The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-11
THIS MAN HAS NOT
SLEPT IN FOURTEEN
LONG YEARS
Alonzo Wire, Wonder of Scientists.
Is Not Sick But He Longs For.
Rest-Whisky Gags Him
and Laudanum Fails. 80,
Sits Up All Night and Is Conscious
of Everything-Tells Re-
markable Story.
BY w. C. SHEPHERD.

HACkETTSTOWN, n. j., Feb. IL
Alonzo Wire. famous because he can
not sleep. an object of curiosity and
wonder TO scientists everywhere, In
vlted me to spend a night with him,
after | had expressed deep interest
| in his case
we can play checkers until you
get sleepy he said, with a laugh.
But I'll be glad to have you sit up
with me all night. I'll give you $40 II
you see me sleepy tonight. I'd be
glad 10 pay it,"
Mother Wire, wrinkled, bent and
OH, was sitting with her husband by
tic stove when l arrived at 10 in the
evening.
I'm not sleepy" she said. Il get
so used TO sitting up with Lon until
late that | don't miss my sleep like /
used TO- | often wish | could give
Lon some OF my share Of sleep"
Missing sleep doesn't seem TO hurt
me any, mother; so there's no need
Of your worrying"
After We had played a few games
of checkers and Mother Wire had put
away her sewing and said Good
night" Alonzo Wire, the man who
cannot sleep. told me all about IL.
I'm 65 years old now" he said. 81
was born on farm near here. and
worked on farm until was middle
aged. ! used to weigh $50 pounds.
ard in my time | was the strongest
and biggest man in all the country
eleabouts. I've never been sick n
day in my life.
When mother and | moved to town
with our children who had partly
grown up, | was appointed chief OF
police OF Hackettstown, Pa. Before
| then | began to notice that IL was
hard to get to sleep at night. but |
didn't think anything of it! | felt
just as well the next day, whether
| slept two hours or TO-
! But by and by there used to be
nights when I'd be awake all night.
If sat up I'd feel tired the next day,
but IL I'd lay down. I'd feel fresh for
work in the morning. | seemed TO
get my rest, whether slept or not.
But at last | got so | didn't sleep
rat all. And after that | got used to
sitting in my rocking chair all night.
That was about fourteen years ago,
as near as mother and | can make IL
out
81 haven't had a wink of sleep in
IL years.
! There hasn't been a minute dur
ing all that time, that | didn't know
what was going on around me. At
night every time one of the boys
| turned over in bed. or mother moved
in her bed, | knew 1t. | was always
laying there. thinking. Whenever I
moved | knew 1t and did IT deliber-
ateiy; 1t wasn't the unconscious move
ment OF sleeping man.
It's true | don't suffer. don't
seem TO need sleep. But it's pretty
| hard to keep thinking and thinking,
al the time. I've lived over my life,
every minute of it. hundreds OF times.
I've tried all kinds OF doctors but
they can't make me sleep. and they
all finish up by wondering how keep
alive and happy. But | do"
! Did you ever try counting sheep
| jumping over a fence?' / asked.
Wait until / tell you some Of the
| things I've tried 20 put me to sleep.
/ I've counted TO a thousand: / counted
/ by twos, threes, tours, skies. sevens,
! Fights and mines. I've added and sub
! traCted. I've counted sheep jumping
over hedge, and armies OF men. I'VE
worked my toes and fingers and Jaws.
until they were sore I kept my eyes
open for an hour. without blinking.
! We gone To bed hungry and I've gone
! to bed stuffed full Of food I've tried
| hot rooms and cold rooms and Turk
! iSh baths I've tried 10 sleep with
/ the light burning near my head I've
! tried launanum until the doctors told
ne 10 stop. and that didn't help me-
/ tried taking turpentine. but il was
useless. I've propped my feet up and
| then my head up and then I've prop
/ ped them both up. | even tried a
( damp room with tubs OF water In II.
But I've got new doctor now.
| / hope he can help me To sleep I'm
! getting 10 be an old man. and / weigh
only 200 pounds now. I've lost so
! pounds in IA years. I'd like 10 get
one good sleep before take the last.
! long one. One sleep. young man, would
| give me something to think about FOR
months
It was o'clock in the morning by
I this time
You lie down there on the couch.
son. and sleep" he said to me- IT'S
too far back TO town for you TO go
now
Just as dozed on 7 remember that
/ / looked at the kindly gray eyes OF
the white haired man In the rocking
chair by the stove They were bright
and wide omen morning eyes. not
, midnight ewes
AZ o'clock when mother came
down 10 get breakfast. he awakened