Connecticut western news., 1878-12-04
A STRANGE LIFE.

GIRLS TERRIBLE ACCIDENT THIRTEEN
 YEARS A6o-HER PARTIAL PARALYSIS
 AND BLINDNESS, AND MARVELLOUS
 oLA1RvoYANT FACULTY.
 From time to time during the past ten years newspaper accounts have ap- peared of Miss Mary J. Fancher, who has lived in her aunt's residence, at Caves avenue and Downing street, Brooklyn, almost without food s1nce 1865, and for considerable part of the tims in 8 trance-like condition. Miss Faneher herself and her relatives, how ever, have nevor been willing until re- gently that anything should be published in regard to the case, and consequently none of the stories that have been pub- lished can be regarded as altogether accurate. An effort was made 8 few years ago to have a commission of physicians and scientific men appointed to investigate the case, which is regarded as an extraordinary one, but either on account of the opposition of Miss Fancher or her friends the plan was abandoned. Miss Fancher, however, has kept diary of the events and ex- periences of each day of her prolonged sickness, and her physicians and others have made extensive notes upon the case, but these will probably not be given to the public until after her death.
 Miss Fancher is now thirty-one years of age. When eighteen, soon after leaving the Brooklyn Heights Seminary, on account of her health, she was thrown while riding on horseback and broke several of her ribs. Socn after recover ing from th1s injury she met with serious accident. While alighting from street car her dress caught on the step and she was thrown down and dragged long distance. She was badly bruised and her spine was seriously injured. She was carried to the residende of her aunt, Mrs. Crosby, at Downing street, and Gates avenue, where she has since lain in bed one position. She has been visited by many physicians, clergymen, and scientific men, who have become interested in the case.
 No one has taken 8 deeper interest in the matter than Professor Charles E. West, of the Brooklyn Heights Seminary. He said last night that many of the ap- pa1ently incredible statements ill re- ference to Miss Fancher were true. He had watched her closely to see whether he could detect any fraud or collusion, but he had not been able to discover any. He had visited her every week for eleven years. and had made notes of her condition. He did not believe that she had taken as much food in that time as g person would eat at an ordinary meal. She had been partially paralyzed and totally bllnd during much of that time, and yet she had done the most delicate work in wax flowers, embroidery, etc. For nine years she lay in paralyzed condition, her muscles only relaxing when under the influence of chloroform. He right arm was thrown up behind her head, and she was compelled to lie con- tinually on her left side. Burning all this time she would frequently go into frances, and sometimes remained in them ten, twelve, or fourteen days. Three years ago she came out of this rigid condition and her muscles became flexible.
 "For days" Professor West con- tinued, "she has been apparently dead. During all these years she has virtually lived without food. She has not been able to partake of anything solid, but she has swallowed some fruit juice and water. Her mind is most remarkable. She undoubtedly has the power of second s1ght, and can see as we'll what is going on mile away as what takes place ir her room. She never makes mistake Night and day are alike to her; indeed she appears to prefer the night for work She never sleeps, and ouly rests in hel frances. When she came out of the rigid condition, which lasted nine years she had forgotten all that had happened during the interval, and began to tall about events that occurred before he
 sickness began. Her work in wax flower
 is very beautiful, and yet she has neve
 done anything of that kind before he
 sickness. She rarely works from models
 but makes her own designs. The shap
 of any flower or leaf that she wishes t,
 see she can call before her m1nd.
 Dr. s. Fleet Speir, Miss Fanchier'
 physician, said that he did not feel a
 liberty to make any statement in regard
 to the case, although he had been ia
 miliar with it from the first. He coul
 not state positively that Miss Fanche had lived without food for thirteen years
 because he had not been with her al
 the time, but he knew that she had cate
 very little. Once he made an exper
 ment by giving her an emetic, and
 showed that there was no food in tn
 stomach. He had also pumped foo , into the stomach, but it was rejected Dr. Speir added that he never believe that Miss Fancher attempted any d,
 ception, nor had he suspected that st
 practised deception. Dr. Robert o
 miston, of No. "A Hanson-place, sai
 that he had seen Miss Fancher mar