The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-09-12

Special to The Journal. H. ..@. |
Osceola, Iowa, Sept. 12.-The case of
Charles S. Armstrong, the aged capital
ist and veteran Of the civil war who
began fasting in this city Aug. l with
ing to death. or curing himself OF a long
standing ailment, is without doubt one
of the most peculiar on record.
Six weeks ago, tall, straight as an
arrow, weighing l76 pounds and appar-
emily perfectly sound in mind and body,
pain from a disease contracted while
serving his country, this old man, who
lacks but a few weeks Of being ~, de-
cided that life was not worth the hv-
ing;
untold agony and I nave at last deter,
cure.' ..
He then announced his determination
to fast and either relieve his sufferings
or die Of starvation. He made thoro
preparation to leave the world. All
Of his property was divided between ms
fast, which lasted thirty-three days,
ending Sept. 2 because. of pressure
I brought toe bear by prominent citizens,
who threatened removal to an asylum
for the insane. At the end of his fast
Armstrong does not weigh l2O pounds.
Gould Have TASTED Fifty Days.
The old soldier wept several times in
low me to co]ntinue?N he walled. ct
could have tasted fifty days. My great
est SORROW is that they did not permit
me to stick it out another week: !,
would have been so happy had they
,oor,,;44ol !, o. n fa ct a at E1p90t fOrtV
days" ~~4 ~ I
Here tears came to the veterans eyes
and he presented a picture of distress.
He then closed his eyes, apparently
doing, but, presently, continued:
"The true story OF my case has not
was born at Newhaven, Ohio, in 1888,
and on Nov. rs next will be 70. When
the civil war broke out I enlisted in
the Third United States cavalry. While
in the service I, like thousands of
others, became infested with vermin
and, in an effort to destroy the pest,
applied medicine which contained mer-
tie and slept at night without shelter in
a drenching rain. The pores. of my
skin were opened, the mercury oozed
into the joints, I was taken Ill, and, in
the SUMMER Of 1868, was mustered out
an invalid:
suffered. For years the pains have at
tackled me at intervals and I have
many times thought that ever my iron
constitution could not withstand them.
Finally a large, hard lump formed on
my left shoulder, another on the back
Of my left hand, and yet another on
my left knee. The pains were terri
be attacked by some. dreadful disease
that would carry me off and would at
any time have given $4,000 to be thus
relieved, but it was not to, be-:
Sought Death in Wrecks.
1T made several trips to Chicago
hoping that L might be killed in a
wreck. Following the heavy rains and
washouts two months ago [ made a trip,
but there was no wreck. The trains
, moved too slowly and too scautiously:@'
Suddenly raising his head, and with
tears rolling down his cheeks, the old
! man exclaimed: ~ don't believe !
could possibly contract a terrible dis
case-not even smallpox
strong said: "If I can live without
wealthy and have everything to live fol-
! if I could rid myself Of pain. If can:
: not do so I have nothing to live for
Holding up his thin hands, the faster
said: "You see the lump has .disap,
! peared. The humps on my shoulder and
come out all right. / cannot say
A smile spread over the faster coun:
~tenance as he became reminiscent
edo you know" he said, Chat I was
a regular Terry McGovern as a boys ]
was a boxer and all-around athlete. ]
could easily run ten miles on the roao
in sixty-three minutes without training
= A g q n T+ho va had an iron .conctjt1
ton. But look at me now. Feel my
arm. There is no flesh. no muscle. ]
do not weigh 100 pounds
= Armstrong says he was never hungry
in his life, either before or while fast
ing. He has always been a hearty
eater, however. While fasting he die
: not suffer, but when he ate a piece Of
: Of his fast-he felt that the pain woult
8 kill him. He is now taking daily {
small piece Of bread moistened will
milk, and, altho his age is very much
against him, it is believed he has
. chance to<recover.
Man of Wealth.
Armstrong is.a wealthy man, or
I rather, he was wealthy before he di
vided his property. He owned 1906
acres of land near Osceola. He say
he has given each of his three son
$100, 900, has well provided for his wifi
and has money enough left to buy some
thing to eat if he wants it.
Two Of Armstrong; sons are promi
nent farmers near Osceela, and tn,
third,,s@L G.. Armstrong. is assistan
cashier Of a Creston, Iowa, bank. Hi
wife is a most estimable woman an,
Ehassbeen a constant, never-tiring attend
ant during his prolonged fast.
All sorts of stories have been circu
lated since Armstrong announced hi
discrimination to cure himself or starve
Many believe that he is mentally fun
balanced; others at first declared tina
he was deliberately weakening his cor
stitution in order to secure an increas
in his pension. Others went SO far a
to say that the old man IS love Of none.
was responsible for his self-denial. Hi
story of the years aof sufferings, how