The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-11
NEW JERSEY MAN
HASN'T SLEPT IN
"A YEARS
Alonzo Wire. Wonder OF Scientists.
Is Not Sick But He Longs For
Rest-Whisky Gags Him
and Laudanum Fails.
Sits Up All Night and Is Conscious
Of Everything-Tells Re
markable Story
BY W. c. SHEPHERD

BY w. =. SHE p ~ Z No
EACkETTSTOWN. y. j.. Feb H.
Alouzo Wire famous because he can
not sleep. an object OF curiosity and
ouder 10 scientists everywhere. IN
vled me 10 spend a nishJ with him,
after ! hat expressed deep interest
In his case.
We can play checkers until you
get sleepy he said. wiki a laugh.
But hi be glad 10 have you sir up
with NE all night I'm give YOU $40 II
yCu see me sleepy tonight ia Do
giaG 20 pay II"
Mother Wire. wrinkled, bent ami
Ola, was sitting with her husband by
the stove when / arrived at 10 in the
evening
I'm not sleepy" she said Il GET
SO used 10 sitting up with Lon until
late that don't miss my sleep like
used 10. | often wish | could give
Ion some OF my share OF sleep
Missing sleep doesn't seem TO hurt
me aLy. mother SO there 5 no need
of youl worrying
After We had played a few games
of checkers and Mother Wire had put
eway her sewing and said Cool
tAAr"Aahf AsNAAGO ~ Nv AiAN man " a.
cannon sleep. told me all about il
I'm 90 years old now" he said Il
vas horn on farm near here. and /
worked on a farm until was middle
aged | used 10 weigh $50 pounds
ard In my time was the strongest
and biggest man in all the country
heIeabouts. I've never been sick i
day in my life.
When mother and moved 20 town
with our children who had partly
grown up was appointed chief OF
police OF HackettstoWn Pa Before
t1en | began TO notice that il was
hard 10 get to sleep at night but I
diunt think anything OF IT, felt
jpsJ as We'll the next day whether
| slept TWO hours or 10
But by and by there used 10 be
nights when I'd be- awake all night.
II / sat up I'd feel tired the next day
but II Ia lay down. ID feel fresh for
work in the morning. seemed TO
get my rest. whether / slept or not.
But a last got 50 didn't sleep
a ali And after that | got used 10
sitting in my rocking chair all night
That was about fourteen years ago.
a near as mother and / can make II
Out
Il haven't had a wink Of sleep IN
Il years.
There hasn't been a minute dur
ING all that time. that I 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 IT, was always
LAYING there thinking. Whenever
moved / knew ID and did Il deliber-
atciy IL wasn't the unconscious move
ment OF a sleeping man.
IT'S true | don't suffer I don't
seem TO need sleep. But it's pretty
hard 10 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 thet
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 to put me 10 sleep
I've counted 20 thousand counted
by twos threes fours, skies. seyens.
e,ehts and mines. I've added and sub
tracted I've counted sheep jumping
over q hedge. and armies OF men w.
worked my toes and fingers and Jaws.
until they We're sore kept my eyes
open tor an hour. without blinking
I've gone to bed hungry and I've gone
Ia 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
I o.. 10 Il ell
ne 10 stop. and that didn't help me
tried taking turpentine, but II was
useless. I've propped my feet mp ant
tnen nv head up and then I've prop
pee them both up even lried
damp room. with tubs Of water i'm IL.
But I've got a new doctor now.
hope he can help me to sleep I'm
getting 20 De- an old man. and I weigh
only 200 pounds now I've lost so
pounds in IL years I'd like 20 GET
one good sleep before take the last.
long one one sleep. Young man. would
give me something 90 think about fOl
months
II vas . o'clock in the morning by
this time.
You lie down there on The couch.
son and sleep be- said 10 me It's
roo Far back 10 town for Won To- GO
NOW
JUST as dozed of remember hat
/ looked a the kindly gray ewes lf
the white haired man IN the ro.Mue
cl.air hy the stove They wore bright
ut wide open morning ewes, NOT
n dnigut eyes
Al O'Clock. when mother" came
down TO get breakfast. hp awakened
me