A MAN WHO COVERS 27,000 MILES A-YEAR.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1298, 14 January 1887, Page 3

A MAN WHO COVERS 27,000 MILES A-YEAR.

The ‘Chicago TimSs,’ in a recent issue, says :—“ One of the strangest penalties that eccentric Fate has ever inflicted on a member of the human family is shown in the case of John Snyder, who resides at Mile Grove, a small station 30 miles east of here, on the Chicago, St I aiis, and Pittsburg i road. His pejiiliar destiny appears to ba that he shall not stop walking until he walks into the grave. Accompanied by his son* he came into Marion to-dav on his way to visit the fair in the adjacent town of Warren. Kxcept for consideration for his son, he would have saved railway fare and walked to Alarion. Even while on the cars he was unable to control the spirit of unrest that possesses him.and kept up his perpetual promenading front to rear and from rear 10 front. In leaving the coach, while his locomotion was impeded by the other passengers, his legs and feet refused to pause in their pedestrian motions up and down. He had six horns to wait here between trains. In that time he walked several miles into the country and back, up one street and down another, around block alter block, never halting, never pausing. He boarded a Toledo, St. Louis, and Kansas City train for Warren, and, as the engine pulled out, he was keeping his tread from platform to platform. Snyder’s strange affliction dates back to a little over two years ago. At that time he became the victim of some sort of nervous complaint, for which he found relief in a measure by walking until completely exhausted. Kjs strange malady became more and more aggravated, and ho would get up in the middle of the night and walk five, ten, and fifteen miles before sufficiently exhausted to sleep. Then he would walk 24 hours on a stretch It is assorted on unquestioned authority th it the entire lime in the last year that he has been off his feet would not aggregate over three or four hoiuti. Eating and sleeping, in daylight and darkness, he keeps up his tireless and perpenal tramp, tramp, tramp. Around .his house is a beaten path, nearly a foot deep, worn by months of incessant walking. He goes at a steady gait of a little over three miles an hour, 74 miles every 24 hoars, 518 miles each week, 2,220 miles a month, and 27 000 miles ayear. In the last two month* he has walked far enough to twice encircle tne globe. Two years ago he was believed to be insane, and was sent to the asylum at Indianpolis. After a shor confinement it was shown that he was not a subject for mental treatment, and released. A distinguished authority on nervous 'diseases gave it as his opinion at the time that if Snyder were to be bound hand and foot he would become a raving maniac and die in a few hours. Ho has .walked ever since, and cannot stop. Tf ho halts for a few seconds his legs [become cramped ind exhibit convul-

sive tendencies, and there is no rest or relief but to continue Kis tramp, A strange feature is related ia connection with his pedestrian tendencies A few months ago be was put to sleep m a recumbent position by the use of opiates. (?rt awaking he was so sur* charged with* the demon of disquiet that he sprang up and ran five hours at a rate of twelve miles an hour, when ho again lapsed into his accustomed gait, which he has since maintained without interruption. He appears to l>e thoroughly and permanently wound up, and until he runs down will remain the best example of perpetual motion that has yet been discovered. Snyder is about 60 years old, and has a large family. In other respects his health is good, and, aside from a haunted and haggard expression, there is notbiug unusual in his appearance. His step lacks spring and sprighUi* ness, and gives impression of sore feet and an almost intolerable weariness. All belief that his mild rage is an assumed one has long since been dissipated. His case is a remarkable one, and is apparently beyond tlie keu of physicians or scienlisis.