Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-28
4 CEASELEsS TRAMP.
The Indiana N1n Nn0 Has Walked
10000 mile. ian Two Years.
wabash letter to Cincinnati Commercial

fWabas h letter to Cincinnati Commercially
Iudiana's greatest curiosity is John Sn-
der, The walking man Of Biackford county,
wno j. afflicted with q peculiar disease
which impel> him TO walk constantly. only
stopping Tor a very brief steep. Sni1cr
lives ole mile south Of Mill Grove, a small
ststion on the Chicago. II. Louis and fit''.
burgh railway. 10 the eastern part OF
Blackford county. The reporter found
>nider irdustriously performing bis
heeLand-toc act. His home Is a
one.story los cabin, in the centre
OF an acre lot. Around the house was
beaten path worn fully five inches below
tie surface, whicn indicated the route pnr-
sued by Snider in his weary aud almost
ceascltss tIamp. TO vary the monotony OF
his travels, Sni6er has two other prone
nadtS, both in the rear OF the dwelling,
circular in form and ninety feet in diane
ter. During the past three months Snlder
has walked almost necessarily out OF doors.
through rain, s!cet, and snow, but - the
exposure began to tell on him his relative,
fitted UP room in the house for his p,dcs-
tIiqn exercise.
Two years ago last April Snider. then
robust man of ffty-four, while at work IN
a fed was seized with spasmodic witch
Ing OF his arms and hands and severe
cramplng of the muscles OF hls body. lie
was incapacitaled for labor OF any Kind.
and the physician summoned pronounced
the case a very serious one. After feN
days OF suffering all symptoms of nervous
arrangement disappeared, and for week
Snider was apparently n well a. ever. Ihen
the muscular commissions again manifested
themselves, but this time IN the lower limbs.
mi l.. HgI Of hot 4, l,f,. t.t,I
the propensity TO walk, which will eventually
cany enider TO his grave. took complete
possession OF him. and, with the exception
of about four hours each day, he l. con-
siantly on his feet and travelling at the rate
OF four miles an hour.
At O'Clock every morning, after sleep
| Of from three to four hours, Snider begins
| bis tramp, and continues walking. eating
| his meals a. nc walks, until | O'Clock the
next morning, when be sits down in "A
| chair and sleeps soundly, being unable TO
rest in recumbent position. AT the out
set his friends endeayored, by force, TO IN
| duce him TO remain quiet, but the patient
! immediately became frantic, and. with
| tears IN his eyes, begged 10 be relieved or
! he would die.
Snider was placed in the State Insane
| AsyIum at Indianapolis fora brief time in
! 1884, but was returned by the authorities
| there, pronounced harmless and incurable.
He Is perfectly rational, and talks but lit.
tie about his peculiar affection, and seems
rather ayerse 10 notoriety OF any sort.
The walking man stated that he could
not possibly control himself, and that
were be to stop walking he would
feel as though flying into thousand pieces.
! When Snider began his tramp he weighed
| 90 "A. 10 oil h. "A "A
and has not an ounce OF super1uous flesh
HIS muscles are hard and flrm. Snider has
fully recovered from the recent sinking
spell, when he was reported ~ dying. lie
walks with quick step, OF uniform length,
striking his heel into the ,oil each time,
the shock being grateful one TO the mus.
cles OF the foot.
At times Snider sleeps as he walk, and
for an hour. guided by relatives, he swings
around the cabin, snoring loudly, and upon
awakening he runs at rapid gate for
several miles 10 rest himself as he eX-
presses IL. Snider suffers no plin. aud is
appart nifty cOntented while in motion.
Or. Davidson, OF Hartford City, who is
Snider's physician, told the reporter that
{ while his recovery is impossible, Snider
| would probably live for many months
"The affection is a disease of the spinal
! cord" said The doctor, land from his hip,
down bis physical condition Is not subjec,
10 government by the brain, tn, grea, nerve
centre"
In October snider was placed behind
plow IN a field. and made fair progress un-
I'll the pillow struck a root aud stopped.
snider, instead OF eXtrieating the imple-
ment, let 20 OF the handles and walked
around the horses and set OF alone on bis
regular tramp. IL Is estimated that during
The two years past snider hts travelled over
thirty thousand miles. The case excites
much interest In The medical fraternity,
many members OF which have visited Sn.
der. diagnosing the disease while walking
with him, as be- Is unable TO stop for mo-
ment. The ease Is SAID by physiciaus 10 be
and snlder's powers OF endu.
rance astonishing.