The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-04-01

Act of Breathing Having Ceased to d.
Involuntary, With the Result That thu
Man is Breathing to Death-Claims HI
works-Air Ship is Found and VIII be OF
Exhibition in Front of Eagle Office.
To Wichita has fallen the honor o.
giving first to the world authentic in
formal ton of the great fiying-machint
which mas been witnessed recently in its
nocturnal journeys over Kansas.
The fiying-machine this morning lies a
heap of broken iron. and tangled wire
just this side of Burton Car works. The
future will disclose the origin Of the
great air-ship and the history of the
navigator who came down in II last
night and who now lies dying az the
Carey hotel.
Late last night a stranger registered
at the Carey hotel, and after chatting
with the night clerk, he exchanged the
usual civilities with the resident guests
Of the hosiery, went TO the room assign
ed and retired. There was nothing I'M
usual in his appearance, dress or man
ner He had the easy bearing of a man
used to travel, who in the language of
the guild, SIS al home under his hat
There was nothing TO excite suspicion
concerning his health, though his face
was pale and he appeared a little nerv-
Gus. His room was No 121a on the sec
ond floor, and when the bell-boy struck
tne stairway four steps al a jump. he
said quietly: The elevator, If you
please"
Sometime after midnight ne rung the
bell and Mr.. Steele, the night clerk,
answered in person. He found his guest
in most excited condition His face
was as white as the snowy sheets about
him. The scene was veritable opposi-
ton. The light in the room was a full
glare and bright red flush on the
cheeks proved that the stranger was still
IN the flesh and not ghost, but the
night clerk swears that had he been
convinced that his guest was a ghost his
fright could not have been more pro-
found. The first shock over, the night
clerk learned from his excited visitor
the cause of his trouble. He came of a
family that was short lived. of whom
there had been those who had died sud-
denly and without warning At least
his father and grandfather had died on
their birthday. This is my birthday"
he continued, "and while 1 am not super
stItious-not in the least-I have had
such an experience that convinces me
that a great danger overhangs my
health. In fact I believe my life is
about a an end
Here he detailed rapidly his exper-
fence, how the human machine, as he
cut It, seemed on the verge of stopping
never 70 go again. Whether il was on
account Of the failure OF the involuntary
muscles Of the chest to expand or con-
tract, thus TO inhale or expel the air
necessary to life, or the failure of the
hearts action, as the monitor of the
blood -,ulation, he did not know. but
was pV.tive it was from one of these
sources his difficulty arose. It seemed
TO him that there was a collapse Of this
human mechanism impending-that the
blood left the veins. and the power 10
breathe passed beyond his control. AS
his agitation became less he lay down
on his pillow and was soon apparently
fast asleep. The night clerk watched
him for time. The pale flushed cheek
and the irregular rise and fall of the
chest in breathing, with little nervous
starts now and again. indicated lack
of blood circulation and that all was
not right in the breathing.
The night clerk went back 70 the Of
fee and il was not long till he was
again summoned to No. I21s. He found
his guest more frightened and far
weaker than before. He could only speak
II monosyllabies- It could be made out
that he wanted the windows open and a
doctor sent for. Messengers were dis
patched to the homes of several doctors
10 make sure Of one. As fortune would
have il Drs Fabrique, Oldham and Nc
Gees put in appearance at short inter
vals from each other. The doctors ex-
amined the patient and pronounced the
case IA peculiar one. though not unknown
10 medical science. 1T has long been
known 10 the medical profession" said
DR.. Fabrique to the Eagle reporter.
that the muscular action that takes
blood circulation, : involuntary. This
is especially so in sleep but in our wax
ing hours it is commonly thought I'M
control our breathing a least Not so:
we vary ii, but do not control it. Now
the trouble with our patient is this:
From some cause. possibly some sud
den emotion as fear, he has revolution
,zed This muscular act Of breathing In
stead Of being henceforth involuntary it
must hereafter be volutary.'
But, doctor" inquired the reporter. SIS
there anything serious in this?'
''Serious?" echoed Dr.. Fabrique. al
means certain death in a very short
time. The chances are our patient VIII
MOI be alive twenty-four hours. You
see nature forbids this so-eaned involun-
tary action for breathing and heart
action. This process goes on asleep or
awake Once destroy or revolutionize
this and make the acticn depend upon |
the volition Of the subject. and the pa |
ten: has passed beyond the control Of |
human help. Constant exercise of any
muscle brings soon nervousness, that |
makes rest imperative but in this case |
-est is Impossible. Such being true Of |
The waking moments. what Of sletp? |
The first profound sleep this patient |
axes will be the everlasting sleep Of |
ieath."
Would II be too much risk 10 ycur |