The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1869-10-08
A Strange Story.
Gotten Matf,er wanted I'm Lewiston...A
Bswitched Shoemaker.

The Lewiston Journal has queer story
of some late performances In Auburn
where has lived for several years n man
named Downs, respectable man former
" in the army, and shoemaker by trade.
He has been known by his friends to pos
sess curious power Of putting other pco-
ple into unconscious states In which he
could make them do anything hs pleased.
On Thursday he came into the inner-sole
factory of Mr.. Charles Woodward In Au-
burn, and being an old friend, threw his
arms casually around Woodward's neck,
thinking nothing Of tho not, and soon AZ
ter left the shop. Woodward says that he
remembers nothing that occurred AFTER
that time till Saturday noon. Aftcr Downs
left the shop It was noticed that Wood.
ward behaved strangely danced, sung.
&c. Thursday night he did not come
home, but about 2 l-2 Friday morning put
In an appearance and went to bed. He
boarded with Mr.. Edwin Blake on Spring
street, Auburn. Mr.. Blake thought Wood
ward acted strangely. Friday night he
made inquiries for him and found he had
been over to dancc-had been over to q
dance-had been down to shanty md
got something to cat, and had acted very
badly In other respects. Blake naturally
thought he was on spree, and finding
Woodward ut last, got him home, though
he made stout resistance. Friday night
and Saturday forenoon Woodward contin.
ued In this hysteric state; he would tell
any one who came In all their family Sc
crets-mattcrs he never could have known
but yet he faithfully revealed every
thing. Mr.. Blake saw clearly that II was
not case of intoxication-for II appeared
Woodward went into the state suddenly
at his place of business, and continued In
II many hours AFTER he. could have had nc
cess to liquor. More than that he seems
to have been man of temperate and cx-
cellent habits.
At last u physician was summoned who
thought it was an hysteric fit. 1t was
recommended that he be rubbed In strong
mustard water. While Mr.. Blake wa,
doing this, suddenly Woodward came to
his senses, while Blake was instantly at
tackled with nervous trcmor. his muscles
his body writhcd, and soon
Il became evident that he was himself un-
rpi.., sto,, ~
.ohselyus; ..., % -. S y. W ,.aS,ar n' 49,,
,ne w.ecne,y: ,ho ~, or WanI.. rWsS' .oJJ
,,a, ie,so W o'.l ~ h"a ..,.a,., .vt. "' ~""
nnSno was "'" ~. ''o''
Blake was soon iound 10 DO entireiy um'
He showed thrice MS orui'
nary strength and attacked with damaging
effect plethoric physician who was sum.
moned. lie would dance and sing and
cnf up All sorts OF antics. NoDody couId
90 anythnS WIN NM ,.i.s ho seeIi'ea 70 ., SEC
pciore,i,uu VIE" 'nI ~, ,,sn.oh n;, " ..os.
around nun Was. rIna,ng @ ..." .,I ~ WIZ
mRSsslpie 10 cur .n' I'e ,,,. W" f,rd % ,Sa;
"hers I - So, Towns ,n c.,j,,or r 7, ~ wns ,hm
i,.l no naI s1nv :. 7" 'l.,,;ss n ...a. :" % .,r - w.
GSSlT.% p,'.hu ,h;,s.. " oc,,r,;;n,,v San SnrS.y sr:.
.,n".. nno =. t. ~. .a.,,rnd H. , cs,r;sy. and
,"Snn % ,n m c"ri,ner T'hsv corri iSowns
49,. y, !. ho,., ~ ,hsre and hro,,ybt RlaIc m the
rom ~ y WI wberc be was, Downs nut his
h.nds On him and .nddeniv piakes mus.
% ciss rslaxed and bc was restored TO CON- |
sriousn,ss Bhke says tho last he re-
membered he was rubbing Woodward
In his own house. .yyhcre am II" "How
djd 7 comc bere3"-Thesc and similar
onest;ons g,,ve expression to the Rip Van
WinIIe wsnderment that naturally pos
sss.cd % him on coming to his senses. The