25 OCTOBER

1913 Today at the Whitechapel workhouse in South Grove, Mile End, a lunatic evaded the attendants and, scaling a water pipe, reached the roof. For over an hour he kept the officials at bay in view of hundreds of people who collected in the street. Although paralysed in one leg, he showed remarkable agility in climbing from one part of the roof to another. He rained slates down on the attendants, and, becoming hot with his exertions, took off his coat and hung it up by the chimneys. Failing in their efforts to get him down, the officials tried directing a water hose on him, and when this failed they sent for the fire brigade. At intervals the man addressed the crowd below, telling them he had been badly treated inside, and that he would have to be brought down forcibly either dead or alive. Many in the crowd expressed sympathy with him, and cheered his efforts in keeping the attendants at bay. When the fire brigade arrived, an escape was put in place and several members of the brigade climbed up. After talking with the man for a while they persuaded him to come down voluntarily and he was taken inside the building and secured by the officials.