hampden
street, Roxbury. One morning he did
not go to work, although he left the
house about the usual time. He came
back a few hours later, and then fol
lowed one of the first demonstrations
Of his dementia.
He went upstairs to the bathroom
and, disrobing, put all his outside gar
ments in the tub and washed them.
This done he went to his room and the
clothes were found later by Mrs. Cor
coran.
In the evening, John Nash, a wood
worker, who occupies the front room
on the upper floor, came home from
work and when he entered his room
was surprised to find Stramberg lying
on his bed, partially undressed. Nash
asked the intruder what he was do.
ing and Stramberg told him he was
tired Of his own room and wanted a
change.
Nash, knowing the man was not
very well, raised no further objec-
tions and lit small kerosene oil stove
to heat some water. Stramberg,
shortly after the thing was lit, jumped
from the bed and hurled it ACROSS the
room. Fortunately 1t didn't explode,
but it set fire to the lace curtain, which
blazed up threateningly and some of
the oil spilled out over the carpet and
was soon burning.
Nash yelled for help and John H.
Hurley, who occupies room in the
house, ran upstairs when he heard the
cries of "fire." Both men went to
work to put out the flames and hardly
had they finished their task when they
were attracted to Stramberg, who
from some hidden place had brought
forth big shoeknife and standing
near the bed raised it and drew 1t
across his throat.
Both men sprang toward him in an
effort to grab the knife and were ef-
fectual in preventing him from prob
ably ending his life on the spot. He
still clung to the knife and fought
with the strength and desperation OF
a maniac as the others struggled to
get him to the floor and secure the
weapon.
For nearly half an hour the ex-
hausting battle went on until the three
were almost covered with blood which
was flowing from the wound on Stram'
berg's neck. The loss Of blood weak
ened him and Hurley's knowledge OF
wrestling permitted him to gain the
mastery over the giant blacksmith,
and slowly he was forced back and
onto the bed and held down by both
men.
After Stramberg had become some
what quieted one Of the men slipped
from the room and sent word to sta
tion 4 for an ambulance. Stramberg
was hurried to the hospital and there
It was stated to the police that he
would probably be raving maniac
inside Of 12 hours.
What caused the man to become IN
sane no one knows He was a steady
worker and didn't drink heavily, 1t
Is stated.
Stramberg's wound, while not fatal,
was very serious, but 1t Is expected
that he will be brought out OF that
part of his troubles in course OF time