The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-11-17
VISIONS GUIDED HIN.
In Obedience to Them He Starved
Himself to Death,
AFTER HAVING TRIED TO WALK
ON THE WATER AND FAILED.

Strange Case of Religious Insanity in
New York-It Victim Was One of Pc
culiar Sect and His Convictions Finally
Became Delusions-He Had Lived
Through Fast of Forty Days and
Eleven Days of Second When Death
Came.
Rondout, N. Y, November 16.-One of
the most wild and rugged localities In
the Catskill regions is the township Of
Chandaken. The principal occupation
of its male residents 20 years ago was
bark peeling and tanning. The forests
having been stripped of suitable bark
for tanning, that business was aband-
oned.
About two miles from the pretty
village of Ph@nicia, in Chandaken
township, is little hamlet
known as Snyder Hollow. Its inhabi-
tants in days gone by were mainly "bark
peelers." AS rule they were tall, ro-
bust men, who were giants in strength as
we'll as in size. Among the leading resi-
dents OF the place was family named
Krum, some of the members of which
had lived in the vicinity for half CEN
tury. They were regarded as queer,
religious set. At revivals and prayer
meetings they were always in the lead,
and the little frame school house and
other, buildings in which the meetings
were held fairly shook when one of the
Krum brothers arose to relate his relig-
ious experiences and call upon the Lord
to come down there and then and bless
them.
One of the most ardent of these re-
igious fanatics was Isaac Krum, a
married man, with six children. His
wife died few years ago. Since that
time Krum has been growing insane on
religion and within the last few months
claims to have had revelations from
God. In these visions he was told
that if he would fast forty days he
would be give power to walk on water.
He starved himself and died yesterday,
having refused to take any nourishmet
or be attended by physician Richard
Krum, brother of the religious en-
thusiast, lives on the side of mountain
and it was at his home that Isaac died.
Coroner Fallon, of this city, who was
summoned to hold an inquest, found
that a peculiar state of religious affairs
existed in Snyder Hollow. The exami-
nation was held at an undertaking estab-
liShment in Phoenica, and fully two
hundred persons, whose curiosity had
been aroused, crowded the small apart
ment.
Richard, who is also religious en-
thusiast, said his brother came to him
in August and asked permission to stay
at his home, at tho same time saying if
he would not keep him he would go into
the mountains. lie said his brother need
have no fear that he would be a burden
on MIN, as the Lord told him to fast
forty days, and he intended to do SO.
The brother permitted him to stay, and
he began his long feast.
Every few days Richard advised him
to eat, but he positively refused. After
fasting forty days he ate few meals,
and then proceeded to a small stream
near the house and attempted to walk
upon the water, in accordance with the
alleged revelation.
Weak and emaciated from the long
fast, and drenched to the skin and
shivering from his attempt to walk upon
the water, he returned to his brother S
house He locked himself ina room and
began to pray fervently. His exhortations
could be heard considerable distanc,
and persons driving along the road near
the house stopped to make inquiry as to
the cause The next day the insane man
told his brother that God had answered
his prayer, and had directed him to fast
fifteen days longer, and his wish would
be granted. He was on the eleventh
day of the second fast when he died.