The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-30
NAKED In THE SNOW.
Terrible Experience offs Young Man ss
North Jay.

Lewiston, December 29.-Young Ernest
Hartman OF Liston Falls, lies at the
Cent al Maine General hospital In q con-
dition truly pitiabls. Both his hands
and both his feet are frozen so desperate
Iy that the probabilities are that the feet
must he amputated. IL may be possible
| to save the hands, but there IL no certain
ty as to this. The physician will walt a
day or so and will then determine.
Hartman was brought to the hospital
Thursday afternoon ct ABB, arriving ON
the train from Farmington branch. he
was I'm care Of Selectman valorus White
of North jay.
Hartman. who Is ~ years old. has been
living at home and has been employed
at the Falls.
Young Hartman left homo early this
| week and came to Lewiston. He rsmem-
bers clearly the incidents Of his visit to
the city, but from the time he left here
to 90 up the line his recoliections are
hazy.
When he left home he wore an oysr-
coat, warm underwear and full suit OF
black cheviot. He says that he had a
little money ana wanted moro. so he
snapped q part of his suit with dealer
on lower Lisbon street In Lewiston.
| He got in return pair OF overalis- and
% In money. de arrived ut North jay
| Wednesday afternoon. People there re-
member seeing him get off the train. He
says that he went to the hotel In the
place. The hotel Leople saw nothing OF
him. Hartman, even while insisting that
he was at the hotel, is not clear on the
point. He says that wherever he stopped
he got drink Of liquor He claims that
he got put one drink. After that even Is
are more than ever confused In his mind.
He claims that about 10 O'Clock wednes-
day night he was put out of the place he
was stopping.
"What did they put you out forG" MIR.
| White asked him.
| "Oh, don't know" the young man
answered. "Perhaps because didn't
have any money"
| At another time he intimated that his
expulsion might have been caused by
trouble with girl.
| Whatever the reason for his leaving the
place where he was stopping. the fact
remains that this young man spent in
the open air night of fearful hardship.
There ara about four inches OF snow
In Franklin county and Wednesday night
was q bitter one with keen, brisk
wind, Hartman declares that he went
out unto the night clothed as he was
found next day. Diligent search has
been made along the course he traversed,
but no traces of clothing have been
found. It is not probable that he threw
his garments away after he left shelter.
| At about 10 O'Clock Thursday forenoon
some people In the outskirts of the vii.
lage of North Jay saw a figure stagger
out of the edge of the woods at some
little distance away. The man rose,
stumblsd along q little way and then
fell, to crops his way along on his knees.
Occasionally he rollsd helplessly in the
snow.
| Those who saw the stranger fastened
| In his direction and found the boy Har-
riman. for clothing he had on only a
thin shirt, some light underwear and the
overalls that he secured 10 Lewiston. He
wore no hat, no coat, no vest. no shoes,
no stockings. He was wholly beyond
giving an account OF himself. When
the rescuers arrived he was paving aim
lessly In the snow and must soon have
succumb bed utterly. Both his feet, both
hands and cara wsrs frozen and other
parts of his body were in terrible shape
from the exposure. He had wandered
all night In the woods and the fields and
pastures. From ten at night until ten
in the forenoon following, he had not
been near shelter.
HarrimAn's mind is 10 su,h shape now
that it Is evident that not much Deepen
dence can be placed on what he says as
to his experiences In the unknown house
on the evening preceding his exposure.
Deputy Sheriff A. j. Merrinan Of Jay
Bridge Is now at work on the case and
Ia making an effort to i9efte the gar
ments that Hartman says he left at
whatever place hs was stopping at We'd
nesday evening. When these are found
the officers will take such action as
ssems best under the circumstances.
II is stated today that Hartman may
recover from hia injuries and may per-
haps ave his haads.