The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1877-07-25
REM ARK ABLE ESCAPE.
A Sleeping Boy Deserts a Moving
Train.

To what somnambulism is due has been
a subject of discussion among scientific
minds at all times, but without accord or
remedy. The freaks and fancies OF
"sleep walkers" have developed incidents
always interesting, sometimes most anus
ing and ludicrous and sometimes sadly
and painfully exciting.
4 case of more than ordinary interest
occurred day or two ago on a Pullman
palace car upon a south going train on
the Iron Mountain road. The subject
was young man sixteen years of age, son
of Mr.. Hanglin, master mechanic on the
Texas Pacific road, and residing at Mar
shall, Texas.
Young Hanglin, in charge of his moth
er, was returning home from st. Louis,
where he had been at school the past year.
His mother knowing his somnambulIstc
inclnations, and of their special develop
ment in the excitement of travelling, before
retiring for the night communicated the
same to the conductor, and expressed her
fears for his safety. Capt. Robb, the con
ductor, at once relieved her fears by max
ing his porter Waterman and assigning
him position where egress from the
berth of the excitable youth could be OBJ
served.
The night wore on and all was quiet;
still the porter 'watchful vigil kept.
The mother, wakeful from soIicitude for
her son, even though so well guarded,
felt impelled to look in upon him, Ito
satisfy her foolish fears that all was well,
and took opportunity upon the temporary
stopping of the train at a station. lmag
inc her horror at finding his bed vacated,
/ the berth
WITHOUT ITS OCCUPANT.
The shrieks of the now distracted
mother aroused her owpassengers,
and called officers and employees OF the
car to her side Diligent search was
made throughout the long train to satisfy
the mother only, for the quick eye OF the
conductor detected at once the open win
dow of the youths section, and was alive
to the sickeIing convictions OF violent
death and TO the belief that all that was
left the mother of her son was Rutllated
body. He concealed, however, his con-
victions, desiring by continued hope,
alternating with her fears during the
short time before his fate must be known,
to break in a measure the great shock
awaiting her.
A hand-car and men were provided
to make with her search for the lost
youth.
The Journey was made in silence and
dread, each moment expectant that thel
worst fears would be realized. At length
the whole route (from the place where he
retired) was retraveled without discovery
or sign of remains Hope frightened i'll
the possible chance of his having escaped
at a station on the way, and they turned
southwark again, hating to make inquiry
at every station where stop had beer
made. At length at a country house by
the way, where music, dancing and mer
I rv-making was the order of the night
they were hailed with the inquiry if they
knew anything of
A LOST BOY.
Entering the cabin, the youth was found
: though not in full party dress, quite un
, concerned and enjoying fully the rustl
/, festival and dance A ''section hand o.
his wsy to the dance found the young ma
= in his night attire, sound asleep by tn
. track, apparently as he had dropped from
the train. He was aroused with Difficult
ty from his sound nap, and found to b
without injury or scratch from his fall
and without knowledge even of his lea
from, or having been left by the fyin
train. At the spot where he was foun
e the train was running a. the rate OF thlr
J. ty.fve miles per hour. Nine hundre
and ninety nine cases in a thousand
e person in a normal condition would hav
:. been mashed to a jelly from the tal
n What protected this youth in his abnol
Y NAL condition from bruise or scratch is
y mystery-a problem to be left to wise
st heads to solve.