Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1853-1862, 1859-09-29
Case of SOmnam buIism---sA Thrilling
Inci denI.

Anc adj ent.-
An incident of thrilling and almost terrible inter-
est combining in itself ell the palpstaing chances
of hair braedth escapes, and the strange romantic
ventures of that weird ssm5ance Of life somnambu-
lism, occurred few nights sncein Detroit, Michi-
gan, at the residence of Mr.. ISRAEL NOREToS, the
particulars of which are related by the Free Press
of that city, having been obtained from Mr.. MoRE
TON, gentle il whose veraciy that paper has entire
confidence. The fOloNing are the incidents of this
unusual episode.
At about half-past two O'clock in the morning, he
was awakened by knocking at the front door of
his residence, and, upon answering the call, found
q man on the steps, Who, in a very lc0herent and
excited mauner requested him TO WGlk across the
street and look at the top OF his house The promo
stion strange that he declined and stood
irresolute for few moments, ard was about retir-
ing again, suspicious of foul play, when his eyes
csught q moving shadow on the front of the ogpo-
site house, cast by me moon, which was shining
dimy through the fseey clouds Of gathering eoui-
noctIal storm. Il indicates that some moving living
thing was walking noiselessly alOag tho narrow
ridge Of his roof aud he looked ct its slow creev
ing molten, an indefnAbe chill crept over him
The shadow stole across the trent of the opposite
building and was lost for moment in the dark
&aS thea cTept into vi 81 l. retu ng in an oppo-
site Nirectirn with the same iljw Il ding notion.
His clmpsniOn hal regained the opposite sidewalk
and s look gazing up in silence, seeming struck
spec bless with orr II, anu with trembling steps
JlOreton gained MS side and turned his eyes in
the yame direction. His CONSERVATION may be imag-
inet when his gaze fell upon the form Of Human be-
inL shrcuded from head TO foot in long white night
dTess, about which q Of long hair which CLEAN
ed darby in the moon beams fell in wild cOuusiOu
This spectral form placed slowly to AMI fro On the
narrow ridge board which covered The apex Of the
root, approaching 10 frghiiul proximity 20 the alb
rupt termination at the ends and calmly turning
about TO rerace the distance, always with the same
unfalte step aud easy, gliiiFg motion. The
house was high one AMI mis-s,ep, or a step to
far, would have plunged the night walker down 10
certain des TuetiCn, IS also would casual ouHd,
the shout Of a midnigat TevaieT, o" the cTOW OF
morning cock Toe walker wss a woman, and a.
she moved hack aud torth she Occasionally raised
her hand 10 her head as though engaged IN thought
or troubled with pain. The head never moved ts
the right or left, up on down. bur always m4iut Gir
ed the same position erect aud stfaIgat statue.
chimney stood directly ia tue III ddle of the roof,
Rrouni which she passed with case placing one
hand upon The top, and walking down the slgyiug
roof TO get around. Ouee ia ih- spectral walk she
paused at he Cni Of the roof and before urniuZ
Ooked straight out abe d into the black night,
if pee ing beyond mortal vision into sUma ysttri-
Gus ieaim. Waving movement OF the RICH hand
accom- panied this act which lasted bat . guomeat
q
shrdOw passed The faces OF the spell-bouud
gazers IS she hid the moon for Sn nstaht from
their tight. The game spot vas reached again
few nutss after, wGca the figure again paused
and egain gszed cut ;n'o the Darkness and then
with slow ti0n, stretched out a hand and with
OuispT cad fingers clu clrd at something which had
no q silence except il the fevered MUD OF the
sleeper. Toe other hand was then extended in like
manner, and the body bent forward in such a way
that the upper portion hung over the abyss, while
the finger reached cut out, until there was fur
Their reaching, and then Clutched again with a
quick, convulsive snatch, and we're Withdrawn. The
form vas mOtiOnless moment, and then COM
menced its walk again, continuing so far as the
middle Of the roof when il turned towards the rear
Of the house, and moving down the slope of the
roof lost TO sight.
Mr. Moreton, while witnessing this scene, had
recognized the features aud form OF his servant girl
young female Of about eighteen, named Jane
Mooney. With a feeling Of Iudescribable relief he
saw her disappear, and knew that she had descend
Ell through n el,ylight 10 the garnet and her own
room. fastening 10. he aroused his wife, and went
with her to the girls room in the third story and
found her sitting the side OF the bed, wide awake
and in state OF mind bordering on dis raotiOu
She had no knowledge Of the occurrence hut had
been awakened by the noise of her employer enter
ing the house, aai found herself standing in the
middle Of her own room, IN the condition described
That the results no worse was a matter Of de-
yout than kfulness to all within that house.
The girl hsd been suffering from a brain fever,
from which she was gradually recovering, which
undoubtedly caused this dangerous freak. She has
no knowledge Of anything Of the klnd having &C.
Cured previously, and will be wCll watched in fu
ture as she is highly esteemed. It was thrilling
adventure with a happy result.