Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1886-10-15
He Must Walk OF Die.
From the Chicago Times.

llU lIluDl WulA vi DlU'
From the Chicago Times.
One OF the strangest penalties
that eccentric fate has ever inflict-
ed on a member of the human fam
ily is shown in the case of John
Snyder, who resides at Mile Grove,
a small station thirty miles east OF
here on the Chicago, st. Louis and
Pittsburg road. HIS peculiar des-
tiny appears to be that he shall
not stop walking until he walks
into the grave. Accompanied by
his son he came into Marion to-
day, on his way to visit the fair IN
the adjacent town of Warren. Ex-
cept for consideration for his son
he would have saved railroad fare,
and walked to Marion. Even
while on the cars he was unable
to control the spirit of unrest that
possesses him, and kept up his
perpetual promenading from front
to rear and rear to front. In leav-
ing the coach, while his locOmotion
was impeded by the other passen'
ger, his feet and legs refused to
pause in their pedestrian motions
up and down. lie had six hours
to wait here between trains. In
that time he walked several miles
into the country and back up one
street and down another, around
block after block, never hating,
never pausiDg. lie boarded a To-
ledo, st. Louis, and Kansas City
train for Warren, and as the engine
pulled out he was keeping his
measured tread from platform to
platform.
Snyder's strange afiiiction dates
back to a little over two years ago.
At that time he became the victim
of some sort of nervous complaint,
from which he found relief in a
measure by walking until COM
pletely exhausted. His strange
malady became more and more
aggravated, and he would get mp
in the middle of the night and
walk five, ten and fifteen miles be-
fore sufficiently exhausted to sleep.
Then he would walk twenty-four
hours on a stretch. 1t is asserted
on unquestloned authority that the
entire time in the last year that he
has been of his feet would not ag'
gregate over three or four hours
Eating and sleeping, in daylight
and darkness, he keeps up his tire
less and perpetual tramp, tramp
tramp. Around his house is a
beaten path nearly a foot deep
worn by months of incessant walk
ing. He goes at a steady gait of 6
little over three miles an hour, "A
miles every twenty-four hours, 51S
miles each week, 1920 miles
month and $1,000 miles year. II
the last two years he has walked
far enough to twice enclrcle th'
globe. Two years ago he vas be
lieved TO be insane and was sent Il
the asylum at Indianapolis. Afte
a short confinement it was show
that he was not subject for men
tai treatment and was released
A distinguished authority on ner
vous diseases gave it as his opin
ion at the time that il Snyder wa
10 be bound hand and foot he wOul'
become a raving maniac and die II
a few hours. He has walked eve
since and cannot stop. If hG halt
for a few seconds his legs becom
cramped and exhibit convulsiv
tendencies, and there is no rest O
relief but to continue his tram
| A strange feature 10 related in COL
noctlon with his pedestrian tender
cies A few months ago he was pu
tc sleep in a recumbent posltio
by the use Of opiates. On awsteT
ing he was 80 surcharged with th
demon of disquiet that he spran
ND and ran for five hours at a raj
of about. twelve miles An hour, whe
he again lapsed into his accnNon
ed gait, which he has since mail
tanned without interruption. Ii
appears to be thoroughly and pc
manently wound up, and until f
runs down will remain the best e.
ample of perpetual motion that hi
yet been discovered.
Snyder is about GO years old an
has large family. In other r
spects his health is good, and asit
: from haggard and haunted e
preston there is nothing unusn
: iu his appearance. His step lacl
spring and sprightliness, and giv'
the impression Of sore feet and q
} almost intolerable weariness. A
belief that his mild rage is an a
sumed one has long since been di
sipated. His case IS a remarka0
} one and is apparently beyond II
ken of physicians or scientists.
- go -
Killed By a silIatlunIst.
l WApSAW n. Y. October TT