Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1892-10-03
SOUND ASLEEP.
Perilous Leap Of Rock Island
Somnambulist.
JUMPED 40 FEET FROM A WINDOW

1oMfhD gu FEET FROM A WINDOW,
John Mcknight Arises From His Bed at
the st. James Hotel Aud G DIN e to an Omen
window Leaps to the Ground Below-He
Afterward Finds Himself on the Sidewalk
In Scanty Attire. Though Not Seriously
Injured.
Many stories have been told of the
fests that have been performed by som>
namoulsts which often seem incredible,
but performance occurred in Rock ISL
and on Saturday Eight that borders on
the miraculous, when the results that
might have followed are considered.
A Vivid Dreamer,
John Mcknight a man about 50 years
years cd and Employed about the street
csr compsnY's power station is a VIVID
dreamer and somewhat addicted to walk
ing in his sleep. Though he had never
before done anything miraculous or
strange other than arising from his bed
in the dark CT the eight and cropping
about his room, he has frequently had
dreams that woe 20 him all but reality.
! His dreams Almost Invariably are the
, worst when he gees to led
! with anything on his mind-for
| ms ance if he wishes to arise at
a certain time. Knt wing that he is adj
dicted to the strange phenomenon to a
Ger lain extent, he usually takes precsu
tion against any accident that might
| occur by locking his door or putting
down a window should it be up.
Went to Bed About Midnight.
On Saturday night Mr.. Mcknight. who
| boards at the St. James hotel, went
home and retired about 10 O'Clock. but
before going to bed. however. he took
his usual precaution of locking the door,
but as it Was no. very cool he concluded
| to leave the window up. His work at
| the power station is feeding the hoppers
| from which the furnaces are fed and in
going from one side to the other, instead
| of walking down step he usually jumps
out of a window thst is not very
high from the ground, to save
a walk 1t is thought that the practice
weighed upon his mind. and as he had
b ZEN working nights all summer. not
ge ting his proper rest, his slet p when he
retired on Saturday night was probably
unusually sound.
Jumped Out of the Window.
| He could no. have been in bed more
| than two hours when he arose in his
s'eep. walked to his window which opens
on the east side OF the building, and
probably putting his hands on the ell, as
he was used to doing when at work.
Jumped out lie remembers nothing
more about it than that he was dreaming
abou. his work, not even being aroused
when he fell. How long he lay there
after falling he does not of course know
The first thing he remembers is of awak-
ening and fndirg himself out on the
sidewalk clad only in scanty rail-
ment. and benumbed with the
cold. When he discovered his
pred came1t he tried to call aloud but
was unable to speak. and afterwsrd
crawled around and succet dad in making
Mr.. Hoesli's family hear him and he was
taken into the house
| Remembered Nothing About 1t.
After being taken inside he was ques-
toned SIS to how he came to be outside in
that condition, but he seemed dazed and
one of the family thereupon went up to
his room, which is in the third story, and
found tne door locked on the inside. and
it was then found that he had fallen
from the window, which was open.
Yesterday morning, however. after he
had recovered from the shock. he re-
membered OF when he first became
aware Of his position on the sidewalk,
but beyopd this he has no recollection
of how it occurred. The window is
nearly 40 feet from the ground and the
wonder is that he was not killed
outright When he jumped it must have
been feet first as the singing sensation
still remains in the soles of his feet show
ing that he struck squsrely on them. He
received slight bruise on his forehead
and experienced little lameness in the
back. but no other serious consequences.
He is not able to be At work yet, but will
probably be up and around again in q
day or two. 1t is the third escape he
has had from serious falls, once having
fallen from high barn, and at another
time into q well, peither while in SOM
uanbplistic state however.
|