An Extraordinary Tragedy

Spalatzo, iu the Austrian province of Dahnatia, was a few weeks ago the scène of a most extraordinnry and terrible tragedy. Opposite the parish church lived a householder nained Tomic, who, becoruiug suddenly a prey to mad rage, killed his wife and then his father, who had attempted to restrain him. Wlien the pólice carne they fpund tliat Tomic had everywhere effectually barred an entry, and taken up a commanding position with a musket and plenty of ammuuitiou. They were, thcrefore, conipelled to turn back, nnd meanwliile Tomic put a bullet through a young man who erossed Üie street, nnd severely wounded a woman. The pólice then drew a cordon around the house, but Tomic's musket commanded the space between his house, the ehureh, and the top of the adjacont streets, and no one dared cross the street or approach the body of the young man. At length a clergyman who liad great iniluenee with Tomic bravcly went forward and implóred liim to give up to his care his little cliild. Tlie father's answer to tliis appoal was by throwingoutherlinibsone by one ! Then he resumed Iiíb fusilado. The authorities would not allow the polioe to fire, inasmueh ns they deenied the man bereft of reason. So the only course was to continue the blockade. All sorte of devices were suggested. Some were for iiriug on Tomic witli stupefying cartridges, others for concentrating the flre engine force on the house, and all this time the unhiippy sexton of the jmri.sh was sending up from tlie bell tower a j wailfor lood, he baring gone to ring the bell just bel'ore the. tragedy begau, and ln's only mode of egress being in front of the maniae's window. After the blockade had lasted two days, and Tomic showed no signs of giving iu, it was resolved to keep up i perfect hailstorm of stones at all the windows of the house while the door was forced. The madmnn flew to tlie garret, wliere it was no easy matter' to ilisarm witliout killing him. Altogether, he liad killed four and wounded five persons.