The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1908-04-30
Mike Rossing, Kenosha Inmate a.
Mendoza, Escapes Under
Perilous Conditions
USES COPPER CENT AS TOOL
Takes Windows Off the Building and
Makes His Way From Fourth
Floor By Means of
Fire Escape

y
was sent to the state asylum for the
insane at Mendoza less than month
ago, has earned his liberty by one of
the most daring escapes ever reported
at state institution in Wisconsin and
as result of his daring and ingenuity
Rossing will be granted parole and it
is expected that he will remain in Ken
osha.
Rossing reached Kenosha on Tuesday
and it was then that the escape was
discovered by the local officials. His
daring escape took place on last Sun
day night during the terrific rain and
wind storm and the officials from the
asylum were searching for him until
, Tuesday when Sheriff Pfennig called up
Superintendent Charles Gorst and ad-
vised him that Rossing was in Kenosha
and not seemingly in need of any furth
er treatment at a hospital.
The escape Of Rossing was remarka-
BILE on account of the fact that he had
no tools to effect his escape save a COM
mon copper cent and small piece of
iron. Rossing had complained against,
the confinement ever since he had been
sent to Mendoza and he had repeatedly
declared to the attendants that he was
not insane and that he desired to re.
turn to Kenosha. Sunday night Ross
ing and a patient who had been sent
to the asylum from Lacrosse County
were placed in one of the smaller rooms
on the fourth floor of the hospital
Rossing had occupied this room since
he went to Mendoza and he had care
fully planned his escape. He had made
an effort to get hold of screw driver
but had not been able to get any. His
companion had small piece of iron in
his pocket and Rossing had a common
copper cent. The two managed to
make screw driver out of the cent
and with this they loosened the screws
which held the windows Of the room
and after the window had been Opened
they silently threw themselves out on
the fire escape which was some three
feet from the window. The rain was
falling in torrents and for this reason
the guards about the asylum had re-
Taxed their vigilance. Rossing and his
companion managed to reach the
ground without being discovered, but a
few minutes later one of the guards
discovered the window open and the
great whistle of the institution was
blown and search for the. missing
patients instituted. Rossing and his
companion saw the searchers with liant
ems making their way about the
grounds, but they managed to- conceal
themselves behind brush piles until af-
ter the search had been abandoned for
the night Later they managed to get
on freight train and for an hour they
braved one of the worst rain storms Of
the year riding on an open oil car. The
men finally got to Baraboo and from
there without money and with only the
clothing that had been allowed them at
the institution they made their way
by freight to Fond du Lac. At Fond du
Lac Rossing manage to get money
enough to get to Kenosha. The La
Crosse patient has not as yet been dis
covered but Rossing has informed the
Kenosha officials that he is on his way
home.
1 Superintendent Gorst admitted the
escape of the men to the sheriff and
stated that so long as there was no rea-
son to confne Rossing he should be left
in Kenosha.