A Pleasant Evening.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 20, 13 November 1912, Page 52

A Pleasant Evening.

By

Dr. F.E. WALKER.

Ironical indeed is the title of this narrative, for Dr. Walker little knew of the terrible experience in store for him when he good-naturedly undertook to relieve the head attendant of an insane asylum one evening. ‘By special request of the officials,” he writes, “I hare altered the names of persons concerned and suppressed that of the institution. Every other detail is absolutely correct.”

TO the majority of young men an invitation to spend a fortnight of their holiday in an insane 'asylum would appeal about as (forcibly as would a fortnight's sojourn in gaol. There are, however, exceptions to all rules, as well as wide differences in individual tastes. Two years on the medical staff of a hospital for the insane in lowa had made me thoroughly familiar with the methods pursued in the care of the unfortunates who were placed there for treatment, and had. of course, eliminated every vestige of the “nerves” (Usually felt by those unaccustomed to association with mental derelicts.

It was, therefore, with much pleasure that I received and accepted a cordial invitation from the superintendent of the institution concerned to become his guest during the latter part of August, 1897. I remembered my former pleasant associations with physicians and attendants, land the anticipation of their renewal made roe very happy. I lost no time in preparation, and determined to enjoy as much of the hospitality offered as possible.

The superintendent and the head nurse, “Charley” met me at the main entrance to the grounds with a hearty welcome, and conducted me through the great building, introducing me to their new assistants, an 1 enabling me to exchange greetings with the older ones who were there when 1 had been an attache. During the following week all my anticipations and expectations in the way of (entertainment were more than realized; I ihad a thoroughly good time. Date one afternoon Charley informed me that he had made arrangements to take his fiancee to a garden-party “down town." and that unfortunately unable to secure the “relief" who usually attended to his duties during his absence <on like important occasions. Charley had always been a good friend of mine, and. being anxious to render him some service in return for his many- kind acts and courtesies, I readily offered to take his place in the receiving ward during his absence. He was. of course, delighted to accept the proffered assistance, which ‘extricated him from what might have proved a most embarrassing situation, and yrhen I returned to “Ward Three,” as Mon after the evening meal as possible, I found Charley already dressed for the party. After giving me a few instructions, he opened the door and ran for the flown-town car, which was just ready to .leave the station, remarking as he left 41iat he hoped I should enjoy the evening "*• much as he expected to

J.ocking the huge door after him, I made the round of the ward to see that everything was in good shape: then I sat down to look over the chart of orders and directions for the night. This ward, unlike the others, was filled with a class of patients whose insanity was either homicidal or suicidal, and a few who were unable to be out of bed. Its thirty rooms were never locked, hence an attendant was on duty every minute of the twentyfour hours. One reason for this constant supervision and the open doors was due to the fact that the sick in bed needed medicine during the night; another was that the would-be suicides and homicides required constant watching in order that

no harm might come either to themselves or others: a third reason was that this ward received all the patients from tho incoming night trains.

On their arrival at the hospital, new patients were given a bath by the attendant in charge of the receiving ward, after which they were put to bed and carefully watched. The following morning the examining physician would call, conduct the examination, and assign each to his proper place in the hospital. I found all the patients in satisfactory condition, and seemingly on their good, behaviour. One short, heavy-set individual, about 45 years of age, remarked, pleasantly: “Ain’t this a fine night to kill?” He had been brought to the hospital a raving maniac, having choked to death his little daughter, three or four years of age, and almost caused the death of his wife at the same time in a like manner.

I paid little attention to his remark, as it is one frequently heard in every institution of this kind; nevertheless, I decided to watch the fellow close!v. That he meant mischief will soon be apparent. The attendants’ room was at the lower end of the long corridor, directly opposite the dining-room. Here they slept, lounged, studied. or read, and in no circumstances was any patient ever allowed to enter. It was our custom, when not busy, to unlock this room and sit in an easy-chair to rest, read, or talk. When doing so the door opening into the corridor was always left wide open. I took another walk through the ward, attending to such duties as were necessary. and then went to the attendants’ room to rest and read until it was time to make my next round. Before doing this I took a look into the room occupied by “Four Toes,” a. nickname given the man mentioned above because the big toe of his left foot had l>een amputated some year* before. He seemed to be soundly aleeping, so I turned into my room,

settled myself in a big armchair, elevated my feet on the table, and was soon intensely interested in my book.

