Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1872-08-29
mrDslsHr wAuDEnIses.

Strange Freaks Of q NightsWalker.
Truth Is sometimes enyeloped In the
cloak Of mystery, when it seems even more
fascinating and curious than fiction. In
the walks of day life there are strange de-
velopments that often puzzle the brains of
the wisest; but that dark and unaccount-
abs phenomena of night Gale somnam-
bulism, is phase Of dreamland existence
that has never yet been satisfactorily ex-
planned. We're these night walks Of the
eomnambulist accompanied by any tangi-
bic proof of the consciousness of the being
who is labonng under the mystic
spell they might cease to excite
curiosity. But instead of this the person
seems TO be seized with temporary trans
portstion Of human reason, and wanders
about, fearing no danger, knowing no harm,
When reason returns to her throne, the
victim of this weird hallucination. startled at
bis condition, and wondering what could
have caused the strange illusion through
which be has just passed, iDstinctiyeiy seeks
his bed, and spends the rest OF the night in
vague meditation. This freak Of nature
has defed the most arduous and thinking
philosophers for ages and the field of research
aud investigation is abandoned, the only
conclusion reached being the presumpdous
superstition that it is something super
human and therefore "passeth all UNDER
Standing"
Closing this short dissertation, let us pro-
coed to an example Of this character which
recently occurred in Nashville, the facts Of
which are well known to the writer:
a gentleman, residing on Vine street,
was few evenings ago the innocent per-
petrator Of numerous mischievous freaks,
and also the object of a multitude Of dan
gers, the escape from which is mos. mirac-
ulous, Passing through day Of excessive
heat, he retired at about 10 O'Clock, speedi-
ly fell TO sleep, and slept with astonishing
soundness. About one o'clock he Jumped
suddenly up from his couch, rushed franti-
cally 10 the hall door, and carefully locking
it behind him, walked forth into the street
in q semi-nude condition, without even
so much as a thought for his own
personal safety. As is generally the case
with these unfortunates, if they may be
termed such, he proceeded with cautious,
ghostly air, TO the house of a neighbOr,
grasped the knob of the door and after
making several attempts to gain entrance
through 1t, be stealthiIy proceeded to win
dow which was unfsstened, where be
gained what was apparently the darling
aim of his dreamy ambltion-an entrance.
This accomplished the next thing done, was
the opening of desk belonging to the own.
er ofthe house. From among the papers
1t con aimed he drew forth with unerrirg
scrutiny, a deed Of certain proper
ty which had been transferred
within The past few days, and
which had not yet been recorded. THIS
in his possession he crept out OF the WIN
dow through which be had gained admis-
sion, carefully shut it after him, and started
down the street with a very decided step.
Suddenly stopping at the corner he stood
for moment as if engaged in deep thought;
then, as if he had forgotten something, be
hastily retraced his steps to the same house
where he procured the papers, aud ruHg
the door bell. No one answered It, so he
kept up an incessant ringing until finally
partly dressed young lady came TO the door.
He hurriedly passed her, aud she became
so frightened that she tainted ON the stairs.
Going TO the desk from whence he procured
the document before mentioned, he re-
turned with a metallic ruler, and softly
shutting the door after him, he proceeded
by devious route TO a lawyers office, sew
ersl blocks distant. with the metallic ruler
be priced open the window, and reaching
in his hand, laid the deed upon the table
that stood near. From the lawyers Office
he proceeded 10 the Nashville and Chatta.
noOga railroad, and commenced walking up
and down the track in most solemn man
ner; he had been walking for some fifteen
minutes, when a paSser-by noticing his Pc
culiar appearance hailed him, but received
no answer. He then went up to him, and
af-er shaking him vigorously for few min
utes the sonam0ulist aWoke, staggered back
beWildered, and then was heard to say;
"Grest God, where am what does this
meau?' Realizing his position after time,
he looked about 10 find his way home. As
be was wound Up in labyrinth OF mystery,
as il were, Il was some time before be could
tell in which direction lie should go. He
finally struck cut towards home, went into
! the house, and that was the last OF him that
night.
The next morning when The lawyer Ar
rived at his office he found the strange deed
upon the table, looked at it, remembered
seeing il before, was sure It had passed
through all The necessary legal pro-
cesses, looked upon his books, when 10,
il had not been recorded. This negligence
was speedily rectified, and the deed return
ed TO its owner who was his client, and al
50 the man in whose house the SOM
nambulist entered. The man was aston
ished to see the deed, thinking it had been
in bis possession before, but thinking he
had been mistaken he let tbs matter go.
The night-wslker, who is respectable
man, is also astonished to find the metallic
ruler in his possession, and wonders who
the owner can DO,
The above facts were witnessed by the
writer, who followed the sleep walker from
the tine he left his house until he returned,
and is considered one OF the most marvel
GUS occurrences of The kind that ever came
10 notice. The results proved that truly
there was method in his madness"