The silver state. [volume] (Unionville, Nev.) 1870-1903, 1883-08-27
An EIGHT MONTHS NAP.
A Connecticut Man. Who Has Been
Asleep since Christmas Wakes,
uIn.

NOnnecticut Wnu. WuO nds btth
Asleep since Christmas Wakes.
Up.
A telegram from Bridgeport, Conn.,,
to the New York Times, says: In De-
cember last, two days before Christmas,
Sherman W. Piatt, residing with his
father, Wenzar Platt, well.to-do farm
er of Morgan's Four Corners, town OF
Newton, twenty three miles distant
from this city. fell asleep, after retiring
early, as was his habit. Had he awak-
ened with next mornings sun, as peo-
pie generally do. the circumstance
would have attracted no attention, but
he did not. Continuing in sound re-
pose, his parents. and afterwards his
friends and neighbors, became alarmed
at the long slumbering and began
studying as to what induced it. The
case was put into the care of the best
physicians, but the wisest Of them, after
diagnosis. could give no intelligent So
luton. Mr.. Platt lay in his bed mo.
tionless, suffering no pain, and exempt,
seemingly, from those calls which thirst
and hunger make. Early in July, 1852,
Mr. Platt, who is thirtyfve years old
and unmarried, was at work in hay
field. The sun beat down with force,
affecting his head, and he reclined at
noon under tree on apile OF hay.
thinking after a short nap to feel bet
ter. On rising from the hay he com
planned OF a strange feeling in the back
oi his head. and he was assisted TO the
house and restora.ives applied. Moth
ing availel to alleviate. la the Au-
tumn he had been attacked with mala-
rial fever, and it is believed the two
causes combined tended to bring about
his comatose condition, and render him
the most protracted sleeper OF modern
times. From Christmas till March he
scarcely moved in his bed, and took no
nourishment save what was forced into
his mouth. With lengthening days he
exhibited signs OF returning animation,
but not till the arrival of May did he
move from his recumbent position, ut
ter an intelligent syllable, or open his
eyes. Presently. however. he submit
ted to be bolstered up in bed. and H.
nally. like an infant, was put into his
clothes and led to a chair. He could
not be induced to speak, and the mus
cular effort. if such it may be called,
required for him to pass from the bed
to the chair, was invariably followed by
deep sleep. In June hunger asserted
itself, and during his wakeful moments
he daily found his way unassisted, to
the pantry, to appease the same, his
ewes all the while closed, and, returning
to hiss chair, resumed the'sleep which
his friends were impelled to feel would
never know waking. Thus he continued
till July 10th, when, to the surprise of
his family, he strobe to the front ver-
anda. Seated in rustic chair. he heard
a passing teamster address his cattle,
and. as If in mimicry, sang out,
"Whoa!" the first exclamation he had
made in two hundred and thirteen days.
On Monday night last week he went
to his room as usual. During the night
he left it stealthily, and, clad in his
thin garments, slippers, an apology for
q hat, and no money, started to walk to
this city. He must have reached Haw'
leyville before midnight, otherwise the
depot watchman there would have seen