The American Sleeping Wonder.

Cromwell Argus, Volume I, Issue 5, 8 December 1869, Page 3

The American Sleeping Wonder.

Miss Susan Caroline Godscy, the sleeping wonder, died at her mother’s home, some eight miles from Hickman, Kentucky, on Wednesday, the 14th of July. At the time of her death Miss Godscy was about 26 years of age, and had been asleep about 14 years. The existence of this wonderful state of coma, or preternatural disposition to sleep, has been doubted by many, bub the fact is indisputable. The history of the cise is, briefly—When about twelve years old she was taken with a severe chill, and treated accordingly by her physician. As the fever which followed her chill subsided, she fell into a deep sleep, in which condition she lias remained ever since, except at intervals. It was her custom at first to wake regularly every 24 hours, and, singularly, within a few minutes of the same hours each day ; but of later years she awoke ofteuor, so much so that many considered it an indication of her final recovery. She would remain awake for 5, 10, or 15 minutes, and then gradually drop ofl to sleep again. When asleep it was impossible to arouse her. She never complained of bodily pain, though when asleep she was very nervous at times, and appeared to sillier considerably by the violent twitching and jerking of her muscles and limbs, and her hands clenched tightly as if enduring severe pain j. hut when awake she did not appear to suffer, except from a drowsy inclination, and a persistent effort to cleanse her throat of phlegm. She generally passed into sleep through violent paroxysm, which would last perhaps live minu bus, and she would sleep awhile as calmly as an infant. Miss Godsey was of medium size, and her limbs and muscles were well proportioned and developed, and grow considerably after bov aflliction.