HIGH-TOWER MADNESS.

Evening Star, Issue 13090, 24 October 1908, Page 11

HIGH-TOWER MADNESS.

The lofty tower of the Chicago Auditorium became the scene of a thrilling incident on August 29. An insane father attempted to throw his daughter from the top to the pavement below, and was only stopped just in time. The man was John ■Schilling, who had recently been released from the insane asylum ns being “cured,” and bad returned to his home in Chicago. On the morning in question Schilling took his daughter, who is twelve years of ago. for a walk. They went up the Auditorium tower, which is open to the public, and from which a tine view is obtained of the city. The man’s head seems to have been turned, for without any warning he seized the girl and attempted to throw her over the battlemented parapet, which stands a little more than waist high. A fearful struggle ensued on the top of the tower, 310 ft above the street. The two were alone, and there was no . one to help the girl. She wildly clung to her father, and uttered Shrieks and lend cries, which after a while attracted people passing in Wabash avenue, many of whom stood awestruck' by the sight of the terrible struggle going on far above their heads. Several, however, with greater presence-of mind, rushed to the foot of the tower, and, alarming the lift man, were shot up the sixteen storeys at express speed, and arrived just in time to rescue the girl, who had fainted, and was completely at her father's mercy. She was taken home, while Schilling was given into custody, and will probably he sent back to the asylum.