Thibodaux minerva. [volume] (Thibodaux, La.) 18??-1858, 1853-07-23
Remarkable Phenomenon.
AsLEEPING NGsGIANT-ARIP VAN wINKLE.

Our attention was called yesterday 10 a
most extraordinary phenomenon. a full
grown man, six feet andawo inches tall, 81
years of age, has slept for nearlyz5 years,
with only occasional and brief intervals ot
wakefulness. II The name Of this man, sub
ject to so remarkable a suspension Of the or
binary faculties of the race, is Cornelius
Broomer. He is The son Of a farmer, living
ia the town Of CIarks0p, IN this county, in
whoss family only this single and singular
instances Of prolonged somnDlency has ever
occiirrad The subject of this notice FIRST
fell intolhis long sleep on the 10th ofJune,
1913, md lsince that time has been awake
atA1 ffsspnt periods, from a few hours 10 four
months at tiHfe. NisIemasked that when
be comes out of his cateIepsy, he appears
10 have no knowledge Of tho lapse of time,
or circumstances taking place while he
sleeps. The fit comes upon him instantly,
WifH0ut, so far as. is known, any warning.
His eyes os6sAisiaws are set. his muscles
cpstract. and his whole ffarae is rigid, SO
that If standing, he continues in that attitude,
partly bent over:s and itsissnot easy to pull
him down. He has continued in this con-
dition for months together, unable to speak
or move.
Various experiments have been tried to
restore him to consciousness, without effect
A seton has been insertedin the back of his
neck without producing any apparent effect,
and on one occasion cayenne pepper, moist
ened with spirits of tnrpenline, was put into
his mouth. and no visible emotion was caused
by the caustic dose. Physicians have seen
and wondered, iheorized and experimental
in vain. Theman sleeps on, lives, eats, re-
tains perfect health, with pulse at 80, and
without yafiatien. When asleep, he may be
placed upon his feet, and he will stand for
days together, as he has been known to do
for three days and nights in succession. In
order to feed him, it is isnecessary to pry open
his firmly set laws !; and in that manner, but
little food is introduced into his stomach.
Heis not, however, much emaciated. keeps
his natural color, and appears entirely with
ont disease, excepting that which produces
his strange sleep When he awakes, he
comes out Of his trance suddenly, his rigid
muscles relax at once, he asks for meat and
drink, and falls to voraciously. Ifaskei why
he sleeps SO much, he appears to regard il
as an imposition, just as an active man would
receive an intimation that he was considered
sluggish. sa ~ as- t#
The last lime he was awake was about
five or six weeks since. He was left nearly
at home; and on coming out of sleep, he
got up and went to the lake shore, where
his brothers were; going into grocery he
called for liquor, and asked the company to
drink with him. On such occasions he is
not violent or angry appears strong and in
full possession Of his mental faculties. A
slight indication that he is not entirely un-
aware Of what is transpiring about him, was
given recently, BY asking bis father if he in
tended 10 allow him 10 be taken 10 New
York? Several parties had been endeayor-
ing to get permission 10 exhibit him, and he
appears 10 have become aware Of il by some
means perhaps BY hearing conversation
about him. This was the only instance Of the
kind. we believe. The fact that his eye-lids
are in a constant tremor, favors the idea Of
his semi-consciousness. *9 ss*
This man is now in charge of Mr.. Gurdner
Davis, Of Brockport, who intends to exhibit
him to the public, so that a thingso wonder
ful may be seen BY all the world. A brother
Of the remarkable somnambulist accompa-
nies him-a healthy, strong man, six feet
and two inches tall. Many Of our Physicians
have visited the man al the place where he
is lodged - Mr. Demarest's Commercial
Hotel, Front street Efforts have been made
to awaken him, recently, 50 that the Faculty,
who are deeply interested in the matter,
may see him in his wakefuf mood. It's
little singular that whiskey will have the
desired effect, if it is possible to get enough
down his throat But he resists the intro
dnct1on Of the liquor, and it is very difficult
to get it down in any quantity. S
Fsf asEsss es#s aas4 Rochester Democrat
sG8 sssSg -, !. z5H z8 zts9
LoNDoN PosT OFrIcE.-Once more the
Pos, Office needs to be enlarged. When