The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-12-27
SLEPT FOR 17 YEARS.
And, Waking, Thought That Only One
 Night Had Passed.
From the London Mirror.

From the London Mirror
 In the village of Grambke. near Bremen, which has become famous as the home of the sleeping woman" Gesine Meyer, who has now awakened from her seventeen years sleep, l had conversations with herself and her father, Johann Meyer, who is mayor of the village, and his son. In their quaint dialect they told me that Gesne, who is now forty-three years of age, fell from a cart in her seventeenth year. Shortly after this accident she complained of suffering from a severe headache, and then fell into a deathlike sleep, which lasted three months.
 After recovering consciousness she was perfectly we'll attended to her usual household duties. and helped in the har- vesting as if nothing had happened For two years all went well; then she again took to sleeping for considerable periods, interspersed by long intervals of normal habits. At last she went to sleep on De- cember r. 1SS6 and from that date until Sunday last has slept without Interruption q period of seventeen years.
 On Sunday a fire broke out in the vil lage, and the alarm bells were rung. Scarcely had their harsh sounds pene trated the room where Gesine lay than sne suddenly sat up in bed and called her father and brother by name. The sur prise and pleasure experienced at her awakening, which resembled more res- urrection from death, may be imagined. One of the first questions was about her mother, who had died many years ago. On the sad news being broken to her she cried bitterly. Seeing her brother who seventeen years ago had been doing his mil uatsxfiga etan1iup bAr her qidp in civilian clothes. she asked him why he was not in uniform. On his answering that he was now a married man and had long ago completed his military service, she appeared to be surprised.
 She was told that she had been asleep for seventeen years. "Why, l thought l had been asleep only for one night" she replied. Gesne has no recollection of anything that has happened during this long lapse of time. l was introduced into the room where Gesine lay on a sofa. With her clear eyes she looked with curiosity at the numerous relatives and friends who stood around her congratu- lating her on her awakening. She rec ognized them all.
 She was well nourished during her sleep. Her sense of smell was, especially well developed. and she knew immediately if a stranger entered the room. The sense or nearing ana or speech conplelely uis- appeared during her inconsistencies. Severe thunderstorms, the noise occasion- ed in the house consequent upon her brothers marriage, all passed unnoticed. She was never ill. and her digestion was unimpaired. Since awakening, Gesine is in great fear of again going to sleep pr. Payne, the family physician, who has att tended Gesne for many years. foretold her awakening, and it is believed that she awoke of her own accord and not through the sound of the bells ringing.
 The reason for the long sleep is due, some affirm, to some disease of the nerv- ous system The case has caused an ln- tense sensation, and thousands have tried to see the sleeping woman," but only few have been admitted.