The Rock Island Argus

Rara Avis.

A Commercial Traveler Crazy on Religion—His Three Story Tumble.

CHICAGO, May 12.—Mr. F. W. Winne, traveling salesman for a New York twine firm at 335 Broadway, jumped, or fell out of a third story window at the Palmer house about 5:15 yesterday morning, while crazy on religion. He had been awake all night holding a prayer-meeting with himself in his room. Strangely enough, he was not hurt by his fall, but his cries awakened half the occupants of the house, and heads were thrust out of nearly every window on the inner area, boarders thinking that some one had been nearly killed. His room was 301, facing on the open space above the glass roof of the rotunda, and back of the office. The glass of the roof is very thick, and overspread with strong wire netting, to prevent things from above breaking through into the office. Through both this netting and the glass roof the crazy man crashed, and when found by the porters, was hanging half through the aperture, calling loudly on the Lord to save him from destruction. When at last released, he asked the doctor to take a walk with him through one of the corridors, which demonstrated that no bones were broken. There were only some slight abrasions about the face and limbs. Mr. Winne was then conducted to his room, where it took two porters to keep him from again plunging out of the window. He said he felt called of God to make the leap. He at length became quiet, under the influence of medicines, and was left in charge of a porter. Telegrams were sent to his friends.