The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1913-08-01
Man OF MYSTERY
MAY TELL PAST
Faint Hope That ID. c. R."
May Regain His Speech
IN A MINNESOTA HOSPITAL
Stranger Found Six Years Ago Has
Never Been Able to Remember His
Past-Operation Expected to Prove
SuccessfuI-Identity Still Unknown.

Past-operation Expected to Prove
SuccessfuI-Identity Still Unknown.
Minneapolis, Minn.-For more than
six years 81. c. R." the Minnesota
"man of mystery" has been in the
State Hospital For the Insane at
Rochester, Mimi, unable to talk, una
BILE to remember his past, and in all
that time not one person has appeared
to claim him.
Yet there is hope that the mystery
will be solved Recently physicians
made an X ray examination. While
this revealed that there was no frac-
ture of the skull, it was thought there
might be a blood clot on the brain, SO
an operation was performed.
The operation was considered sue
cessful, but the surgeons found such
a degenerate condition of the brain
cells that they give only slight hope
that 81. C. R." will ever regain his
normal faculties. However, there is
just chance.
1--WE expect no sudden change or
sensational return of memory" said a
doctor. What the outcome will be is
problematical. A part of the memory
cells of the brain has been destroyed
by degeneration. but there is a pos
sibility that there are sufficient cells
remaining to restore the memory in
part, at least. If possible the hospital
authorities will teach the man to
talk. With the large cyst removed
there is assurance that the degenera-
ton of the brain area will not increase
and the remainder Of the brain is I'M
impaired He can therefore be taught
to speak as a child is taught, it is be-
lieved. With the power of articula-
tion, it is thought that he may be able
to tell some Of the facts of his life.
which now he can communicate only
by motions, and those very vaguely.
u. G. R." is not insane and has
never been insane. He was picked up
on the depot platform at Waseca.
Mimi, one night in June. 1907 How
he got there no one knows. His right
side from his temple to his foot was
paralyzed. He could not say a word
He could not make persons under
stand him by gestures, nor could he
understand anything that was said to
him.
He was public charge, and as such
was cared for by the county. Arrange
ments were made for him to live with
a German family. He was attended
by DR.. W. A. Chamberlain, but his
case baffied the physician. Dr. Cham
berlain gave up hope of his recovery.
and on April "a, 1908, he was taken to
the Rochester asylum At the hospital
he has always had his liberty. He is
what is known as an observation pa
tent who can be trusted.
To see -. G. R." once is to remem
Der him. Although he cannot talk, he
asks questions. as it We're, with his
large, intelligent brown eyes, which
haunt one with their pitiful entreaty
He is about medium height. His black
hair. which is brushed we'll off his
forehead. is tinged with gray. He is
apparently about forty-five years of
age. Without his cane he has difficult
ty in w9iking.
Still j. C. R." is now able to make
himself partially understood By con-
tinual pointings to a map be gave the
hospital surgeons the impression that
he was the son of an admiral and
had been an officer himself. He also
indicated spot near Baltimore as his
home. Repeated inquiries to the naval
department and Baltimore authorities
brought many replies of lost persons.
but none which would fit the case of
u. c. R."
The United States navy has no rec
ord of missing man who tallies with
his description, yet u. G. R." has been
able to make the surgeons believe posi-
lively that he has served in the United
States navy.
The only thing he can write are the
initials 81. c. r." Yet he does not
seem to think at times that those are
his initials, although they were found
on his clothing. When asked about it
he rubbed the injured side of his head
and looked puzzled.
This strange man has been a favor
lite at the hospital. He has fully re-
allied his condition. but not for one
moment does he permit himself to be-
come morbid. He has a winning smile.
which Eliminates his whole counte-
nance. but his face in repose is pa
thetic
The surgeons were able to make 1t
known to him what they intended to
do. and by gestures 81. G. R." inform
ed them that he welcomed the opera
ton.