TERRIBLE STRUGGLE.

Taranaki Daily News, 9 January 1917, Page 2

TERRIBLE STRUGGLE.

MADMAN* AT SYDNEY HEADS. Of all the jierve-rackiiK' "xperienees possible, that which must surely be one of the worst is to struggle for nearly half an hour on the edge of a cliff with a madman intent on hurling himself to dentil on the rocks below, 'ihis is wha happened to Thomas Boweu and Joseph Wuchtash, two soldiers attached 'to the Engineers' Camp at Moore Park oil Christmas Eve. Shortly before 7 o'clock a lady was walking along the cliffs near the Gap at South Head when she saright at the most dangerous and unprotected spot, a man wlio showed plainly by his actions that he was about to throw htn> self over. With his hands raised aben his head in an attitude of supplication, he ran backwards and forwards, sometimes going'to the brink of the cliff and peering over, and then running a few feet back. Locking around for someone to whom she could call for assistance, the lady saw two soldiers. Going .piickly to them, she told them of the' madman, who was then taking oti his clothes. Without hesitation tlu> soldiers made for the lunatic. Fearing that if they vnn towards him or made any sign to indicate their intentions he would jump before they could get e!o r e enough to stop him, they jaunted casually along mtil tliey had got Within a few feet of hi.ii. Then with a spring tliey seized him.

Til«l commenced a struggle which hilled lor clui? on half »<i hour. The madman seemed to be possessed of the sli'ciiglli of six ordinary mf-ni and more ti.ir.i once lie managed to roll, with his would-be resellers clingin;' to him, right to the edge of the elitf. Then with n desperate effort thpv threw him back. Oatc the foot of one of the soldiers caught, in a crevice, and it was only the grip that this gave him that saved the three from going over. At last the lunatic became exhausted, and his captors succeeded in getting the upper hand. Just as they had finally overpowered him assisance arrived, and after ho had been hound hand and foot, he was taken to the Watson Bay iPolice Station. The next day the poiice removed him to the reception house.