The Shasta courier., 1869-02-13
interesting Case of Hallucinatfon--A Lady
Sees the Apparition of Her Father.

On the evening OF December 80, Mrs
Caroline Proud, who lives in South Nash
vile, at the house of her brother, was the
subject Of a strange hallucination or spec
trail Appearance, which is worthy of men
ton. On the afternoon of the day in
question, Mrs. Proud had been arraning
large box of family effects, among which
were large number of things which be-
longed to her father, now dead something
like six years. She read several letters
which she received from him shortly before
his death, and had arranged some family
pappers which had been bequeathed her
She says she was conscious of having the
scenes of her fathers illness and death,
and the subsequent breaking up of the
household, vividly brought to her remem-
brance by her unusual employment.
These impressions were deepened by the
sudden remembrance that it was on the
afternoon of December Both, six years be-
fore, that her father had breathed his last
After having arranged the papers, books
and documents (there was large box of
them, and considerable time was consun-
ed), she joined her brothers family in the
sltung-room, and engaged in pleasant con-
versation for more than half an hour, dur
ing which time all the gloomy and sombre
reflections which had possessed her while
looking over the family relics were dis
slpated, and she was in an exceedingly
pleasant frame of mind when she arose to
90 into distant apartment to get long
unused article Of apparel, which she de-
signed fixing over for New Years mas
querade party. She left the famiIy-room
humming familiar air, traversed the hall,
climbed the stairway, and reached the
apartment. A sudden light shone into the
room through thick curtains, and the air
was close and unwholesome from long con-
finement, as the place was used as sort of
store-room for articles seldom needed
Around the walls hung various articles of
clothing of male and female attire, and
sundry boxes were piled up in the corners,
while roll of carpeting and an old hearth
rug occupied the centre Of the floor
Hardly had she advanced a step into the
room when, pausing to let her eye become
accustomed to the light, which was rather
dim even at MONDAY, but was becoming
rather sombered as the daylight faded
away she saw vivid and startling appa-
rition. Right before her, and between the
carpet and the farther wall, she beheld
the image of her father He was dressed
in black, with white ncck-tie, as had been
his custom on the Sabbath, and in his hand
he held a prayer-book. The face was viv-
idly natural, but wore milder and more
benignant look than during lite, and the
eyes, with an expression of love and SYM
pathy, gazed full upon the daughter.
Mrs. Proud is not a timid woman, and
accordingly steadfastly regarded the appa-
ton, expecting to see it dissolve into some
strange arrangement of the articles of cloth
ing hanging against the wall; but she
looked in vain, the image, meanwhile, be-
coming more distinct, and at last starting
as if to approach. The astonished and
terrified woman saw no more. A sudden
and agonized shrek started the house, and
when the family came rushing to the spot
they found her lying senseless in the door
way, with the key of the room still clutched
fast in her hand Restoratives were ap-
piled, and the woman was soon able to re-
late the cause of her terror. Meanwhile,
the room had been carefully examined, but
nothing was out of place, nor could any
unusual appearance be discovered. The
window was fastened, and the undisturbed
dust on the floor showed that the place had
not been entered for months.
Mrs. Proud was i'll with fever for several
days after witnessing this strange appari-
ton, but yesterday, as we were informed,
had about gained her usual strength.
As the lady in question has never been
troubled with any affection of the visual
organs, nor ever before saw, or imagined
she saw, phantom, this must certainly be
considered a very queer case--Nashot1te
Press, January 5h.