The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-11-19
ny RALPH r. BENJAMIN

When l climbed the stairs 10 the
ward where the most violent and
dangerous patients at the Western
State hospital at steiiacoom are kept
IN custody, I experienced decided
sinking sensation DR.. w. n.
! Keller. superintendent eriskly led
tho way. thought was going 20
rec horrors. stralghs-iackets. hand
cuffS wailing manlacs. shrieking
reople
Two attendants met us at che
door. Neither attendant was armed
Both appeared entirely at ease. Tho
ward was quiet and orderly. but
noticed that there were no vases
filled with flowers or hanging
baskets with growing plants There
was no phonograph The walls
were hare
MN ALL SILENT.
SUII.EN. M0K0sE
Along the wall were STATED IS or
20 men. all silent sulien- morosc.
One was man who had killed his
wife and children Another was a
Wild youth who took spells one
big fellow greeted Us cheerfuily.
Two were In restraint. their hands
fastened 10 their belts by means OF
l-ather handcurfx They were not
bound. but merely kept from moving
their arms freely.
One OF the handcufYed men wns
known as the bumper Hc Is OF low
mental type. II given freedom OF
the ward he would lower his head
and charge the nearest patient He
takes deep deiiEh, In butting other
people. on the outside he would
qualify as an endseat hog. He had
nothing TO say and stared stolidly
~ the floor.
what arc you IN here fpr- Dr.
Keller asked n tall. husky man
-oh. tried 10 run the place when
you we're gone. doc came the
answer like fash
That man was very violent but
he Is recovering said the doctor.
"A week aso he would not have
recognized me-
There was a yousA IN shaf ward
swho had escaped twice by squeezing
thru the bars and jumping out OF
the window. The last time he 80
capped he got a gun and tsrorized
the railroad agent at South Prairie
He may recover. He appears cherr-
ful. Hs had no complaint TO
make
Someone has called This violent
ward the -penitentiary ward and
the name stuck IL IL 70 this ward
that patients are taken when they
70 wild whiie at work They are
closely watched. but their restraint
Is not nearly 50 great as II would be
In any JAN In the country.
Or. Keller admitted 10 me after we
had left the ward that he never
turned his back on a patient tn that
section
They are rcarfy dangerous They
win fight among thsmseives.- he
said. They sometimes attack the at
PENDANTS. wouldn't serve m an
attendant in that ward for anything.
often wonder that anybody viii
take the job of attendant But
these two men are not only com
pctent. but they are careful and at
tenttve.-
Nearly every patient IN The
asylum wants to get out But i
found two who wanted 10 stay.
One was a man Of %. He had
been In the institution for years. His
mental condition has cleared up. He
could make his own way in the
world. He has suffered no reiapses.
He is strong physically. He Is n
scholar. But he lacks something.
He doesn't want to go.
IF you send me away you win
have to take me back" he told DR..
Keller. Il am satisfied here ]
don't want 20 go anywhere else. 1t
II warm and clean and fine here.
There ls plenty TO eat ! work lit
lie. I am satisfied to have author
tty over me-
He IL n man who fears even 20
try 10 battle the world for living.
He lacks initiative. IL he were re-
leased he would lay down In the