The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-08-21
JUMPERS IN THE WOODS.
A Curious Nervous Affection Pound
I'm Lumber Cnmps.

Manchester, n; H., August 15.-After n
llard season In the woods in the northern
the hardy lumbermen are glad to escape
from the isolation which has been forced
upon them for several months, and de-
LFnt 10 get out into the world and mingle
with their fellows. In this way the people
or northern New England occasionally
become acquainted with specimens of a
known as jumpers" a Jumper is n suf-
Ierer from remarkable nervous disease
that seems confined exclusively, or nearly
SO, to backwoodsmen. 1t IS almost an
axiom that every camp contains fiddler
ana Jumper. II the men, rough, incon-
Siu9rate ana uneducated fellows. fail to
llnd jumper In the camp when II Is or
ganised for the long, hard winters work
they proceed at their earliest opportunity
70 produce one. The instant man cX-
n.Dits signs of possessing an unusually
nervous temperament they pounce upon
MN as their legitimate prey. He is pes
Cook pots and wash basins are flung ~
MN. and he is suddenly jabbed in the
ribs and frightened by loud yclls close to
ms KIND OF treatment to rob n poor fei-
low OF what control he had over his
nerves and great. strong lumbermen be-
come completely under the control OF
their fellows.
Let anyone point finger Mt him and the
;'h Jumper VIII bite his own hand nearly to
tne bone; At an unexpected command he
VIII strike at anything that happens TO
be near him II it.should be the side of n
nc
result, for he will deliver the BLOW as as
tnough he was telling an on Whatever a
Jumper Is told to do he does to the full
extent OF his powers, and the worst of II
Is that he is perfectly conscious of how he
IS pelnG imposed upon. and suffers agony.
G put he is powerless to help himself 4
VINO was once walking in single file With
u company or choppers. Each man had
s eas axe nf oyer yer his shoulder. Someone out
Jumper. me latter started and brought
Gown ms harp axe on the head of the
mar man IN 'front.' Of him. and nearly ended his
mners appears to be something OF n
hypnotic element in the disease. which
VIII and puts him under the control Of
another. 1t sometimes happens that one
p;ahrucnlar man has more power than
others over jumper. and is as completeiv
ms ster as he would be OF n dog ~,
nm point his finger at the jumper and the
t .a VIII come straight TO him. and some
times VIII follow the movements of tho
nnser IKE mesmerized person, and viii
Jump, shout or run at the word Of com.
nano. one OF the features of such cases
IS that the victim apparently seldom gets
angry. When he has ceased to serve ~ :
sport for his fellows he will look vcry
sheepish and hang his head but il never
tallate. W re-
-, Jumpers ninp,, are usually French Canadians
and strength would seem to make tbem
dangerous adVerSaries in fight and vet
very diminutive person can conoiler
them. They constantly carry their lives in
I 1neir hands FOR any unthinllinS person
looking for amusement can cause Them
to leap from a moving log train, immn
into the river from n log boom or commit
any other hazardous deed. If they nrc
let alone they can get along comfortably
enough, but their infirmity becomes
known sooner or later, and then life is n
burden; All sorts of tricks are played
upon them.
Johnny" screamed his mother, WHY
are you sitting on your brother chest;
1ou'll XIII him. II know it," retorted
the urchin. But Il / let him nm her
go swimmin' and be drowned. -
Adams Freeman.
The Augusta Chronicle says that re.
Gently about 500 camels were counted
on the ella river, Ariz. These are the
progeny of the herd of $50, which were
placed. about thirty years ago, but
which had m ha