The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-05
The Man who has not Slept since 1851.
there is man in this city, to make

The Man who has not Slept Since 1851
4here is man in this city, to make
d S5Iiof Ss:s;, @who has not slept d 1ao-
ment since August, 1851, over four
teen years. He resides in the town
of Buffalo, Putnam County, West
Virginia, near where he was born,
and where he has spent the most Of
his life. His business here was to
bring the remains of Mr.. Joseph An
thony, son of Mr.. Asa Anthony, who
died in Buffalo, in consequence of an
accident by which leg was broken,
and not from typhoid fever, as has
been enormously stated. The name
of the sleepless man is G. D. Saun-
ders. He Is III his forty-sixth year,
and has 4 wife and seven children.
He is true patriot, and served in the
Thirteenth Virginia Volunteers until
mustered out this Spring.
He visited our sanctun yesterday,
in company with Mr., Anthony, and
from his own lips we derived the facts
regarding his extraordinary constitu-
tionnl peculiarity. He possesses a
candid, open countenance, which goes
far to impress the hearer with the
truth of his statements He never
feels fatigue, even when working day
and night. He says he once worked
on his farm forty-two days successive
ly, putting IN thirty acres of wheat,
and during the same period worked
all night, hanging up his tobacco crop
and husking corn, withouta a moments
sleep. and at the end of the time felt
as fresh and vigorous as on the first
day. He served in the Shenandoah
Valley, and was in General Hunters
army during the celebrated raid on
Lynchburg. When the soldiers were
leaning against trees and dropping to
the ground from the terrible fatigue
of the march, Mr.. Saunders felt no
need of rest, but with the exception
of hunger, was as active and ready
for service as when he set out.
He took part in all the heavy fight
ing in the Valley under Sheridan, and
was in the battles of Cedar Greek,
Fishers Hill, Winchester, &c. He
was at last attacked by chronic diar-
rhea, and was sent to one of the
Philadelphia hospitals, where he passed
last winter. Here his constitutional
peculiarly attracted the attention of
the surgeons and nurses, and a watch
was set upon him. He was closely
observed, night and day.. for fifty
eight days, but was never detected
asleep, and it was then concluded that
his account of himself was true. He
made an excellent picket guard in the
army, and years ago he worked on an
Ohio river steamer as night watch
man, being able to do duty in the day
time, and earning double wages. His
appetite and digestion are excellent,
and he requires rather more food than
an ordinary man of his build.
We have heard of persons sleeping
continuously sort of lethargic, NOR
bid sleep, but the case of a healthy
man doing without sleep is q rare one
indeed, and almost incredible. There
is nothing remarkable in Mr.. Saun-
ders' appearance, except that his eyes
seemed little watery and slightly d-
lated. 1t is possible that he is hum
bug, but We give the facts as he related
them to US. We should say that Mr..
Anthony, whom we can vouch for as
an honest man, is also impressed with
the truth of Mr.. Saunders story.
Rochester Erp7ess.
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