Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1858-03-25
WHOLE NO 1929
A Case of Somnambulancy.

During the Revolutionary War, there wa
a, gentleman of large property residing i,
brookline, Mass, who was addicted to tn,
habit of walking in his sleep. Panic s;rick
en- at the invasion of the enemy. he daII,
expected that his dwelling would be ran.
sacked and pillaged. Under the influence
OF these fears, he rose one night, and tax.
ing strong box which when awake he
never attempted to lift without assistance
he proceeded down stairs, furnishing him.
sell with lantern and spade, and in deep
woody glen, about quarter Of mile from
MS house' ne buried his treasure, carefully
replaced the sods so as 20 create no suspi-
cion OF their having been removed. This
done, he returned, undressed, and went to
oed. Next morning, he was first to discov-
er the absence of the ''strong box" without
having the slightest remeuBrance- of what
nad passed Enraged at lis loss, he imme-
diately accused his domestic of the ROBBERY,
as no traces of violence were perceptible
eithe: on the locks or doors of his house,
That could induce him to suspect strangers.
Month after month elapsed and still he
mystery was not solved, and his family be-
gan to want the necessaries of life, without
the means OF procuring them; at that period
OF public Gala nifty, no money could be
raised on real estate, and it was at that sea-
son of the year, when agricultural labors
had ceased, which left him no means OF
earning support for his family. To aug
ment lis misery, his only son lay confined
by violent fever, without any Of those
comforts which his situation dems nded.-
The mind Of the tespairing father was
strongly affected by this melancholy view
of the future, his rest became more frequ-
emily broken, and he would often wander
from room to room all night with hurried
and UNEQUAL steps, as if pursued by an en-
emy. His wife and daughter, who were ac-
customed to these nightly wanderings, never
attempted to disturb him unless they we're
fearful some accident might befall him; in
this case 1t was necessary to employ the
most violent means to awaken him, upon
which he would exhibit SO much fear and
distress that they usually suffered him to
recover gradually from his trance, which
was always succeeded by drowsiness, aft
er which he would sink into a light and
natural sleep, which geHerally continued for
several hours:
One night his daughter was watching at
the couch of her sick brother; she heard
her father descend the stairs with a quick
step, and Immediately following him, she
perceived he had dressed himself and was
lighting lantern at the hearth. after which
he unbolted the door, and looked out; he
then returned to the Kitchen, and taking
the lantern and spade, he left the house.
Alarmed at this circumstance, which was
not usual--although it sometimes occurred,
as above related, without the knowledge Of
the faniily-she hastily threw on cloak
and followed him to the wood, trembling
with apprehension of, she knew not what,
both for herself and for her father.
Having gained the place where he had
three months since buried .he box, he set
down tie lantern, so as to reflect strongly
upon the spot; he then removed the sods,
and striking the spade against its iron COW
er, he laughed wildly, and exclaimed, "My
treasure is safe, and we shall be happy."-
And shouldering his heavy burden with the
strength of Hercules, he stopped not as
before to replace the sods of the earth, but
snatched up his lantern and pursued his way
directly home, to the joy of his daughter
who could scarcely support herself from the
fears she had experienced. which were that
he was about to dig grave, and either CON-
nit suicide, or murder some of his defense
less family. Inexpressible, therefore, was
her Joy, Oh seeing him ascend the stairs,
and place the box in its former recess; af-
ter which, as usual, he retired to rest. His
wife and daughter, however, were too anx-
ious to sleep themselves; the one sat impa-
tiently watching .he dawn of day, and the
other retired to the apartment of her suffer-
ing brother, to relieve his mind by the ioy-
full event and her consequent hupe of his
immediate recovery.
When he arose in the morning, his wife
observed the same settled gloom ON his
countenance as he anxiously inquired about
the health of his son, and expressed his sor-
row at not being able to procure those com
forts for his family which were so much
needed. Finding him perfectly unconscious
of all that had passed, the preceding night,
she watched the effect which the restora-
tion of the box would have upon his mind,
and-as she expected-with an asfonish-
ment almost amounting 20 frenzy, he ex-
claimed, "Who has done lhsl From whence
came this box!"
Not till he had listened to the evidence
of his daughter could he be convinced OF
the possibility of his performing such an
act while asleep. Suffice it now to say,
tina, health, peace, and competence were
once more restored -.A-sfrvfr uweI ng, and
the result of those blessings had a sAlutnry
effect upon his mind; and although he sill
continued his midnight excursions, yet his
friends were gralified to find them much
less frequent than formerly, and his future
dreams also-lo judge from his appearance
seemed to partake of the mild, serene
character OF his waking thoughts.