I may have read for ten minutes, when I suddenly felt a sense of insecurity hovering over me —a chilling of the bodysurface and that peculiar instinctive feeling that someone else was in the room and that I was in great danger. Knowing so well the quiet, stealthy, and ghostlike manner of many insane persons, the thought flashed over me that one of these desperate homicides had entered the room and was standing over my chair, smiling in the consciousness that he had at last secured a victim. I well knew that the slightest move on my part would precipitate the attack, and I also felt sure, if my surmise was correct as to another presence in the_room, that I could not remain in my chair long without giving •him every advantage. Without moving, therefore, I turned my eyes to the left as far as I could and glanced downward to the floor. Instantly a sickening sense of fear and awful horror overcame and held me in as in a vice, for my swift glance revealed to me a large foot with only four toes! It seemed to me that I could see the dreadful struggle of that dear little daughter whom “Four Toes” had so cruelly strangled only a few months before.

While “Four Toes” was a great deal heavier than I, and a much stronger man in proportion, I felt that I could hold my own in anything like a fair struggle, as I had received special training in the art of self-defence. Gathering all my mental and physical forces together, I suddenly threw my book backwards, at the same time jerking my ieet from the table, and, with a terrible yell, jumped from my chair and gave battle. This sudden move on my part was most startling tc “Four Toes,” for-he fell backward against a small stool, and, with uplifted arms to protect himself from the impact of the book, presented a splendid opening for a double right and left upper-cut on the chin, which he received with all the force I possessed. It was several minutes before he became conscious after the blows, and, after dragging him to his bed, he went into a deep and profound sleep, and I left him with a pleasurable feeling of personal security.

After this sudden interruption of my evening's enjoyment, I did not feel like remaining in my room: so, locking the loor, I kept walking about the hall. This hospital was so arranged that the officers’ quarters were located in the centre of the great building, and when assistance was needed in some remote part of the house it was necessary to unlock the dining-room door, where the telephone was installed, and either call up the main office or some other ward for an additional attendant. While I

had nothing to fear from “Four Toes,” and while the encounter just related was not an unusual event, I could not rid my mind of a fear, vague, shapeless, and uncertain; and yet I was certainly not afraid in a physical sense. This feeling, with the general atmosphere of midnight loneliness among some twenty mental wrecks, kept growing on me to such an extent that 1 decided to call up the main office and ask one of the fellows to come in for a few minutes’ chat. Accordingly, I unlocked the dining-room door and rang up the night office, but received no answer, although I tried repeatedly. I then called several of the wards, but without effect. It then occurred to me that the telephones all over the house .were undergoing repair, and mos.t of them were out of commission, so I gave up the attempt. dust as I was leaving the dining-rooni I heard the heavy key grate in the lock of the corridor door; and knew that cither one of the attendants was coming in for a visit or that the night train had brought me a patient. The latter proved to be the case. Four men stepped into the ward —the night officer of the hospital, accompanied by the sheriff and his deputy, in charge of a patient, iwho was a man of about a hundred and forty-five pounds weight, and buit little more than thirty years of age. I was glad to have this diversion, and my gloomy thoughts flew aiway as I made the usual inquiries of the sheriff as to the mental condition of the

patient, filled in the proper forms, an I seated the new arrival in a convenient chair. Then, after a few minutes’ conversation with the sheriff and the night officer, the three officials left me. As the sheriff passed through the door he turned to me. “Keep an eye on the brute,” he whispered. “He is a devil." The night man carefully locked the door after him, and I turned to size up my patient. He was a well-set-up man of evident strength, determination, and resource. His clear grey eye did not show a glimmer of insanity; his movements were quiet and dignified, his voice smooth and well modulated, and his language cultured and intelligent. Had we been seated in the Icfolby of an hotel or in a Pullman I should have regarded him as a man of most pleasing personality, and one who would assist in passing the time away in a gentlemanly and profitable manner. However, his commitment to the hospital, through the system of careful examination by competent physicians, together with the warning of the sheriff, was sufficient evi-

dence that I must only regard him as a dangerous madman, perhaps of murderous propensities. Without further delay, I conducted him to one of the vacant rooms and told him to undress, saying that I would prepare a bath.

