Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1881-08-24
miscellaneous.
4 Remarkable sleeper.
JOHN GYUMBER's ACCOUNT OF HIS LIFE,
WITH ITS RECENT NAP LASTING NEAR
III HALF A YEAR

John Gyumbere, the Hungarian who
was in trance continuously for 1863 DAYS
in the Lehigh county poOrhouse. has for
the first time sufficiently rallied to give
the story of his life and experiences. He
was first found insensible at neighbor-
ing inn Alter being satisfied that the
man was in cataleptic state the officials
removed him to the county almshouse.
This was over six months ago. Since that
time he has not spoken halfa dozen words
until now. During his trance he was ex-
amined by at least fifty physicians. who
pronounced his case the most remarkable
on record. On the 22d Of April Gyumbere
opened his eyes for the first time and kept
them open for four days. He never spoke
word TO any one. but remained in a
dazed condition. April 2; he either tell
or jumped out Of the hospital window.
falling distance oftwenty-five feet. but was
not seriously injured. April 26 he again
closed his eyes, and did Dotopen them until
May 20, when he spoke two words after
flower had been held to his nose. Six
hours afterward he closed his eyes. and
kept them shut until recently, when he
was called upon by Polander named
Frank Laskowiski, when TO the very
great establishment of the keeper and at
PENDANTS, the long sleeper, upon being
hailed in Slavonic, opened his eyes. raised
up and made brief reply in the same
tongue. The sleeper cOnyersed with his
friend about three hours. His talk is trans
ated rs follows: Il arrived in America
about two years ago. My father and one
sister live in the old country; two Of my
brothers died Of brain fever. I was well
educated and paid special attention to
music and became fair violinist. ! LETT
Castle Garden and went to Virginia. and
was employed BY a man named Porter,
near Charlottesville. A negro woman
there put red pepper in my coffee. which
nearly killed me. Mary very rough Jokes
were played on me, and | thought they
wore going to kill me by poisoning me.
fled from that part of the country and went
10 Baltimore, and then wandered into
Pennsylvania. II was after New Years
day some weeks when became out of my
mind. ] fell asleep in bar-room near
the place where ! now am, and from that
time mp 10 about four weeks ago-about
one hundred and twenty lone days. knew
nothing ut all. | never ielt any of the
many ways you say the officials tried on
me to awaken me. ! know nothing of my
falling out of the window. and know moth
ing about the absess on my head Four
weeks ago | realized that | existed. 1t
was as il had been sleeping very long.
When ! awoke partially thought was
in n Jail, / cannot believe that have been
asleep nearly six months. | feel very
weak. ! don't know what caused me 10
go to sleep unless il was some drug, or
the pepper that affected my brain. /
want to 90 to work again as soon as | am
strong enough. | am glad that this is no
prison. know nothing of anything that
has happened for the past five months.
My head feels light. but my appetite is
good"
The story Of the sleeper was listened to
with great interest His voice is low and
husky. During his trance he was ten
derby and fed by special attendants
and carefully waited on by DIR. Erdman.
the almshouse physician Reddinq, Pa,,
dispatch 10 the n. J. Herald.