The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-07-09
Alabama,s Human Wonder.

sDo VOC see that man" said a we'll
known physician to reporter. At the
same time pointing out Mr.. 5. W. Behr-
man, who Is engaged at Mr.. T. F. Leaks
undertaking establishment. The report-
er looked At the gentleman indicated,
and asked bis quessioner what there was
peculiar about him. The physician re-
Piled that Mr.. Behrman was a pheno-
menon, and had very interesting histo-
~ that he was n man 10 whom water
was not a necessity. Hearing this, the
reporter called on Mr.. Behrman, and,
finding out that the information was cor
rert. obtained the following interesting
interview with him:
Il was born in Rega, which IS the capi-
tai Of Lieffiane, & political division Of
Russia, corresponding TO the states ofth
country. reached America in 1872, and
settled permanently in Texas, residing at
different points for eighteen years When
the war broke out I joined the Third
Louisiana regiment, and served as Con
federate soldier until was wounded and
captured st the battle Of Iuka, Miss. l
was kept a prisoner Of war for several
months and was paroled, after which
returned to New Orleans, where l was
when the war closed. l came TO this city
in 1877, and have resided here the great
er portion of the time since that year.
@As to my peculiarity on the subject
of eating and drinking, l can say that l
never experienced the sensation Of being
hungry, thirsty or sleepy. When / eat,
which is at the oftenest only once a day,
IT is to sustain life and not to oappease the
craving of an appetite. Ny daily meal
consists of little thin soup and small
piece of pumper-niekel bread-a bread
made of rye, ground up with BRAN No
boiling at ali. This bread l get from
Indiana. have frequently gone with
out tasting food of any kind whatever for
from eighteen TO sixteen days.
at is the same with sleep. l am never
sleepy, and when do lie down II Is not
because must sleep, but because l must
pass the time away. 1 cannot say how
long q period of time have gone with
out sleep in this city, but remember
that once l went for seven months, in
which l did not sleep altogether one
hour.
Now on the subject Of drinking water
I can say that for forty years have not
taken a glass Of water, and that never in
nv life did have desire TO take
drink as you do l never drink water
except to take it with medicine, and that
is the only way l have ever taken It IN
the last forty or forty-0ne years
when / was in the army men all
around me on the march painted for
water and complained that they were
unable to keep up because Of hunger or
thirst, or both, but plodded along with
out experiencing inconvenience from
either. remember when we evacuated
Tupelo, Miss, the troops had hard
march and there was much suffering
from thirst. My command halted a short
time on the roadside, near place where
there was a well. The soldiers broke for
the well like madmen, while stood by
a fence leaning ON my gun. Gen. Filer,
who commanded the corps. rode up and
called out, 'Behrman, why don't yOu 20
TO the well and get water?' I replied that
/ was not thirsty, that never drank
water, and he was astonished; and dur
ing the whole war the only thing that I
ever craved was cigarettes.
~I have never enjoyed good health in
my life, and though I have consulted
many physicians in this country and in
the old country, have never found one
who could tell me what was the matter
with me or who could afford me relief.
When die want Drs. Castor, Blue
SeeIye and other physicians they may
/ desire to invite to make an examination
Of my body, my heart, liver and brain
particularly, TO find out what derange-
ment Of the system produced the eondi-
tions which have existed all my life, that
humanity may be benefited by their IN
/ vestigatious. l have already selected
my coffin, and when the end comes
want to be laid away peacefully and quiz
etIy.
Mr.. Behrnan does not appear to be un-
healthy. He is st0utiy built and weighs
now about l6O pounds. III { lgh be says he
has at times weighed ss Ruch As 10
pounds. He has a Air education, the
foundation for which was laid in the old
country. He speaks four languages
Russian, French, German and English.
He is great newspaper reader, and
keeps thoroughly informed upon cuTeni
affairs in Europe as well as in this com
try.-Montgomery Ala y0u0ai-