Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-02-24
From The ST. Louis Republican.
Singular Presentiment-HOv the Life O
n Senator WAS saved.

singular Presentiment-IfOW the Life of
senator was saved.
Those who were familiar with the politi-
cal history of our country twenty years ago,
remember well, DR.. Linn, Of Missouri
Distinguished for talents and professional
ability, but yet moro for the excellence of
his heart he received by distinction as
rare as it was honorable, the unanimous
vote of the Legislature for the office of
Senator of the United States.
In discharge of his Congressional duties
he was residing with his family in Wash
iugton, during the spring and summer of
ls4o, the last year of Mr.. Van Buren's ad-
ministration.
One day, during the month Of May, in
that year. DR.. and Mrs. Linn received an
invitation to large and formal dinner par
ty, given by public functionary, and to
which the most prominent members of the
Administration party, including the Presi-
dent himself, and our present Chief Mag
istrate, Mr.. Buchanan, were invited guests.
DR.. Linn was very anxious TO be present,
and when the day came, finding himself
suffering from an attack of Indigestion, he
begged his wife to bear his apology in per-
son, and make one of the dinner party
leaving him at home. To this she some
what reluctantly consented. She was ac-
companied to the door of their host, by a
friend, Gen. Jones, who promised to return
and remain with DR.. Linn during the eve
ming.
AT the table, Mrs. Linn sat next to Gen
eral Macomb, who had conducted her to
dinner; and Immediately opposite to her
sat Silas Wright, Senator from New York,
the most intimate friend of her husband,
and man by whose death shortly after
the country sustained an irreparabo loss.
Even during the early part of the din
ner, Mrs. Linn felt very uneasy about her
husband. She tried to reason herself out
of tnis, as she knew his indipostion was
not at all serious; but in vain. She men
toned her uneasiness to General Macomb
but he reminded her of what she herself
had previously told him-that General
Jones had promised to remain with Dr..
Linn; and that, in the event of any sudden
illness he would be sure to apprise her of
it. Notwithstanding these representations,
as dinner drew toward close, this unac-
countable uneasiness increased to such an
uncomfortable impulse to return home, that
as she expressed it to me, she felt that she
could not sit there moment longer. Her
sudden pallor noticed by Senator Wright
and excited his alarm. 81 am sure you are
i'll, Mrs Linn" he said "what is the mat
ter9" She replied that she was quite well,
but that she must return to her husband
Mr.. Wright sought, as General Macomb
had done, to calm her fears; but she re-
piled to him: "If you wish to do me ia
vor, for which l shall be grateful while
| live, make some excuse to our host, so that
we can leave the table," Seeing her so
greatly excited, he complied with her re-
quest, though they were then but serving
the dessert; and he and Mrs. Wright ac-
companied Mrs. Linn home.
AS they were taking leave of her at the
door of her lodgings, Senator Wright said {:
81 shall call tomorrow morning, and have
a good laugh with the doctor and yourself
over your panic apprehensions."
As Mrs. Linn passed hastily up stairs,
she met tho landlady. "How is DR.. Linn ?'
she anxiously asked. "Very well, Ibelieve," /"
was the reply: "he took bath more than
an hour ago, and dare say he is sound
asleep by this time. Gen. Jones said he
was doing extremely we'll"
"The General is with him, is he not9"
81 believe not. think l saw him pass
out about an hour ago"
In measure re-assured, Mrs. Linn hast
ened to her husbands bed-chamber, the
door of which was closed As she opened
it, dense smoke burst upon her, in such
sitting quantity, that she staggered ant
fell on the threshold. Recovering hersel
after few seconds, she rushed into the
room. The bolster was on fire, and the
feathers burned with bright glow, and a
suffocating odor She threw herself upon
the bed but the fire, half smothered till
that moment, was famed by tho draught
from the opened door, and kindling into
sudden flame, caught her light dress which
was in blaze on the instant. AT the
same moment, her eye fell on the large
bath tub that had been used by her hus-
band. She sprang into it, extinguished
her burning dress, then returning to the
bed, she caught up the pillow and sheet
that was on fire, scorching her arms in SC
doing, and plunged both into the water
Finally exerting her utmost strength, she
drew from the bed her insensible husband
1t was then only that sho called to the peo
pie of the house for aid.
DR.. Sewell was instantly summoned; bu
it was full half an hour before the sufferer
gave any signs whatever of returning ami
nation. He did not leave his bed for near
ly week; and it was three months befor,
he entirely recovered from the effects o
this accident.
"How fortunate it was" said DR.. Sewel
to Mrs. Linn, shat you arrived at the very
moment you did Five minutes more
nay, three minutes, and in all human prob
ability, you would never have seen you
husband alive again.
Mr.. Wright called, as he promised, tn
next morning. swell, Mrs. Linn" said he
smiling, "you have found out, by this time
how foolish that strange presentiment G
yours was"
"Coms up stairs" she replied. And sh
] led him to his friend, scarcely vet able I
speak; and then she showed him the re
mains of the half consumed bolster, an
nartiallo hurnad had linan VUhotL a.. a.