The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-04-29
HAS STRANGE
EXPERIENCE,
Charles Washburn Of Allegheny
Has a Dual Existence.
FREAK EXISTS IN HIS MIND.
Curing The Years That Were q Blank Hs
Has Married and Has Raised
-Four Children

one OF the most remarkable cases
known 10 the medical profession Is that
of Charles Washburn, aged Al years. who
with his family. resides I'm Allegheny
Pa. MIR. Washburn has just recovered his
memory after lapse of seventeen years,
and since the recovery can remember
practically nothing that occurred during
that time.
Mr. Washburn's native home was I'm
eastern Pennsylvania, but In what town,
he tells the Pittsburg Times. he has not
yet been able to recall
According TO his statement TO hts doc
tors, made since the recovery or his
memory, he left for the west i'm 1885, af-
ter the death of his father. 10 look M
some property that had been left TO him
He remembers leaving Chicago on the
Chicago and Rock Island railroad but
can recall only that the train was
wrecked short time after leaving Chi
csgo
lie remembers a crash and the sensa-
ton OF being hurled through the air, but
from that time until he recovered his
memory, four weeks ago. his mind Is a
blank, or was at the time OF his re-
covery.
.irs. Washburn says she met her hus-
band II years ago, "A few days after his
arrival In the city. and two years later
married him. But Mr.. Washburn on the
recovery of his memory knew nothing OF
his marriage nor OF the fact that he was
the father OF four children.
lie did not recognize any Of the people
ne has known for the last ten wears. he
did not know anything of the neighbor-
hood In which he has resided for the
same time, nor did he know anything
OF his former occupation. painting nor OF
his present one. the grocery business.
Electric cars were 10 him az something
springing suddenly from the earth, and
he had but dim recollection OF what
electric lights We're. An electric bell was
also novelty with hEhe use of which he
was entirely unacqusinted
The tall buildings OF the city amazed
him, and the sights on every hand were
as strange TO him as 10 newly born
babe.
For the last year and half Mr. WASH
burn has apparently been I'll. This caused
his retirement from his former occupa-
tion' contracting painter, and he em-
parked In the grocery business, conduct
Ing small store In Allegheny
DIR. Stanley g. Small had been his
physician and was treating him for he
patio abscesses or abscess of the. liver
The requent bursting OF the abscesses |
caused great PAIN
SEVENTEEN YEARS OF BLANKNEss
II
walking the floor of his dining room suf-
iering intensely. A daughter. who was in
the room with him, accidentally over
turned a lamp. Mr. Washburn tried 10
grasp IL as II fell. but as he reached for
~ he murmured. "Oh. my head, and fell
10 the floor unconscious.
lie was Immediately put TO bed and !
l)r. Small summoned. But all the efforts |
OF the doctor were apparently without re-
SUIT, as Mr.. Washburn remained uncon-
scious until the next evening
When he regainsd consciousness the
next day the events OF the last seventeen
years were entirely forgotten He regain
ed consciousness at the point where his
memory had left him, and his first words
were
Was J much hurt?''
Mrs Washburn was in the room al the
time and replied I'm the negative Then
ne replied as TO what hospital he was I'm
and asked his wife Al she was the nurse.
she ihpghingiy replied that she was his
wife. whereat he grew indignant and told
her that she was taking liberties with
him.
lie then demanded 10 sec the doctor.
and TO humor him Mrs washburn sent
for DR. Small. While awaiting the doctor
Mrs Washburn again engaged her hus-
band IN conversation, calling him by his
frst name and telling him that he was
the father of four children.
III not married, he replied. Mice
thin gfor n man ~ years of age TO wake
up after n nights sleep and TO he told
mat he is the father OF four childrsn.V
But you are not u young man." replied
his wife, and she handed him a mirror.
When he saw the reflection of his face 7
ne acknowledged that he did not look 1
ike man of "a years of age but stilI | ,
lid not believe thai he was married .
lie did not recognize the face as his
'Nclaiming: My God, that Is not me-
ma pointed 70 portrait taken about the .
ime OF his marriage. as his own Then 9
MRS Washburn showed him their mar J
iage certificate and brought I'm the chill I
lren which convinced him Of the truth =
# her statement !
DOES NOT RECOGNIZE NEIGHBoRs. 8
few days later when his condition q
lowed or his being taken out. IL was !
made apparent how complete the lapse /,
u memory had been. When he saw "A | r
rollcy car he wanted TO know what kind | Z
4 wagons they were, running without u
orses v
The Information that they were electric I,
a1s was practically no information. so | n
ar as he was concerned, and it necessi- "
hied nn explanation Of how they were .
perated before he could be made to nm | n
erstand. When re called on DR. Small | =,
is Ignorance of recent events was again :,
hown. ~
AT the doctors front door he vainly N
ricd TO find the knob by which TO ring In
he bell aud woman who came up the nil
ieps behind him showed him how TO =,
ug th" electric bell. This. too the doc n
'r had 90 explain, and he dimly romem- m
cred having once seen electric lights I'm M
cw York. III
tie did not know one of his neighbors. ,ss
18Th many Of whom ho had been on In y,
mate terms and when. after he re- re
aimed his strength. IL was proposed that
= resume his occupation Of painting, he "
stnnishcd the doctor and his family by "
lyiuE that ne knew nothing about paint II
g and that he had never been n painter. mn
| ~