AN EXCITING SCENE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XV, Issue 4310, 5 January 1893, Page 3

AN EXCITING SCENE.

The New York correspondent of tlid Melbourne 1 Age' gives some details of the extraordinary occurrence reported by cable, when' ut madman Jiccupied the pulpit o{a Mafsaclius»R,y, hour in the .your sermons :he luturo; beroalter I will itrench i sermons myself, The clergyman —the correspondent goes on to saythought nothing more of tlio interview, and did not mention it to anyone. On the following Sunday, when tho janitor opened the cliurch, he found the insane man barricaded in .the pulpit, with provisions enough for a week, two revolvers, ammunition enough for a regiment, and a varied assortment of Soman candles, red fire and otherpyroteobnica. He intended to use these articles as a variation from lb monotony o{ tki regular Sunday services. When lie was asked to come out of tho pulpit, the man refused, and threatened to shoot anyone who came within ten feet of him, Some of the memhera of tho congregation, most of them friondu of the madman, tried to argue with him, but bo would listen to nobody. Several policemen came, The madman warned tliem not to advanco, but they paid no attention to his warning uutil be fired three shots in quick succession in their direction, Nobody was hit by the bullets, but it was ultimately decided that it was dangerous to arrest the man, The building, there--lo%l\vaafilenred and speedily surrounded.hw crowd of persons curious towatdifflvelopments. The police took uwfwits of observation, whence they keep a watch on tho occupant of the pulpit, About i! p.m it was announced that the man, worn out by bis exertions, had fallon asleep. Some of the polico then stolo in upon him, and he was secured, although only after a desperate struggle.