934 A. An account of the experiences of the Rev. C. B. Sanders was published in a book entitled X+ Y=Z; or, The Sleeping Preacher of North Alabama. Containing an account of most wonderful mysterious mental phenomena, fully authenticated by living witnesses. By Rev. G. W. Mitchell. (New York: W. C. Smith, 65 John Street. 1876.) The book includes statements by numerous witnesses of the supernormal manifestations of Mr. Sanders, and additional corroborations were obtained by Professor James and Dr. Hodgson in reply to inquiries about the case. From these sources of information the following brief sketch is made.

Mr. F. G. Bromberg, of Mobile, Ala., a friend of Professor James, wrote to the latter in 1886:-

The book has only recently been called to my attention by Chief-Justice Stone, of this State, and a copy was sent to me by late Chief-Justice Brickell, whose home is at Huntsville, Ala., and amongst the witnesses cited in the book. In a letter which accompanied the book he writes as follows: "I have frequently seen Mr. Sanders, the subject of the book, and of many of the incidents related I heard soon after their occurrence. The witnesses or contributors referred to are of the most unquestionable, unimpeachable character. Two of them, Dr. Ross and Dr. Shelby, were of very considerable learning, and of very high character; the first as a theologian, the other as a physician." . . .

Judge Brickell's assurances put at rest all doubts as to the absolute integrity of all parties named therein, either as observers or observed. The elements of fraud, collusion, or fabrication are entirely eliminated from the problem to be solved.

Constantine Blackmon Sanders was born in 1831, near Huntsville, Alabama, the seventh child in a family of ten children. His father died when he was in his sixth year.

Constantine lived with his mother, and laboured on the farm until he was a full-grown man. From his mother, and others who knew him during the days of his youth, we learn that he was dutiful to his mother, kind to his sisters, moral in his habits, and avoided association with the vicious. His temperament was cheerful, and he had considerable fondness for music. From his early childhood his mind was much interested on the subject of preaching the gospel. And he was in the habit of preaching juvenile funeral sermons over dead chickens, pigs, etc, and baptizing the boys, both black and white; and, on this account, was often familiarily called "The Preacher".

When he was twenty years old he attended a revival meeting, and became deeply interested in religious matters; presented himself as a candidate for the ministry under the care of the Presbytery of Tennessee; was licensed to preach in 1855, and ordained in 1862. At the time he joined Presbytery in 1852, when he was twenty-one years old, he could scarcely read and write. In the spring of 1854, when studying at school in Elkton, Tenn., he had attacks of sickness, described by Mrs. Harlow, in whose family he was living, as follows. Until then his health is described as having always been good.

Though at times he had spells of mental trouble, yet, in the main, he was quite cheerful. When he had been with us about three months, he was taken quite sick of a flux. And when he had so far recovered as to be able to begin to walk, he was taken down with typhoid fever, and confined to bed again for several weeks. During this confinement he was seized with occasional convulsions, affecting at times his whole system, but especially his arms, chest, throat, and tongue. He also complained terribly of his head. Often would he exclaim: -

"It surely will kill me." On one occasion he said:

"My head feels like it has opened".

Taking my hand with his, he placed it on his head, when, to my astonishment, I found what appeared to be a separation of the bone, nearly wide enough to bury my little finger, ranging from above his eyes near the centre of his forehead to the top of his head, and from the top down towards and near to each ear. The opening increased in width as it reached the top of the head. This condition of his head I saw frequently. When the paroxysms would subside, the openings would nearly close up.

He had many similar attacks of these paroxysms during the next five years, accompanied by much physical suffering. In the meantime, in 1856, he married, and his family consisted in 1876 "of six healthy children, of more than ordinary promise." After recovering from an unusually violent convulsive cramp in 1859, he declared that it had been "shown to him that he would never have another spell of cramping." But although the violent convulsions apparently did not recur, he still suffered much, as appears from the following statement made by Dr. W. T. Thach in 1876.

I have been acquainted with him about sixteen years. He has complained ever since my acquaintance with him, and he says, for a number of years previous, with a continuous headache, though differing in severity at different times, often becoming excruciating; and until a year or two since attended with violent lancinating pains in the chest, accompanied with great difficulty of respiration, which indeed I have often seen suspended for such a length of time as to induce me to believe it impossible that it could ever be restored; at length returning with a gurgling sound in the upper portion of the trachea. In these extreme cases the pulse is very feeble, and in frequency from 120 to such a celerity as to render it impossible to count it. Extremities cold, temples throbbing violently, eyes surcharged with blood to such an extent that frequently the blood would trickle down the cheeks in drops. These paroxysms are attended with very great nervous excitement, so that he cannot bear to be touched by any one without producing a shock to the system (very similar to that felt by one who comes in contact with a galvanic battery with considerable charge), which seems to increase the already excruciating pain.

With these paroxysms of suffering there is almost always a peculiar condition, to me inexplicable, and which I know not what to denominate, which those acquainted with him generally call "sleep," merely from the fact that, when recovered from this condition, he is totally ignorant of any and everything that has occurred while in this state (even the length of time that has elapsed, not knowing whether an hour or a week). Hence the name of the "Sleeping Preacher." And yet, at the time, he seems conscious of everything that is going on around him; and not only so, but of what is transpiring at any point to which his attention is directed, regardless of distance. The length of these paroxysms is quite variable, extending from a moment to hours and days, during which time he gets no natural sleep; the mind to all appearance being much more active than when in a normal condition; being all the time engaged in conversation or writing (of which he does a great deal), or some other active mental exercise. In this condition he frequently complains of hunger, and partakes of food as at other times.

Except in cases of protracted spells of nervous sleep (when he gets none), he usually averages about three hours in twenty-four of natural sleep; yet the physical man does not seem to suffer from loss of sleep. He looks as hearty as any man, and weighs about 195 pounds.

This condition is not always attended' with an unusual amount of pain, being often very cheerful; at which times he is more than ordinarily communicative.

In all of his notes, letters, and writing of every kind, while in this condition, he ignores the name of "Sanders." His signature is "X + Y = Z".

While in these sleeps, if left to himself, his thoughts are confined mostly to theology or medicine. And though never having studied medicine, he seems, while in this mental state, to be very conversant with it; using the technical names, giving the properties, uses, etc, thereof. He always examines the sick who may happen to be about him when in this state, without coming in contact with the patient; making in writing a diagnosis and prescription, which he will usually give, if requested. And I could mention a great many who have been relieved by his directions. I have frequently had him to give me the exact condition of patients whom he had never seen, and who were miles distant. His prescriptions frequently contain medicines which cannot be procured in this country; which he makes arrangements to import; showing his comprehensive view of Materia Medica in this preternatural way.