Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1850-10-23
STRANGE INCIDENT ATTENDING A DEATH.

Under this head the Christian Register relates the
following remarkable incident. We do NOT think it
improper 10 state that the individual referred 10 is
The late MIR. GREGG, who lost al Gloucester FRI
day. August 16lh 1850, by the capsizng of boat in
squall II al Gloucester, also, on the day pre-
vious 10 this casualty, that his adventure with he rob-
in occurred and it was at Brighton, in our neigh
borhood, that his family met with similar encoun-
ter
The following is a statement offacts as they occur
req as simple and short as we can make them. 1t
would be easy to give wide play TO sentiments and
fancy, in connection with striking and unusual an
occurrence Superstition might attach to it irralion-
al fears, or hopes as groundless We confess we
hardly know what 10 do with events like these our
selvesbreaking in, they do, upon the settled or
der Of our experience, and startling us with some
exceptions 10 the common course OF our observations.
They evidently belong to no system of distinct and
Ineligible communications from the other world to
This. 1t is not easy to imagine satisfactory plan
of spiritual disclosures OH which they would be
tremendously adjusted In that sense they teach
nothing; and yet to US they appear capabe,-all in
explicable and exceptional they clearly are, and
though we cannot take the first step toward interpret
ing lhem--they appear capable of leaving us more
pure, more reverenal, and more believing than they
find u.s. We rejoice in religion which does not
exclude from its subordinate confirmation the vagu
est and most uninteigble mysteries, nor forbid even
creatures less than human to be humble and dumb
Witnesses TO its spiritual promises.
A gentleman with some friends, was lately ram
bling over the rocks near the waterin one our sea
shore towns His attention was attracted by robin,
full grown and apparently quite unhurt, running in
the path and fitting about his feet,and contrary to The
proverbially shy instinct of that bird keeping very
near him. He took il in his hands, fondled il, patted
its feathers, and after showing it 10 The party, and re-
marking on its ameness tossed it into the air. The
next day, this gentleman having put out from the ad-
acenl beach in boat, in company with four others,
for salon his return, when within sight OF land,
by the capsizng OF the boat, or sudden leak sprung
in her,wasdrowned with hal his companions. His body
was recovered few days afterwards and buried in a
cemetery some twenty or thirty miles distant from
the scene Of disaster
The day after the burial, the grave was visited by
his wife and daughter. As they approached the spot,
they were in hesitation for momenl-nol being fa-
mliar with the place,-which of several new made
graves, the one they were seeking. AT that in
slant tame but sprighlly robin ran on the ground
before them, and stood before the grave of the hus-
bard and father. One of them took it up and caress
ed it, and after some remark upon the singuary of
its conduct, lie, 60, when it flew down, alighted on
the raised mound over the grave and laid itself close
to the earth. The daughter Immediately took it up
again, and it dead.