The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-12-25
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a WALKING CURIOSITY.
Thirty Thousand Miles Travelled
Within Two Years.
Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.

Cincinnati Commercial Gazette.
Indianas greatest curiosity, John SnIder,
walking man Of Blackford county, is afflicted
with a peculiar disease which impels him to
walk continually, only stopping for brief
sleep. Snider lives one mile south Of Mill
Grove, small station on the Chicago, st.
Louis and Pittsburg railway, in the eastern
part Of Blackford county. His home is a
one-story log cabin located in the center Of
an acre lot, which is inclosed by rail fence.
Around the house is beaten path worn
fully five inches below the surface, which in
dicates the route pursued by Snider in his
weary and almost ceaseless tramp. To vary
the monotony Of his travels, Snider has two
other promenades, both In the rear Of the
dwelling, circular In form and ninety feet
in diameter. During the past three months
Snider has walked necessarily out Of doors.
through rain, sleet and snow, but as the ex-
posture began to tell on him his relatives fit
ted up room in the house for his pedestrian
exercise.
Two years ago last April Snider, then a
robust man Of tfty-four. while at work in
hei ~ was seized with spasmodic twitching
Of MS arms anu hands and severe cramping
citated for labor Of any kind, and the physi-
clan summoned pronounced the case very
serious one. After a few days Of suffering
all symptoms OF nervous arrangement dlsap-
peared, and for week Snider was apparent.
| ly as we'll as ever. Then the muscular CON
| vulsions again manifested themselves, but
| this time in the lower limbs. The patient
| lost control Of both legs, and the propensity
to walk, which will eventually carry Snider
| 70 his grave, took complete possession Of
him, and with the exception OF about four
hours each day, from one to five a. m, he ls
| constantly on his feet and travelling at the
rate Of four miles an hour.
When visited by the Commercial Gazette
| representative Snider was dressed In coarse
wooden coat, pair Of jean trousers, flannel
| shirt, and an aged and much battered felt
| hat. His feet were incased in heavy plow
shoes, much the worse for the vigorous ser
an iron gray beard and short, gray hair. His
countenance Is br0nzed by constant expo
sure to sun and rain, and deep lines Of care
on his face Prove that he fully appreciates
the magnitude Of his misfortune. Living in
the same cabin with Snider are his wife and
five children, two sons and three daughters,
who support themselves by laboring on
i farms in the vicinity.
Ats o'clock every morning. after sleep Of
/ from three to four hours. Snider begins his
/ tramp and continues walking, eating his
| meals as he walks, until O'Clock the next
/ morning, when he sits down In a chair and
sleeps soundly, being unable TO rest in a re-
cumbent position. At the outset his friends
II
quiet, but the patient Immediately became
frantic, and with tears in his eyes, begged 20
be relieved or he would die
| Snider was placed in the State insane asy-
| lum at indianapolis for brief time In 1884,
but was returned by the authorities there,
pronounced harmless and lncurable. He is
perfectly rational, and talks but little about
his peculiar affiiction, and seems rather
averse TO notoriety Of any sort. The
walking curiosity stated that he could
not possibly control himself, and that
were, he to stop walking hewould feel
as though flying into q thousand pieces.
When Snider began his tramp hs
weighed l60pounds. He now weighs 15S
pounds, and has not an ounce Of superfuous
flesh. His muscles are hard and firm. Snl
der has fully recovered from the recent
sinking spell, when he was reported as dy-
ing. He walks with quick step,of uniform
length, striking his heel into the soil each
time. the shock being grateful one TO the
muscles of the foot.
At times Snider sleeps as he walks, and
for an hour, guided by relatives, he swings
around the cabin. snoring loudly, and upon
awakening he runs at rapid gait for severa
miles to rest himself" as he expresses It.
Snider suffers no pain, and IS apparently con.
tented while In motion.
DIR. Davidson Of Hartford City, who /:
Snider's physician, told. the reporter thai
while his recovery Is impossible, Snidei
would probably live for many months. 9Th,
affection Is disease Of the spinal cord said
the Doctor, land from the hips down hi:
physical condition Is not subject to govern
ment BY the brain, the great nerve centre.
During the past fall fair managers In thil
section we're lively bidders for Snider as
curiosity. At Warren he was on exhibition
in tent for three days, and proved grea
card, receiving 5000 for his services Hi
was offered $500 TO appear at the Marion
Fair, and it Is said New York dime mu
scum manager made him fiatterlng otfe
for the season, both Of which were declined
In October Snider was placed behind
pillow In a field, and made fair progress un
I'll the pillow struck root and stopped. Sni
der, instead Of extricating the implement
let 20 Of the handles and walked around tn
horses and set off alone on his regular tramp
1t Is estimated that during the two year
past Snider has travelled over thirty thou
sand miles. The case exeites much interes
in the medical fraternity, many members 0
which have visited Snider, diagnosing tn
disease while walking with him,a he Is una
BILE TO stop for mJment. The case Is sal
By physicians 70 be unparalleled and enl
der's powers OF endurance superhuman.