"A bath will be most acceptable,” he said, "and I shall appreciate it very much.” He immediately commenced to disrobe, - talking all the while. Placing a robe over his shoulders, we walked to the bathroom like old friends. Entering the room, I turned on the water and laid out the towels. It may be as we'll to explain here that the bathroom was about fourteen feet square, having two entrances. No furniture of any kind was ever allowed in this room. The bath was a very large one. and occupied one full side of the apartment. Opposite was a large sink, and to the side of this sink hung a roller-towel, three feet wide and twelve feet long, for the use of the patients. This towel travelled over a roller three inches in diameter and three and a half feet long, which was secured to a support near the ceiling by a padlock. It seemed impossible to unlock the roller, unless by a key, which only the attendant in charge possessed. The key to this raek I knew to be in Charley's pocket, as he had only given me the key to the ward door when I took his place. It was now midnight, and Mr Corliss, the patient, turned to me and said: — "Will you be kind enough to provide some light food for me? We had only five minutes to secure refreshments during our trip of ten hours. By the time it is served I shall have had my bath. I can then eat and retire for a good night’s rest.” I replied that I would bring him a bowl of fresh milk and some bread. "Thank you very kindly, sir,” he said. "Such a meal appeals to me, and will be thoroughly enjoyed.” I closed both doors to the bathroom, entered the dining-room hastily prepared the promised food, and returned with it to the little table in the hall next to the bathroom. Ae I passed the bathroom I heard the water running, and it sounded as though the tub was not only full, but overflowing. Just as I nvas on the point of arrang-

ing the table for the dishes the bathroom door slowly opened and Mr Corliss, with head held high, eyes flashing a demoniac glare, and with hands clenched, st role forth with all the dignity of a gladiator. He had thoroughly lathered himself from head to foot with soap and water, and there was not a stiteh of clothing on him except on his left shoulder, where he had placed one of the towels I had given him. His appearance ‘was not only grotesque, but defiant and formidable in the extreme. I should not have recognised him from his features, for they had undergone a metamorphosis which so eliminated all refinement and culture that even one used to such a place and seeing the facial changes of its afflicted inmates could not help shrinking from him. I could see murder and the lust of cruelty written on every feature and fairly blazing forth from those steel-grey eyes. His attitude, tense and alert, told me more eloquently than words that I .was face to face with the greatest physical tattle of my life. I noted the well-developed shoulders and chest and the firm, compact muscles of his arms, all of which showed him to be in perfect training, while his deep-chested breathing tokl only too plainly that his wind was good and would enable him to continue a struggle, even at odds, for a time. Looking at me more fiercely than ever, and pointing to the towel on his shoulder, he hissed through his clenched teeth :— “That is a chip; knock it off.”

I felt that I was in for a fight, and I decided that the sooner we commenced the better; but I said, quietly.-—-“All right, my friend, wait until I shut off the water in the bathroom. It is running all over the floor.” “Ab,” he replied, “just so! You fall into the trap, and I shall kill you like the dog you are.” As I passed into the room he made a kick at me, but did not attempt to jump on me, as I feared. Hastily turn-

ing off the water, which was now flooding off the room, and keeping my eye on the madman all the while, I turned io meet him. Ob entering the room I noticed that the big roller-towel lay in a heap on the floor, and that the big roller was beneath it. I gave the mass a kick, which sent the club rolling across the tiling to the other side of the room. With a blood-curdling snarl the madman made a leap in the direction of -the roller, but I caught him round the waist and attempted to secure the neck-hold. I knew that if he once got that roller - —a terrible .weapon—he would beat me to death in no time. I was only able to choke him a little, for the lather all over his body made it quite easy for him to slip from my hold. I therefore immediately grappled with him again, and •then ensued a tussle, with short-arm Hows from both contestants, which soon started the blood flowing freely from both our faces. I tried again and again to secure the front or back neckhold—l was an expert wrestler—and nearly succeeded several times; but, although the lather was fast drying and our struggles were wiping it off, he was able to slip from my neck-hold without much diffieuJtv.

