The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-07
STRANGER THAN HAML1NE,s CASE.
Story of an American Who Lost His Identity
and Regained 1t in Scotland.

and Regained 1t i'm Scotland.
Isaac Jenkinson. in Richmond Palladium.
The strange story of Mr.. Leonidas Hamline.
a prominent merchant of Chicago, who lost con-
seriousness day in that city and woke up in
New Orleans, two or three weeks later, recalls a
still more remarkable case which came nnde-
our observation some years ago. And this, too,
the case of Chicago gentleman In 1873,
while we were in charge of the Glasgow consul
ate, an American was one day brought to our
Office by a Scotchman, who reported as follows:
He had found the American on the street appar-
emily in q state of bewilderment, and accosted
him. The American Immediately inquired the
name of the street in which they were, and was
told it's name. He promptly replied, II never
knew there was such street in Chicago" He
was told he was not in Chicago. but ia Glasgow,
Scotland. With an intensely puzzled expression
he answered: ""That is impossible l live in
Chicago. and ate breakfast at nome this morn
ing" The Scotch gentleman could not convince
him that he in Glasgow, and, suspecting
him to be of unsound mind, concluded to bring
him to the consulate. The American soon
gained entire consciousness, but could scarcely
be convinced that he was really in Glasgow. He
said he had left his home in Chicago after break
fast TO go to some place in the city. and had not
a particle OF recollection of anything afterward
until he found himself bewildered in q strange
city.
From further statements We learned that he
had been for some years connected with the rail-
roads. and was well known to railroad men be-
tween Chicago and New York. Some time be-
fore he had been engaged by the Chicago agent
Of the Anchor Line Steamship Company to visit
emigrants from that country to this to come by
the Anchor line for which he was well qualified
having thorough command of the Norwegian
language. For this purpose he had been given
q ticket by that line of steamers from New York
to Glasgow. He had, however, changed his
mind and written to the company declining the
position. After learning these facts we accom-
panied him to the Anchor line Office in Glasgow
and found his statement fully verified by the
Messrs Henderson, the proprietors Of the line,
as to his employment by that company. They
also said he had been recommended to them
gentleman of character and integrity. They
at once interested themselves in him, and gave
him free passage back to New York on their
next steamer.
This gentleman declared that when he left
his home in Chicago he had but so cents in his
pocket, and how he could travel from Chicago
to Glasgow in q state of Inconsistencies, and
without money, is something marvellous. His
theory was that being well known to railroad
men, and as n railroad man, he was allowed to
ride unquestioned to New York. there. having
his steamer ticket in his pocket. he boarded an
Anchor line steamer for Glasgow. The officers
of the steamer spoke of him a quiet pleasant
gentleman, who seldom addressed anyone unless
first spoken to, and who did nothing to lead
them to suspect he was not fully conscious OF
all he was doing. After reaching Glasgow he
spent two three days at a hotel before regain
ing consciousness, but in a manner which
attracted no attention. This Is certainly a
stranger case than that OF Mr. Hamline, which
Ia just now causing much interest.