Evening star., 1930-06-22
CRAZED MAN HURLS
FIVE CELEBRATING
RELEASE TO DEATH
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Continued From First Page.)
Cave, where two judges who condemned
Charles Of England to death hid from
the soldiers of the crown.
The outing to West Rock was to have
celebrated Spang's homecoming. The
family left their Ansonia home, about
10 miles away, this morning in the
family automobile. The excursion was
an impromptu one. 1t was suggested
to Spang by his children, who were
overjoyed because of his return from
the hospital, where he had been a pa
tient for eight weeks.
After Spang's escape message was
sent from Base 81 to the effect that he
had escaped. Capt. Nils I. Poulsen
chairman of the Ansonia Chapter of
the American Red Cross, received word
10 that effect at 4 pm, and. relatives
were to be notified. The Ansonia police
however, said that no telegram had
come to them of Spang's escape.
Scores Witness Tragedy.
The start of the tragedy was witnessed
by scores OF persons, some in homes
which are on streets which end at the
rock, but mostly by boys and girls who
were playing at the foot of the cliff.
These latter, horrified and frightened
by the sight of bodies whirling and spin
ming in the air, were unable for some
time to give description of the sight.
One lad, Maury Bagdanoff, who was
watching a man on the top of the cliff,
saw child pushed over-he ran in his
fright until he could find a telephone.
and then all he could do was to biurt
out Grace Hospital" But this little
Fellow, when he could talk, gave the
flrst inkling downtown of the tragedv,
ana an ambulance was quickly headed
Tor the Westville section.
1t was at least two hours after 4bat
before it was definitely fixed that Snano
had exterminated his immediate family
ana at that time he himself was dead
BY mldafternoon the story of the tragic
happening had been cleared up. and
lour bodies were recovered from the
rocks at the base OF the cliff.
Kicked Bodies Down Cliff
William Hague, a drug store clerk
employed in the WestvilIe section u,ar
witness of the tragedy. He said that
ne saw Spang descend the cliff to where
Two bodies of his children had lodoad
removed them, and kicked them fartber
down the cliff. -"- ''-0i
Hague said he got a shotgun and
hred four times in the directio,, -
Spang as the latter clung to Ledge
ne distance was too far for the sho,s
to reach the man. 0iio'"
thousands of persons began gather
ing at the base Of the nountain as
news of the tragedy spread Most If
Cnem were there to witness the cIosa
ledge on the
The World War veteran began climb
ing down the face of the cliff after he
nan sent his wife and four children tn
their death. Firemen and policemen
nonheo OF Spang's precarious perch
came with ropes and ladders to rescue
nlm. Ambulances and physicians ar
,tSea ,.".; WIN them to attend any of the
Vlctlms who might still live While
! some searched the rocks and bushes az
! the foot of the cliff for bodies Others
aScended the top in automobiles in An
effort to reach Spang.
Fireman Talks 10 Spang.
A fireman, Ernest Berube. was 1ov-
ereo with a rope from the summit of
| the cliff to within 10 feet of where +ba
war veteran was standing. He engaged
Spang in conversation and learned his
| name While spectators watched tenselv
from below and above.
witnesses saw Spang stir. Later II
was learned he was removing his shoes
Suddenly he stood upright. He re-
/ mained poised for a fraction of
minute on the ledge, his arms stretched
/ before him, and then he dove off
Faces blanched many turned their
heads away. There was a tense silence
as Spangs body Joined those of his
wife and four children on the rocks
! below
! A priest, one of the first persons to
arrive at the scene. made his way among
the rocks and bushes to the foot of the
! cliff to administer the last rites of the
church to any of the victims who
might have been alive.