Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-04-27
SONINAMBULISNI.

cape from n Railway rrain-A
Mysterious DisaPPearance-Whe
is the BOyl
PoUGHKEEPsIE, April %, lS7O.-The
people of Cold Spring, N. Y, little VIII
lage nestled among the Highlands of the
Hudson, opposite West Point, are in a
state of wonderment over the mysterious
disappearance of a lad named Henry Nc
Ivers, known in that community as
MUSICAL PRODIGY.
Young McIyers is not quite fourteen
years of age, and his father and mother
reside near Paulding & Kemble's foundry.
south of Cold Spring. They came here
from Doncaster, England, when Henry
was about two years of age. A few years
after their arrival Henry commenced to
exhibit a wonderful talent for music. This
desire on the youths part attracted the
attention of Gouverneur Paulding, of the
foundry firm, and Henry's parents being
in humble circumstances, Mr.. Paulding
offered to provide musical teacher for
the boy. This offer was gratefully ac-
cepted by the parents, and Prof. Appelles,
of West Point, well known TO the musical
world, was appointed his tutor. The boy
learned rapidly, so fast indeed as to excite
the surprise of the Professor. He was
constantly at his studies, and in short
time excelled on the violin, could play a
piano, flute, guitar, ETC., and very soon
became a pet among the best families,
often being invited to family firesides.
Suddenly it was observed that he had
taken to
TALKING IN HIS SLEEP
and acting very restless nights. The
father and mother watched his nightly
slumbers vigilantly and with much CON
Germ of mind, which was greatly intensi-
fed by the lad showing unmistakable signs
of somnambulism. At length a remarka-
bic incident happened him. About one
year ago he rose from his bed in the mid
die of the night, fast asleep, and attiring
himself in his everyday clothes, left his
home without the knowledge of his pa
rents, and started towards the Hudson
River Railroad track, still fast asleep.
Once upon the direct line of the road he
faced nOrthward and walked TO Break
neck tunnel, where he laid down by the
side of
THE RAILROAD TRACK
At dawn of day train of cars came
laundering through the stone archway,
the locomotive whistle screeching and the
noise of clashing iron awakening the boy
sOmnambulist Frightened beyond de-
scription he rolled over into the river be- |
fore the train reached him, and after |
great eXeTtiOns managed to escape from
drowning by clambering up the slight en-
bankment, when he started down the |
track for home again, drenched to the
skin and crying bitterly. He was inter-
cepted by tlagman, named David Nolan,
TO whom he told his story and cried pite-
ously for his mother. The gOod-hearted
signal man gave him some bread and tea,
when he started for home again. The
grief-stricken parents received him with
open arms, and listened with pity at his
relation of his nights adventure. Shortly
after Henry's younger brother died, when
he partly ignored music, and his parents
thought well of the change. He soon got
to studying again, however, and once
more restless nights came upon him; till
last Friday night when
ANOTHER INCIDENT
occurred He had been TO Newburg that
day TO purchase new bow for his vio-
lin, and returned just at dusk, considera-
bly, fstgued. After supper he remarked,
'fAhl mother, home, sweet home; don't
like the big cities any more, y and retired.
Soon after nine P. n. Mrs. Melvers
thought she heard noise in his room,
and going into it observed Henry endeaY-
oFing to climb mp large cupboard His
eyes were wide open and shone with a
singular brilliancy. He paid no attention
to her entrance whatever. Seeing he was
In q trance she walked up to him and
tapped him Elighty on the back for the
purpose of awolzing him, and said, ''Hen-
~, what are you doing?" He replied,
still climbing and without looking at
her.
81 am going to make it all right IN
minute; this white rabbit; I'll make it all
-i~htn
'Istriging sgsin 70 awake him the mother
ta63n.ed hin the second time, when re
gave
A PIERCING SCREAM
snd dropped to the floor, wide awake,
e4ciaiming, sob, mother, you brighten
me- what are you doing therel" He was
placed in bed once more, and then slept
goundly till morning. Once more the pa
rents Of the child became alarmed. The
frequency of such spells impelled them
to resolve TO shut him from his musical
lGSSOuS
teacher came again as usual, everything
passing off satisfactorily, but on the
Sunday following the hearts of his parents
were shrouded in grief over his mystic
FioVs disappearance,
IT seeas that he was in the garden al
eleven A. n, last Sabbath, watching
birds nest Another lad requested him
TO take a walk, but he declined, saying
he had TO feed his rabbits. He did not
go to Sabbath school that day, though he
was g regular attendant, because OF some
lack of clothing. Shortly after eleven 4.
NJ his parents missed him, and up TO this
time he has not been found.
WHERE Is HRg
4 Cold Spring carpenter thinks he saw
him az Tarrytown one day this week,
while second person says he was at
Fishkill station on Tuesday last. One
theory is that while in a state of somnam-
bulism he has wandered into the wilds of
the Highlands AMI has met with fatal in
iuries by falling from one of the many
precipices. 1t is a very strange case, and
is exciting general comment.
OTHER CASES.
fhe Hagmsa, EolaI, stGtee that some
two years ago, in the dead of winter snq
at twelve O'Clock at night, man named
Sayres, then resident of Cold Spring,
walked into his shanty barefOoted anc
bareheaded, and having nothing on hin
cut his drawers andnight shirt. He stated
that he left Lis hogse at about clever
o'clock that night while asleep and EalleG
almost to Garrison Tunnel, on the railroad
track, before he was awakened, when ht
hurried back as fast as possible.
About two years ago, also, Alderman
George Parker, of this city, rose from hi
bed while asleep, at two O'Clock in th
morning, put on his Sunday clothes, and
r $ walking to the depot, got aboard of tn
SA. n. train going south, and did nc
wake I'D till the conductor tapped him o
the shoulder for his ticket. He had not
cent of money with him. lie related b
singular story, got of al the next static
and was sent back In The meantime h
family was in fearful state of anxiei
over his mysterious disappearance.
1t appears that at recent wedding
New York the bridegroom, previous to Il
ceremony, gave bis first groomsman
alO0 bill with which 10 compensate Il
Officiating clergyman for has service
The eroomsman appropriated the mono
u re.y1 nrlo