The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-11-27

HAS SLEPT NINE YEARS.
Physicians Unable to Diagnose Nil
chaeI Fernan's Trouble.
From the Baltimore American.


From the Baltimore American.
Shamokin, Pa, Nov. 20.-In a little farm
house at Nicholson tunnel lies a man who
bids fair to outrival Rip Van Wrinkle as
a sleeper This mans sleep has already
lasted more than nine years, and if Mi
chael Ferpan ever awakens, it will only
be to find that his wife and children have
succumbed to the care and anxiety incl
dent to his continuous and extended slum-
Der.
AS Mr.. Fernan appears to be as rugged
and strong as he did on the morning that
he began his long sleep, he may surpass
Rip Van Wrinkles record, unless the mys-
titled physicians perform an operation that
will awaken him at the risk Of transform
ing him into Il raving maniac, or hasten
| ing. his death. Had it not been for the
touching devotion of his wife, the opera
ton would have been performed several
years ago.
Nine years ago last July, Michael Fer
nan was employed as Waterman at the
! Nicholson tunnel, on the Delaware, LACK
awanna and Western railroad. He was Of
robust health and very Industrious, and
/ during the alternate weeks when he watch
| ed the railroad tunnel by night, he was in
| the habit of spending several hours each
day in cultivating the little farm that sur
rounded his home. One morning Fernan
| returned from his work and told his wife
that he was feeling well. but very sleepy.
He went to bed without eating any break
| fast.
| AT noon one of the children came down
stairs, and said: Father won't wake up
| for dinner" But the sleeper was not
| disturbed. When, however. Fernan did
not appear at supper, his wife went to
! NJ her "a stretched
across the bed, still dressed in his work
! ing clothes, and in what appeared to be a
sound and natural slumber Her EFFORTS
| to awaken him were unsuccessful, and, as
| he was still sleeping heavily the fol-
lowing morning, a physician was sum
moned. but his attempts to awaken the
| sleeping man were equally fruitless.
/ In the course of several days other
| physicians were called in, and, after a
consultation, electric shocks, ice-cold wa
l ter baths and the trickling Of Ice water
down the patients spinal column were re-
sorted to, as well as the piercing OF sensi-
| tive portions of his body with pins and
| needles, in the hope that his sleep might
/ be broken But the sleeper never WINGED,
/ and every shock was followed with equal
| ly barren results. The physicians were
mystlfed. and the uneasiness OF the fam
| lily Increased as he slept on week after
week, and month after month.
] Every morning ana evening reEHdn
wife would prop him up in bed and place
| foods that did not require mastication
within his mouth. These were swallowed
passively. During this time the sleeper
Increased In size and, in order to give
him more attention, his wife had him re-
moved to a room, which measured about
twelve feet square, adjoining the kitchen.
More than twelve months passed before
! his wife and children were made happy
by one day finding that the sleeper's eyes
were again open. He conversed rational
" Of things that had occurred prior TO the
beginning OF his long slumber. and ex-
| pressed amazement when acquainted with
the facts Of his sleep. He said that every
thing was a blank TO him during his years
nap, and added that he felt just as ne
used to after a nights rest
Eight hours after awakening Fernar
again complained Of feeling drowsy. and
a few moments later he was again asleep
| and had 10 be removed to his bed. He
was allowed TO slumber in his trousers
I flannel shirt and stockings, and when the
/ weather was pleasant Mrs. Fernan would
lift him 70 his feet and lead his hating
steps through the Kitchen 10 the side
porch, where she would seat him IN big