The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1869-10-28
WHOLE No. 81.
AvrsrToiE FEoMf rnE OTHER svoRnb,.
A Dead Man Visits a Living Friend-Em-
t1 -3 Y braces and Talks to Him.

A Dead Man Visits Living Friend-Em-
2" E3 braces and Talks to Him.
[From the San Francisco Morning CALI
Our business is to tell story as it
was told US, by the gentleman who
underwent the experience, and who,-
by the way, is a plain, sensible, busi-
ness man, guiltless of either practical
or verbal joking, whose only care is
to increase his store, and faithfully
discharge all the duties and obliga-
tions imposed upon him as agood Cit
izen. There is not particle Of senti-
ment in his composition and he dis
believes the spiritualistic theories
So much for the man now for his
story: "Ha .-sztl Is- 7i-.7 l''l.2 -.,
On Saturday evening last he arrived
at his hotel, the American Exchange,
late for dinner, and so had to take the
meal at French restaurant. This
was about z 80 O'Clock. With his
dinner, he took about half a bottle of
claret. He ate or drank nothing more
during the evening. 1T is well to
bear this fully in mind, as it shows his
system was in a perfectly normal con-
dition, and his brain clear, at the time
of the visi.ation.] Feeling very much
fatigued as the evening drew on, on
account of attention to business DUR
ing that day and for several day pre-
ceeding, he came to the conclusion
that his great need was a sound and
undisturbed nights rest. To obtain
this, he determined to leave his room
in the hotel for that night, and occu-
py furnished apartment in the build
ing where his store is situated. He
changed his room to escape, the inevi-
table morning noises at the hotel, and
thus be allowed to sleep late into Sun
day morning as he chose. He is not
conscious of any other motive for do
ing so, though some spiritualists may
say he was impressed to make the
change. He reached his room about
IL O'Clock, lit the gas, and set about
preparing for bed. He. had diEested
himself of the day clothing, and was
standing i'll front of large mirror,
buttoning the neckband of his night
shirt, with his face at the same time
| toward the door of his room, leading
to the hallway. His mind was dwell
ing on nothing particular at the time,
and he was humming an operate air.
| Suddenly he became conscious of a
presence other than his own, and then
was clasped about the body so tightly
that the pressure was almost stiffocat-
] ing. He found himself face to face
with Frank - ) who died about
three months ago, and with whom he
was on intimate terms during his life
time. There stood his friend fronting
him, looking straight at him." The
face was closely shaven, the eyes
bright, and the lips parted with a half
smile as in life. Even the clothes in
which he was dressed were the same
as worn by him on the day preceding
his death. Still holding him in his
embrace, Frank spoke to his friend:a !
Harry, you are a good soul. You
have been kind to me. and good to
my wife since I1eft." He spoke fur
ther about some business matters, but
we do not feel at liberty to repeat the
words. t' a.Fe..i 7l.# a- "HH :. sya
By this time Harry had withdrawn
from Franks embrace, when the latter
grasped his hand, and said; ti'i,a ID
"Good bye, Harry. There is much.
happiness in store for you" ssg
Harry had partially recovered him
self, and was about to speak; but be-
fore he could frame the words, Frank
was gone, melted into thin air. The
door did not move on its hinges !;
there were no footballs in the hallway
outside; but as suddenly as this
strange visitor had come, he departed,
and Harry was left alone filled with
astonishment, but, as he declares,
without.any feeling of fear. The re-
suit of the interview was such that for
a moment he doubted if his friend
was dead ; but he had beelr present at
his funeral, and dropped a handful of
earth on his coffin lid that he was sure
covered his mortal remains. Then he
thought some one had played prac-
tical joke to terrify him; but there
was no one else besides himself in the
building, and all the doors were Sc
curely locked and barred. In despair
at the task of accounting for this
strange agair, he lit a cigar to aid him
in his perplexity and, finally, sought
his couch, where he slumbered peace
fully for the rest of the night. '1
The ghost Gf such a high-pressure
visitor can be called ghostly) left a
memento of his visit behind him.
Harry declared that at the time he
was being so tightly embraced, his
thumb came in contact with a button
on Franks coat and he experienced
considerable pain. In the morning on
awakening, he again felt the pain, and
looking at his thumb, found the skin
slightly abraded. ,'' ...- tllg
That is the story as it was told to
us. Harry, as we said before, is
sensible, practical, unromantie. bust
ness man, and no believer i'll spiritu-
alism. He has nothing to accomplish
in deceiving his friends, and as joke,
it would be sorry enough to be be-
meath contempt. 1t may be consider
ed one of the marvels of the latter
days--not to be believed by many in
capable of solution by all. A1'' ,..f
REMARKABLE ESCAPE FROM DEATH.
" esterday afternoon, Swede who
was working upon Sturges' new ele-
vator fell into one of the bins, dis
4onca of {; i;ffUfvol faott cfr;l-;pr yno,,