Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1907-08-08
insane PATIENT
Captured

Unrest and desire to escape seem
to be epidemic among the patients at
the hospital for the insane. 1t is re.
markable that following on the heels
of the two escapes that took place at
occur on Saturday, surprising the 9TH
ers in sensational features and culm-
mating in capture at South Dan
vile in which the officers and citizens
of town participated.
Shortly after seven D. m. west
bound freight pulled into South Dan
vile, where it stopped for some time.
| Standing near the station were Nathan
McElrath, William Hartman and Sid
ney Kelley, young men living on Iron
street. this city, who contemplated TAX
ing a trip to Sunbury. When the
freight slowed up they noticed an odd
looking individual on one of the cars
whom they judged to be lunatic. He
wore the regulation overalls distingu-
ished by red stripes and his whole ap-
pearance indicated that he was an es-
capped patient.
Messrs. McElrath, Hartman and
Kelley jumped on the train. The man
in overalls. however, was wary and no
sooner had the three young men got
ten on the car than he jumped off on
the opposite side. The young fellows
following him jumped off on the same
side, when the man took to his heels
and dashed off down along the rail-
road.
Convinced by this time that they
had patient to deal with the young
men started in pursuit. They were
good sprinters, but the patient, bent
on securing his liberty, was better
one. Only once or twice did they come
near enough to stand any chance of
capturing him, but the man becoming
for the time being perfect maniac,
by hurling stones and gravel, held his
pursueTs at bay. Nathan McElrath re-
ceived blow in the eye. which COM
pletely knocked him out. Fighting des
perately and gaining a little now and
little then the man led his pursuers as
far as the silk mill, where he escaped
into cornfeld.
AT this juncture telephone call was
sent over to town for the police. Chief
Mincemoyer in responding was just n
time to catch the trolley car, which
gave him fine lift. 1t was a few
minutes after the car left that officer
Voris W reached. The latter officer
fortunately ran across DR.. Krickbaum
of the hospital staff and the two jump
ing into one of the buses were driven
over to the south side. When they
reached the silk mill they found a
considerable crowd present, while ex-
citement was at a high pitch.
The patient, it was learned, was in
hiding in dense growth of bushes
down below the river bank By this
time the insane man by his resistance
and savage mood had inspired good
deal of dread into the crowd few
volunteers were found who cared to
penetrate the dense growth of bushes
in which he was concealed.
Chief Mincemoyer went down to
dislodge him while officer Voris and
some Others took up their position ON
the opposite side. Alarmed by the ap-
proach of the chief the insane man
made dash up the river bank, where
he encountered Sidney Reilly, who at
once grappled with him. Reilly was
scarcely match for the frantic patti
ent at first and probably would have
been overcome had he not by quick
movement succeeded in tripping and
throwing down his antagonist. A mo-
ment later DR.. Krickbaum came up
and the patient was secured. He was
placed on the trolley car and accom-
panied by DR.. Krickbaum and Chief
Mincemoyer he was taken back to the
hospital
The runaway patients name is Bar
ber; he is young man and was COM
mitted from Bradford county ebout
two years ago. He was one of the gang
working in the stone quarry. His dis
eased mind was open to suggestion
and hearing great deal about the two
escapes, last week, the idea took pos
session of him that he ought to join
the exodus.
Accordingly, at the breakfast table
Saturday morning he stuffed his pock-
cts full of biscuits. Soon after he took
his place in the quarry, by a clever
ruse, he managed to get momentarily
out of sight of the attendants, when he
made bee line for the woods.
He was almost instantly missed but
the two attendants in charge had
about all they could do to look after
the rest of the gang. While one of the
attendants kept watch the other ran
down to the gas house and teIephoned
Up TO the hospital, notifying them of
the escape. AS explained by an expert
enced attendant Saturday evening it
is utterly beyond the power of the at