The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-11-07
GREAT FEATS ASLEEP.
Young Woman In Denver Holds
the Record.
She Unties Ropes, Picks Locks, Writes
Letters, all When Sound Asleep.

Neurologists and medical men generally
arc awaiting with deep interest the out
come of sytem.of curative treatment SOM
nambulist Annie Rcssman is bong sub
jected to In the county hospital This re-
markable sleep walker, whose unconscious
jonrncyings about the city of Denver late
at night hayo made her familiar person
TO the police and the public, has been In
custody since Saturday evening. On the
order OF County Physician Clark, she was
removed from police headquarters TO the
hospital. The precautions taken by the
attendants of the latter institution to keep
her from going abroad during her active
slumbers are certain 10 prove effective.
She Is kept al alone In ward that is
equipped with the most securely fastened
windows and doors In the entire hospital.
Night and day "A nnrso Is within hearing
Of even her slightest movement.
Miss Rossman, although her helpless
condition might very properly make such
course seem necessary, Is not by any
means detained against her wishes When
DIR Clark on Friday issued his order for
her commitment, she objected to acting in
accordance with it. This repugnance to
not unnatural to her, for the unfortunate
young woman Is of most respectable
family, and wero 1t not for her aflliction Is
thoroughly competent to take care Of her
self On Saturday, however, she took the
moro reasonable view OF the situation and
agreed 10 place herself under the eminent
specialist who has charge OF the nervous
Oisease cases at the county hospital.
The physician Is now studying her case
with view 10 prescribing n regular sys-
tenn OF treatment. Ii Is agreed by the hest
ncurologsts In Ge city that Miss Ross
man Is the most interesting somnambu-
listic subject that ever came under their
notice. Her history since she came 10 Den
ver over two years ago strongly bears out
this sweeping assertion. She Is now I'm
her twenty-scventh year, and except for
her irrepressible tendency To activity while
in the sleeping state ard sluggish circu-
lation Of the blood she enjoys excellent
health. She Is Of the perfect blond type,
large OF physique and comoly of feature
When normal, her mentality is of "a high
standard, and she is well educated. These
attributes make her an intensely rare psy-
Geological study, as somnambulists seldom
posses them,
Although disinclined to talk about her
affairs, statements made with much reti-
cenco from time 60 tii at police head
quarters by her have given the authorities
"A fair biographical knowledge OF Miss
Rossman. Her home Is in Pecola, Kan,
where some of her relatives at present re-
side
She also has n brother living In Chey-
enne. About eight years ago Miss Ross
man first became sleep walker. go far
81 n. A.. n
mite predisposing cause that it's victim pro-
fesses TO be aware OF In the early stages
OF her somnambulism Miss Rossman was
not ATTACHED with frequency. 1t was only
after her advent In Denver that the disease
assumed the intense phase in which it
now manifests itself. The altitude doabt-
less has had great deal TO do with its
development. When she first came, Miss
Rossman entered one of the local business
colleges, from which, despite her trouble,
she was graduated in due time Her noe
turnal travels, however so exhausted her
in mind and body that che was unable TO
hold any OF the positions she obtained
more than for a brief period
During her stay in tho city she has been
conveyed 10 her homo or To city hall by
the police on at least so different occa-
sions. Except once or twice, she was never
known to leave her room until after mid
night. Usually she -andered about tho
business section Of the city, close TO which
she always rather wisely lived until the
,olice got her. She walked straight ahead,
With autcmaton appearing strides, until
Somo startled citizen drew the attention of
u policeman To her. As rule the first
person who saw her gave the alarm to the
officers.
Her appearance was quite enough to