Evening star., 1896-07-25
AWAKE AGAIN AETRR "a YEARS.


Mr.. McClelland Knpwfs How Rip Van
Winkle Felt When He Woke Up.
From the Pittsburg Dispatch.
The village Of Graysyills has developed a
strange case as viewedf from a medical
standpoint-that Of q man who had lain
upon his bed for twenty-four years, dur
ing q great part CT which time he was
blind and speechless, and sometimes una
Bile to hear, but can now walk about with
the aid Of crutches, and his eyesight, voice
and hearing all restored. This man is Asa
McClelland He was soldier in the late
war. being a member Of Company C, 18th
Pennsylvania Cavalry, and will be remem-
bered by many of his old comrades
In the early part Of the '7Os he was taken
Ill and became bedfast. He lost the use of
his body, and finally sank into half-con-
scious state during which he lost both eye
sight and power to speak, and for time
could not hear. Some time before his ILL
ness his mind became temporarily affected.
and he attempted to take his life by shoot
Ing. The ball struck him near the base of
the brain, but failed to penetrate the skull.
But little injury was done, apparently. by
the wound, and he went about for several
months afterward. After he became hi
his case baffled the aid Of physicians.
Much Of the time he would lie upon his
bed with his head and entire body under
covers. He would show no sign of recoeni-
eioii' anu HAS Ioou was frequently pushed
under the covers within his reach, and thus
ne ate enough to sustain life. This lasted
during period of tWenty-four years. AZ
ter the first few years old acquaintances
ceased their visits, and he almost dropned
out or their remembrance. He now relates
the following strange story:
"A snort time ago he felt strength sudden
iy return to his body. and had an impulse
10 RISE He tried to do so and found tina
ne could get up. About the same time he
round his eyesight restored He had NOT
uttered sound for years, but the Thought
occurred to him to speak, and he found bis
voice restored
His first attempt to walk was by resting
MS hands upon the back Of chair and
pushing 1t along. but he now uses crutches.
ne had forgotten many words, and those
were taught him just as a little child is
instructed. In the same way he was tang ht
10 read again. Everything was new tn
hlm he, however remembered the names
ana races OF former acQuaintances An old
hcqua ntance who had not seen him for
many years met him at the store at Grays-
vile, and was quickly recognized by Nc
C!eiland. The latter refers to the period of
his life prior to his illness as one who ha 8
been away in another part of the country
for many years and has just returned. He
speaks OF places about the village as when
was here before they looked so and so -
lie says there We're but two or three houses
In GraySVille when he was there then
Like Rip Van Winkle, he seems to have
awakened from a long dream He saws
that during his illness he was many times
able to hear what was said but had not
the power to whisper even reply He has
an interest in a piece of land, and draws a
small pension, and says he now Is able to
conduct his own business Mr.. McClelland
Is nfty-four years old. and formerly worked
at the painting trade. -,