Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1853-07-08

physical Phes.omenonA Sleeping Gle
ANITA Rip Van Wrinkle.
Our attention was called yesterday, TO a most extra
ordinary phenomenon A full grown man. six feet
and two inches tall thifty-seven years OF age mas
slept for nearly five years. with only occasional and
brief intervals of wakefuness The name OF this man.
subject to so remarkable suspension OF the ordinary
faculties of the race is Cornelius Broomer. He - the
son of farmer living in the town of Clarkson this
county in whose family only this single and singular
instance of prolonged somnolency has ever occurred
The subject of this notice first fell into this long sleep
on the 18th of June 1S48 and since that time has oeen
awake at different periods. from few hours 10 1our
months at a time It is remarked that when ne comes
out of this cate!epsy, he appears TO have no know
edge of the lapse of time, or circumstances taking
place while he sleeps The fit comes upon hIm IN
stany without, so far as is known. any WARNING
His ewes cose his jaws set, his muscles contract
and his whole form is rigid, that, if standing ne
continues in that attitude, partly bent over, and 1t IS
not easy to pull him down. He has continued IN this
condition for months together, unable to speak or
move .
Various experiments have been tried TO restore him
10 cobsCiousr ess, without effect A seton has Deen
Inserted in tie back of his neck without producing
any apparent effect, and on one occasion cayenne pep
per, lnostehel with spirits OF tnrpehne; was put
| into his mouth AMI visible emotion was caused
by the caustic dose. Physicians have seen and won
dered, theorized and experimental in vain. The
man sleeps on, lives, eats, retains perfect health win
a pulse al 80, and without variation. When asleep
he may be placed upon his fee and he will stand 1ol
DAYS together as he has been known 10 do for three
days and nights In succession. In order to feed hun
it is necessary 10 pry open his firmly set Jaws and IN
that manner but little food is introduced into his
stomach He is not, however. much emaciaed, keeps
his natural color, and appears entirely without dis
ease excepting that which produces his strange sleep
When he awakes, he comes out of his trance sud
denly his rigid muscles relax at once, he asks to
meat or drink, and falls to voraciously If asked why
he sleeps so much, he appears to regard it as an I'M
position, just any active man would receive an IN
limation that he was considered sluggish
The last time he was awake was about five or sl1
weeks since. He was left nearly alone al home; ant
on coming out of sleep he got up and went to the lax
shore where his brothers were; going into grocer
he called for liquor, and asked the company 10 drinl
with him. slight indication that he is not entireI
unaware of what is transpirng about him was glvel
recently, by his asking his father if he intended TO al
low him to be taken to New York. Several partle
had been endeavo:ng TO get permission to exhibi
him, and he appears to have become aware of il b.
some means-perhaps by hearing conversation abou
him. This the only instance OF the kind we be
leve. The l. Il that his eyeds are in constan
remor favors the idea of his semi consciousness.
This man is now in charge of Dr. Gardiner Davi:
of Brockport, who intends to exhibit him to the pub
lie, so that thing wonderful may be seen by a
the world brother of the remarkable somnambu
list accompanies him--a healthy, strong man. six fet
and two inches in height Many of our ply sicans hav
Damarests Commercial Hotel, Front street. Effor
; have been made to waken him recently, so that III
faculty, who deeply interested in the matter, ma
see him in his wakeful mood. 1t is little singu;
that whskey will have the desired effect, if it is POI
sble 10 get enough down his throat. But he ress
the introduction of the liquor, and ii is very difficult
Il get it down in any quantity.
o ~ Canine Sketch.
= "Just then the door opened, and Mr.. Rawle
walked in, and close at his heels stalked Bitters
e both seated themselves the chair, and II
other on end directly in front of the surrogate.
e Mr.. Jaeger looked at the dog with the solemn eye
If surrogate, and sh )ok his head as only surroga
e, can shake it.
J "Are you one of the witnesses % inquired he
= the dogs master.
IS Il am sir" replied MIR. Rawley. "Iwas SUI
ponaed to testify; and there's the document"
IS he spoke, he laid upon the table a paper whic
Of from having been several days in that gentleman
Of pocket, had faded from white into snuff COLOR
te was particularly crumped.
r "What's that animal doing here o. demanded tt
s. surrogate.
ID g He hasn't had time to do anything" replied NJ
Rawley " He comes when come. He goes wh'
~ goes. He's a peeler.'
TX ssThe animal must leave the court Its contem
Ot of court to bring him here, said Mr. Jaeger, ang
y ". Remove him instantly"
We Mr.. Rawley had frequently been in attendance
Sc the police courts, and once twice had had slig
s. taste of the sessions; so that he was not as mu
-. struck with the surrogate as he otherwise mig
er have been and he replied:
I'd Il make no opposition, sir; and shall not move
re finger to perwent it. There's the animal and a.
ut officer as pleases may him. | say huff
he ag'in it. knows what contempt of court is a.
that amt one" And Mr.. Rawley threw hims
he back amiably in his chair.
~ MIR. Slagg!" said the surrogate to the man wi
re frizzled wig, remove the dog"
nd Mr.. Slagg laid down his pen, took up his spec
nd cles, went up to the dog, and told him to go out
ct which Bitters replied by swapping at his fingers,
re he attempted to touch him. Mr.. Rawey was ST;
r. ing obstra ctedly out of the window. The dog loo
er- ed up at him for instructions and receiving mol
At supposed that swapping at scriveners fingers
at perfectly correct and resumed his pleasant EXPIRE
sion towards that unctionary, occasionally cast
I'M lowering eye at the surrogate, as if deliberate
In whether to include him in his demonstrations
as anger.
r. Slagg have you removed the dog 2" said \
en- Jaeger, who the dog being under his very nose,
to that he had not
mo, sir. He ressts the court" replied \
up Slagg
M "Call Walker to assist you,' said MIR. Jaeger ste
as Walker, small man in drabs had anticipated sor
he thing of the Sort and had accidentally Withdrawn
soon be there a prospect OF difficulty
en- that the whole court was set at defiance by the dog
n Witness said Mr.. Jaeger.
FL Sir exclaimed a thin man in the corner, who
DO been subpenaed to his own great terror and who
yer that particular moment had idea that he was the
CHI ly witness in the Notwithstanding to his feet un
No the vague impression that he was to be sworn on
int spot, and thoroughly convinced that testfyng ;
committing perjury were only different names for
same thing.
ad. Not you-the man with the dog
Mr.. RaWley looked the CoHrf feIf IN tho fare