EXTRAORDINARY ABSTINENCE FROM FOOD.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1485, 17 September 1883, Page 2

EXTRAORDINARY ABSTINENCE FROM FOOD.

On Saturday last a cose of extraordinary abstinence from foody.which, if continued,.' might aljijost have.rivalled that of Dr Tanner, who in the end lost his life from his' foblhardiness, came; under tho attention (if tho police,' The facts of this singular case are as follows:—On Saturday afternoon last, Mr J ohiv Kagle,. .residing, at.. Sou th Makara, took a man, who gave the name of Thomas. Gabrielsen, to the city watch-house in a spring cart. The poor fellow was in a most deplorable condition. Ho was trembling and very emaciated, his feet were fearfully swollen, his toes being purple, and he had evidently been for a considerable time exposed to cold and wet. He had to bo lifted into tho station. Mr Eagle stated on the morning of the day named he was informed tlia* two men who were in a boat had seen a man on the beach signalling to them. Mr Eagle went in tho direction indicated, and found Gabrielsen on the sea beach at Ohariu, He was minus boots and', stockings, and was sitting just above bighwatermark, apparently in a dying condition. Eagle, leaving his mate with the mail, hurried to Mr Cook's farm, and borrowed a- springcart in which he brought Gabrielsen to town. Tho account of his short colonial experiences, as given by Gabrielsen, is by no means a pleasant one, and should act as a warning to runaway sailors in tho future. He states.that he was the sailmaker of the barque Oxford,' ■'■ -which vessel he deserted at this port, and, with a view to evado Uio warrant issued for hjs capture he went past Karon and Makara. His. journey was evidently an aimless one. He states that he went into the country, and lost himself, and wandered about till he was footsore. He then took off his boots, which he subsequently lost; and for sixteen days he had slept out in the open air, during which time he had neither seen any human being, nor tasted food, excepting ferns or roots, Be this a 8 it may, the man when found by Mr Eagle was certainly needing assistance, which was willingly given. Upon being brought to the Police Station, Sergeant inrlerson obtained an order upon which he, without delay, procured admission for. the patient to. the Hospital. Dr Hammond expresses the belief that the patient will recover. That a man should wander about for over a fortnight within twelve or fourteen miles of a city of over 20,000 inhabitants, and in a bit of country where it would be a matter of' some difficulty to find a spot which is three miles fiom a human habitation, is almost incredible.' The- Oxford-having taken her departure, Gabrielsen'will have a chance of trying colonial life with a. niore favorable start,—N,Z. Times. " .": .