Suddenly,- with a lightning-like movement, 'he wrenched himself free and made a supreme effort to secure the club. I .was thrown in a crouching position immediately in front of him, and in such a manner that he had to lean over me to reach the weapon. I quickly seized him by the throat with both hand's and pressed .with all my remaining strength against his windpipe, at the same time rising to my feet. I now had the advantage, and, rushing him swiftly across the room, I brought him up against the wall with a thud. He seemed to be completeSy subdued, so I loosened my hold and asked him if he wished to fight any longer. Gasping for air, he cried out: —- “No, no, no. You are the best man.” I was glad to hear him say so, for I was completely exhausted. The towel which he had carried on his shoulder had fallen to the floor, and I foolishly stopped to pick it up. Like a flash the madman whirled clear around and struck me a terrific blow with his closed fist over the right ear. I felt no pain, for it rendered me instantly unconscious. I do not know haw long I remained in this condition, but when I came to my assailant was dancing round and round my supposed dead body, his head thrown back, his hands held high with fingers .widely extended, his eyes bloodshot, and a look on his face, all covered as it was with soap and blood, that I shall never forget. As I had been knocked out before, I know that my only salvation was to lie quiet until I regained my strength, and I realised that his wild dancing would do him no good. When I felt sufficiently revived, I suddenly reached out and grasped one of his dancing feet. Taken utterly by surprise, he fell to the floor in a heap. By this time several of the inmates, aroused by the commotion, Itad got out of bed and were running up and down the hall, while others were crowded into the doorway of the bathroom, .watching the fight; none of them, however, made any attempt to assist either of us. Luckily there is very little sense of co-operation among the mentally inflicted. As soon as my antagonist fell I secured the back neck-hold, which I used relentlessly. Over and over the wet, slippery floor we rolled, but my arm was firmly fixed, and I know he could do me no harm. Suddenly his body weakened, the muscles relaxed, and he lay full length upon me. I felt instinctively that he was dead. I was too exhausted to rase myself, although I tried to remove my arm. It seemed as if my muscles were of steel, for, try as I could, I was unable to make them perforin their functions. I endeavoured to prise my arm loose with my free hand, but failed.

Lying there with the dead man on top of me, I ordered the men who were out of bed to return to their rooms, and one by one they obeyed. A few seconds later I heard the familiar grate of the key in the ward door. Charley had returned from the city, and, being unable to arouse me, know that something was wrong and hastily summoned the night officer to unlock the door. Hearing my cries for help, they ctume running down

the hall, and were soon able to remove my arm from the madman's neck, although it took several minutes of careful manipulation. My enemy was a frightful -iglit. We made an attempt to resuscitate him, but without success. Suddenly, while we worked. 1 grew faint, and before anyone could reach me I fell unconscious to the floor. A nurse and a physician were called, and I was taken to my room and placed in bed, where I remained for three weeks. Then 1 gradually regained my former physical condition, with the exception of the hearing in the right ear, where the heavy blow had caused a complete rupture of the tympanum. For many months alter that I would wake from -,i .soil’ll:! sleep and see the face of my foe in the shadows on the wall, and ofttimes in my dreams 1 would' go over the whole terrible scene again. Whenever a friend asks me to look after his work nowadays I m ike quite sure that I have some congenial company, and that no murderous madman are within sight or sound. I have after speculated, by the way. as to what would have resulted if "Four Toes" had happened to awake during the fracas. Had he done so, he would .certainly have taken a hand in the struggle, and in that ease this story would probably never have been written.