Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1870-01-12
A VERY LONG JOURNEY


"A papcr published at Cairo, III, Rivea
the following account of journey
performed under singular and very
difficult circumstances. II is worthy
OF notc as another Illustration Of the
direct and systematic pursuit OF u
special object, which has 60 often been
observed 10 insane pcrsons-of the re.
markable clearness and porsistcney
of purpose such persons somtimes OK.
hibit while their faculties aro consid.
cred incapable Of performing their
natural functionss
Many Of our local ronders will bc
able to recall a memory of one Samuel
III johnson, an individual who wore
perfect shock Of red hair, and delighted
in the soubriqoet Of "Professof''--
Although not resident of the imme-
diate city, he was daily in our streets,
and by his quaint ways, strange and
sometimes incoherent expression, at
tracted considerable attention. Those
who knew him well, knew his mind TO
be bordering on insanity, while others
probably ascribed his irregular de-
meanor and rambling speech TO an
eccentric nature He wosId some
times appear in the streets bare
headed and frequently barcfooted
treating all who approached him,
with due courtesy, but permitting
familiarity on the part Of none.
Early last summer the professor"
withoutany previous preparation, and
even without announcing his purpose
10 his wife, left home, taking with
him little son, aged about seven
years. A day or two was permitted
to pass by, and the wife and mother
anticipating an early return of the
husband and child; but as they came
not, she instituted inquiry as 10 their
whereabouts Although understand
ing the unsettled condition of her
husbands mind, she never believed
for moment that he had summarily
disposed of himself, and she was
equally assured Of the safety Of the
child. Weeks and months passed, yet
no tidings came of the absent oncs.-
II could not even be ascertained BY
what conveyance they had left the
city. They had departed with such
clothing as they had on their persons,
and if the Professor" had any money,
his wife was not aware of the fact.
A few weeks ago Mrs. T. received
a letter from Dr. Taggart, at Salt
Lake City, inclosing to her para
graph clipped from California paper.
This paragraph announced that man,
answering the description Of her hus-
band, accompanied by seven year
old boy bad been arrested as an insane
person, near Sacramento, California.
He was ragged and travel-worn, and
the little boy was in q condition
equally pitiable. The whole distance
from Cairo 10 California had been
made by them on foot. They had
Travelled steadily, begging food on the
way, sometimes fasting and thirsting
for days, but continued their journey
the while, as if the road abounded in
oxtravagant plenty. The professor"
~ Wv AANaAAN AAAa AAAeAt N4ttlllOl WIS
indeed land Of gold, exerted a super
human strength, carrying the boy in
his arms for hours after the lads
wearied legs had refused to carry him
farther. Night and day, week after
week, the journey was pursued, until
the gap between the man and his
home had widened out to a distance
of more than two thousand miles,
closing the last day with walk of
over fhfrfH miieS. Stonning for food
and rest at q residence q few miles
distant from Sacramento, the ePro-
fessor" betrayed such unmlstakable
evidence Of insanity that the man of
the house felt called upon, in the
interest Of humanity, to have him
provided for. The following day a
jury of Inquest was impaneled, and
upon their verdict the "Professor"
was admitted into the Stockton insane
asylum, where be now remains,