The morning news., 1889-02-18
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS ASLEEP.
Grew From Girlhood to Womanhood
Without Knowing 1t.
From The New YORK Times.

from inc 4fcW ICFh 1 tftcSs
CHATTANOOGA, Feb 13-The strange
case Of Mrs. Emma Althouse, whose very
recent awakening from sleep of over 20
days has caused considerable newspaper
comment, had more than equally strange
counterpart right here in Tennessee, the
difference being that, while Mrs. Althouse
slept DAYS, the Tennessee woman slumbered
years, and grew from child of 10 TO a
woman of 81 while she slept.
Mr.. James of the real estate firm of Gates
Sidebottom & James, one of the most reliable
and best known men III the south, was con-
versant with the case and vouches for the
truth Of this statement. Col. G. n. Gibbs
and Mr.. l.. S. Cardwen, both prominent
citizens, also knew the sufferer personally.
The father of the girl still resides near Troy
the county seat of Obiop county, where he
is a small farmer. he has always been eX-
ceedingly cramped for means, though of
great Intelligence and almost Puritan up
rightness. His name is Henry Godsey.
His family was large. Among the youn-
ger children was Susie, who, up to her tenth
year, was the brightest and prettiest of the
whole lot. Just at this age she was taken
i'll and a physician was called in. He Wis
tied her a number Of times, and finally gave
her dose of some medicine which gaze her
a severe chill. From this sac passed into q
deep sleep and continued SO for some days.
The family thought her dead, but close in
vestlgation saved Eer from being buried
alive After a few days she aweke at sun
rise and remained awake probably half an
hour. She was perfectly rational, ate, and
complained of no pain, bat dropped asleep
again. After that for months she awoke
about the same hour daily, when she was
given food. Her physical condition during
this time was apparently excellent, but af-
ter time the regular waking ceased and it
occurred at varying intervals. The periods
Of waketuueSs also varied in length. Cen
orally they were of but few minutes du-
ration. Again. they extended to an hour
and an hour and half, but this was seldom
and on the whole her hours of wakefulness
grew fewer. Her return to a wakeful con-
dition was marked by hicc1ugh, a spas
modc Jerking of the head and shoulders,
followed by sneeze. These premonitory
symptoms lasted long enough for her to
reach her couch.
All efforts too keep her awake failed,
though nothing suggested was left undone
Electricity was applied in many ways. In
the course of time she awakened every five
or ten minutes day aud night, but remained
awake never to exceed two minutes. FL
nally purse was raised when she was about
Is, ard her fathe' took her to st. Louis,
where some of the best physicians expert.
mented on her. They fairly blistered her
with electricity, made her flesh raw pune
turing her with needles, and sent her home
worse than before.
She continued IN this condition until her
age was 30, when she died while asleep
Immediately after death her flesh turned
black and began to decompose within an
hour Barnum heard of the case and Mr..
Cardwell says he has personal knowledge
that the Snowman offered Mr.. Godsey $40,
600 for Susie for one year and to take the
whole family along and pay all its expenses
Though so poor, Mr.. Godsey refused the
offer, aad all other efforts made by Barnum
to get the famous sleeping girl proved
equally abortive. During her life she was
visited by thousands, and her fuueral at
tracted an i'm uense multitude, who came
from every direction to catch a parting
GLIMPSE Of one who had grown from girl
hood to womannood while fast asleep.